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Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut






 Orlanth wrote:
Another sign of the End Times?

As for the manager layoffs apparently it occurred this weekend This was sourced by someone who knew two of the manager concerned, but I haven't double sourced this yet..


Can we not include such gross assumptions in thread titles while basing the info off very questionable sources?

> + + + + + + +  
   
Made in ca
Executing Exarch






They are probably just trimming the fat, as in getting rid of all the managers that aren't performing to standards and they will already have them replaced. They used to do it back in the day, they used to call it "exterminatus" where the regional manager would walk in, fire all the employees and already have all the new staff behind him.

Its like Ive always said, GW is a fun job, until upper management gets involved and they ruin what is a very simple and enjoyable job.

Rick Priestley said it best:
Bryan always said that if the studio ever had to mix with the manufacturing and sales part of the business it would destroy the studio. And I have to say – he wasn’t wrong there! The modern studio isn’t a studio in the same way; it isn’t a collection of artists and creatives sharing ideas and driving each other on. It’s become the promotions department of a toy company – things move on!
 
   
Made in es
Inspiring SDF-1 Bridge Officer






 notprop wrote:
The US is cheap!

Wow, indeed. Back when I was working as a redshirt (about... 8 years ago... now I feel old >_> ) we paid 3.000 euros/month for our hole-in-the-wall store in a pretty out o the way mall (read: cheap)

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/02/16 15:50:35


 
   
Made in de
Decrepit Dakkanaut





GW has a giant problem with those stores.

On the one hand, they're a giant money sink. On the other hand, they're their only chance to stay at the market in the long run - if going fully online, GW would have zero chances as they'd suddenly face actual competition and couldn't compete anymore.

   
Made in us
Long-Range Land Speeder Pilot






Gamesworkshop moving to online only preorder culture. No surprise.
   
Made in gb
Insect-Infested Nurgle Chaos Lord






 Azreal13 wrote:
"We'll roll a dice, on a 4+ I get to cheat."

I wish I could remember who it was wrote that.


Who indeed?


Games Workshop Delenda Est.

Users on ignore- 53.

If you break apart my or anyone else's posts line by line I will not read them. 
   
Made in us
Judgemental Grey Knight Justicar




USA

 Kirasu wrote:
They could shut down every gw store in the usa and that would be a step in the right direction

Why would that be, exactly? The local GW store I play in (Kent, Washington State) is largely responsible for my boys and I playing the game at all. The combination of a good community of people to play with and 6 tables with good terrain has been a huge help for us. If we didn't have somewhere to go to play initially to get to know the game and have other people to play against, I don't think we would have stuck with the hobby.

Check out my list building app for 40K and Fantasy:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/576793.page 
   
Made in us
Abel





Washington State

Kid_Kyoto wrote:
eflix29 wrote:
Blister vending machine ?



All stores become automats, you can book tables online and skype with a guy in India if you have rules questions.



Nope. GW does not believe in the existence of social media like Skype, so you'll never be able to call a guy in India via the interwebz, which GW still can't figure out beyond a source of inexplicable revenue for their business. The rules question line will become a 1-900 line, where they charge you £3 per minute.

BrookM wrote:
eflix29 wrote:
After they relocated prodution in China, increased prices, reduced distribution costs, what comes next ?

Relocating design team in China maybe ? Blister vending machine ? Collectable miniatures ( you don't know what is inside the box ) ?

Sure there is room for creativity ..

Books are done in China, the rest is mostly done in the UK.


Only the books are done in China. Models are produced in regional production centers around the world. I know there is one in Memphis, TN in the US, and I thought there was one in Germany, and another one somewhere in the Far East (like China of all places? LOL). Wasn't there one in Italy too? Or have they shut all those down to save money?



Automatically Appended Next Post:
 undertow wrote:
 Kirasu wrote:
They could shut down every gw store in the usa and that would be a step in the right direction

Why would that be, exactly? The local GW store I play in (Kent, Washington State) is largely responsible for my boys and I playing the game at all. The combination of a good community of people to play with and 6 tables with good terrain has been a huge help for us. If we didn't have somewhere to go to play initially to get to know the game and have other people to play against, I don't think we would have stuck with the hobby.


Just out of curiosity, have you visited any other game stores in the area? Or is it that an FLGS is an "unfriendly place" for 10 year old kids playing against the Neckbeards? I HATE playing at a GW shop because of the tolerance for children that don't know the rules, pick up, drop and break random models during a game, and in general have the attention span of a gnat- as in, they don't have any. No other place do I acutely feel like it's a game of Little Toy Soldiers then in a GW store. I know, a bit hypocritical, but when I sink hundreds of dollars into an army and countless hours of assembly and painting, the last thing I want to do is play a kid that has no concept of money or the amount of effort it takes to field a fully painted army that Dad didn't buy/assemble/paint for them.

I am glad you have a place you and your boys can go to and feel welcomed though.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/02/16 16:27:40


Kara Sloan shoots through Time and Design Space for a Negative Play Experience  
   
Made in gb
Wrathful Warlord Titan Commander





Ramsden Heath, Essex

 Tamwulf wrote:
[......

Only the books are done in China. Models are produced in regional production centers around the world. I know there is one in Memphis, TN in the US, and I thought there was one in Germany, and another one somewhere in the Far East (like China of all places? LOL). Wasn't there one in Italy too? Or have they shut all those down to save money?


Nope, All GW miniatures are made in the UK. There was once a US line doing the most common lines but that shut down some years ago.

You might be thinking of regional offices, which don't exist anymore either. All Europe is run from UK, USA has an office too.

Printing (boxes and books) is done in China. This sort of printing isn't really done in the UK anymore, I believe it has something to do with technology meaning high quality printing can be done with lower skilled (cheaper) labour.


 undertow wrote:
 Kirasu wrote:
They could shut down every gw store in the usa and that would be a step in the right direction

Why would that be, exactly? The local GW store I play in (Kent, Washington State) is largely responsible for my boys and I playing the game at all. The combination of a good community of people to play with and 6 tables with good terrain has been a huge help for us. If we didn't have somewhere to go to play initially to get to know the game and have other people to play against, I don't think we would have stuck with the hobby.


Just out of curiosity, have you visited any other game stores in the area? Or is it that an FLGS is an "unfriendly place" for 10 year old kids playing against the Neckbeards? I HATE playing at a GW shop because of the tolerance for children that don't know the rules, pick up, drop and break random models during a game, and in general have the attention span of a gnat- as in, they don't have any. No other place do I acutely feel like it's a game of Little Toy Soldiers then in a GW store. I know, a bit hypocritical, but when I sink hundreds of dollars into an army and countless hours of assembly and painting, the last thing I want to do is play a kid that has no concept of money or the amount of effort it takes to field a fully painted army that Dad didn't buy/assemble/paint for them.

I am glad you have a place you and your boys can go to and feel welcomed though.


Well you just sound like a barrel of laughs don't you.

If children don't learn you don't have new gamers, your community will die.

Also I hate to break it to you like this but your a grown man that plays with little toy soldiers. Embrace this fact, don't begrudge children the chance to enjoy it too.

How do you promote your Hobby? - Legoburner "I run some crappy wargaming website " 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut




North Carolina

 Norn King wrote:
My local store isn't open on Monday or Tuesday.

Sign of the times i guess.


Isn't that normal for all the 1 man stores? The one near me is closed the same days but since it's only 1 person working there it's only open 40 hours/5 days a week.

Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur
 
   
Made in pt
Tea-Kettle of Blood




 notprop wrote:

If children don't learn you don't have new gamers, your community will die.


Other games (every other game over here actually), seem to be growing quite nicely without any children involved so that assumption of yours seems to be a bit flawed.
   
Made in us
Thinking of Joining a Davinite Loge




 Azreal13 wrote:
New job title, cheaper salary, same gak.


How is this different from whats going on everywhere else? This isn't new or exclusive to GW. The first ranks culled are always middle management.

[/sarcasm] 
   
Made in us
Legendary Master of the Chapter





SoCal

 Peregrine wrote:
 Kirasu wrote:
They could shut down every gw store in the usa and that would be a step in the right direction


This. Getting rid of all of the store management is just the first step, now GW needs to get rid of all of the stores.


This situation reminds me of a Stephen King story about a man stranded on a desert isle. At first he eats all the plump seagulls and fish, but then he breaks his leg on a rock. He can no longer catch the fat birds, so he is truly starving when he realizes that his foot is gangrenous and needs to come of anyway... By the end of the story, he has amputated and eaten all of his middle managers and frontline staff. Truly a chilling work of fiction.

   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut




North Carolina

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
 Peregrine wrote:
 Kirasu wrote:
They could shut down every gw store in the usa and that would be a step in the right direction


This. Getting rid of all of the store management is just the first step, now GW needs to get rid of all of the stores.


This situation reminds me of a Stephen King story about a man stranded on a desert isle. At first he eats all the plump seagulls and fish, but then he breaks his leg on a rock. He can no longer catch the fat birds, so he is truly starving when he realizes that his foot is gangrenous and needs to come of anyway... By the end of the story, he has amputated and eaten all of his middle managers and frontline staff. Truly a chilling work of fiction.


I remember that story. IIRC he was a drug mule and used the cocaine as a painkiller for his DIY amputations.

Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur
 
   
Made in us
Stabbin' Skarboy





At my Keyboard

Would be interested to know where they are cutting these jobs from. Germany and the US got slashed well over a year ago. As well as a restructure of titles and pay as well.
US no longer have regional management or any legit training staff for that matter as well as a down sized Customer services staff when those combined used to be a staff of about 15 people. Not to mention the shut down of the US manufacturing section a few years back and selling off the casting machines .

The US and Canada have VERY few shops left with staff I think less then 5 currently. They are closing shops in States that were hubs that had more than 1 store in them. MD still has 4 with in 1 hrs drive of each other down from 8 a few years ago. VA is down to just 2. Dallas and Huston still have several and Seattle as well I believe. But as they close those up they open new shops in areas that don't have or have not had a GW shop in years or ever.

I have said for years they probably would be better served turning their shops in to giant vending machines ( i realize its not piratical but it sure looks like that's what they are going towards most times)

With all the cuts they have made in the past few years I really dont know where else they could cut, the staff is pretty skeletal as it is now. Wonder what rabbit they will pull next year to disguise the profit loss when they cant smoke and mirror the increase from not having to pay all these people they have let go.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/02/16 17:47:23


Cry Havoc and let slip the dogs of war!
 
   
Made in us
Legendary Master of the Chapter





SoCal

Prestor Jon wrote:
 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
 Peregrine wrote:
 Kirasu wrote:
They could shut down every gw store in the usa and that would be a step in the right direction


This. Getting rid of all of the store management is just the first step, now GW needs to get rid of all of the stores.


This situation reminds me of a Stephen King story about a man stranded on a desert isle. At first he eats all the plump seagulls and fish, but then he breaks his leg on a rock. He can no longer catch the fat birds, so he is truly starving when he realizes that his foot is gangrenous and needs to come of anyway... By the end of the story, he has amputated and eaten all of his middle managers and frontline staff. Truly a chilling work of fiction.


I remember that story. IIRC he was a drug mule and used the cocaine as a painkiller for his DIY amputations.



Just like GW.

   
Made in ca
Fixture of Dakka






In areas where there are alternatives, I'd be just fine with them shutting down GW retail stores, concentrating on Internet, and letting local hobby and gaming shops do the retail end of it.

I have nothing against GW stores, but not selling hobby supplies other than GW's own (very limited selection), not to mention higher prices than everyone else, makes them a little pointless.
   
Made in us
Stabbin' Skarboy





At my Keyboard

The "problem" with letting the local shops do it for GW is the local shops wont tow the party line of GW they will suggest or carry alternatives and sell the product in their own way. In GW's mind, that costs them money. GW will maintain the Darth Vader death grip on all things as long as it can, believe that.

The few things you can count on in the GW shops is no distractions from all stuff related to the game you are into. You will find someone else who plays your game and you are going to pay full price. (money is not the driving factor in every ones hobby) Unfortunately thats about all you can count on anymore. You cant get every thing you need for you army that day ( neither can you from most hobby shops I have been in) You may or may not get a guy/gal you can stand behind the counter ( still true in hobby shops) your probably wont be able to play a game on the very few tables now in the smaller shops. ( again this could be the same situation in a local shop as well.)

I have been is some super well run retailers who do it all and its awesome. I have also been to shops where they stock GW and know NOTING about it. The retail chain (at least north America) makes a pretty penny from the shops there and until that penny aint so shinny those are not going any where. For better or worse. There are still WAY more areas with out GW shops. You just have to hope the ones near you are awesome!

Cry Havoc and let slip the dogs of war!
 
   
Made in us
Judgemental Grey Knight Justicar




USA

 Tamwulf wrote:
 undertow wrote:
 Kirasu wrote:
They could shut down every gw store in the usa and that would be a step in the right direction

Why would that be, exactly? The local GW store I play in (Kent, Washington State) is largely responsible for my boys and I playing the game at all. The combination of a good community of people to play with and 6 tables with good terrain has been a huge help for us. If we didn't have somewhere to go to play initially to get to know the game and have other people to play against, I don't think we would have stuck with the hobby.


Just out of curiosity, have you visited any other game stores in the area? Or is it that an FLGS is an "unfriendly place" for 10 year old kids playing against the Neckbeards? I HATE playing at a GW shop because of the tolerance for children that don't know the rules, pick up, drop and break random models during a game, and in general have the attention span of a gnat- as in, they don't have any. No other place do I acutely feel like it's a game of Little Toy Soldiers then in a GW store. I know, a bit hypocritical, but when I sink hundreds of dollars into an army and countless hours of assembly and painting, the last thing I want to do is play a kid that has no concept of money or the amount of effort it takes to field a fully painted army that Dad didn't buy/assemble/paint for them.

I am glad you have a place you and your boys can go to and feel welcomed though.

The Kent store is about 15 minutes from my house. Most of the other non-GW stores in my area are smaller, and are primarily playing MTG on the weekends, so there's not much of a community in those places from what I've seen and read. There are a couple of really great stores that are just out of convenient travel range for me (Olympic Cards and Comics in Olympia, and Mugu Games in Everett, WA). So part of the reason we play at the Kent Station store is convenience, but a lot of it is the atmosphere there. People don't just drop their kids off there, my youngest (age 13) is generally only there with his older brother (age 19) and/or me.



Check out my list building app for 40K and Fantasy:
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Stealthy Grot Snipa





 Captain Vyper wrote:
The retail chain (at least north America) makes a pretty penny from the shops there and until that penny aint so shinny those are not going any where. For better or worse.


Well, I'm not so sure that's the case actually.

The amount of GW shops... sorry, "Hobby Centres" in North America decreased by 13% from May 2013 to May 2014. And those, combined, bring in a revenue of £10,122,120. Meanwhile, operating expenses in North America are £12,507,000. Now, it could be that some (or all) of the expenses from dealing with independent retailers are part of that, but since North American autonomy was removed, and the sales rep for the region is located in Nottingham, I suspect most of their trade expenses for the region are covered under the £9 million their Service Centre is costing them.

I'm expecting a lot less GW storefronts in North America in the future.

"The Emporer is a rouge trader."
- Charlie Chaplain. 
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka




Prestor Jon wrote:
 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
 Peregrine wrote:
 Kirasu wrote:
They could shut down every gw store in the usa and that would be a step in the right direction


This. Getting rid of all of the store management is just the first step, now GW needs to get rid of all of the stores.


This situation reminds me of a Stephen King story about a man stranded on a desert isle. At first he eats all the plump seagulls and fish, but then he breaks his leg on a rock. He can no longer catch the fat birds, so he is truly starving when he realizes that his foot is gangrenous and needs to come of anyway... By the end of the story, he has amputated and eaten all of his middle managers and frontline staff. Truly a chilling work of fiction.


I remember that story. IIRC he was a drug mule and used the cocaine as a painkiller for his DIY amputations.


Reminds me of an old Greek myth as well as a Michael Moorcock story that featured that happening to someone.
   
Made in de
Decrepit Dakkanaut





Talys wrote:
In areas where there are alternatives, I'd be just fine with them shutting down GW retail stores, concentrating on Internet, and letting local hobby and gaming shops do the retail end of it.


First of all, GW has burnt down all bridges concerning FLGS cooperation. Secondly, GW cannot shut their stores down. They are what makes their games more popular than the others. If GW goes fully online, they could no longer compete with other retailers and would go down.

   
Made in us
Douglas Bader






 Sigvatr wrote:
Secondly, GW cannot shut their stores down. They are what makes their games more popular than the others.


Maybe in the UK, but certainly not in the US. GW's own stores contribute almost nothing in the US because there are so few of them and they're rarely more appealing than the local independent store. There wasn't even a single GW store in my state 5 years ago, and yet somehow there was already a 40k community and GW games were the most popular. The GW stores around here are parasites on an existing community, and the sooner they disappear the better.

There is no such thing as a hobby without politics. "Leave politics at the door" is itself a political statement, an endorsement of the status quo and an attempt to silence dissenting voices. 
   
Made in us
RogueSangre





The Cockatrice Malediction

So how long after the last store closes until everything goes webstore exclusive?
   
Made in gb
Ruthless Interrogator





The hills above Belfast

I think GW should just put a trust box at the door and do away with the staff...........we are an honest bunch??!

EAT - SLEEP - FARM - REPEAT  
   
Made in au
Owns Whole Set of Skullz Techpriests






Versteckt in den Schatten deines Geistes.

Yeah, purchasing miniatures on the honour system. What could possibly go wrong?

Industrial Insanity - My Terrain Blog
"GW really needs to understand 'Less is more' when it comes to AoS." - Wha-Mu-077

 
   
Made in de
Decrepit Dakkanaut





 Abadabadoobaddon wrote:
So how long after the last store closes until everything goes webstore exclusive?


Won't happen. Webstore exclusive + no advertisement...how would GW persuade people to shop at them and not at an online retailer selling at -20% or more?

   
Made in gb
The Daemon Possessing Fulgrim's Body





Devon, UK

boyd wrote:
 Azreal13 wrote:
New job title, cheaper salary, same gak.


How is this different from whats going on everywhere else? This isn't new or exclusive to GW. The first ranks culled are always middle management.


It isn't.

It's just if Washers R Us are doing it, it isn't so likely to warrant discussing on, y'know, the worlds largest wargaming site.

We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark

The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.

The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox

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Made in au
Owns Whole Set of Skullz Techpriests






Versteckt in den Schatten deines Geistes.

 Sigvatr wrote:
Won't happen. Webstore exclusive + no advertisement...how would GW persuade people to shop at them and not at an online retailer selling at -20% or more?


By not selling stock to the other webstore. The emphasis is on the exclusive part of "web exclusive".

Industrial Insanity - My Terrain Blog
"GW really needs to understand 'Less is more' when it comes to AoS." - Wha-Mu-077

 
   
Made in us
The New Miss Macross!





Deep Frier of Mount Doom

They have to make the bottom line look better and, according to a thread in dakka discussions, they've already announced an EXTRA dividend payout before the normally scheduled (and over the top one) in another month. That money has to come from somewhere and it seems that the customer and the little guy (normal employees) are always the ones who end up paying.
   
 
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