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Enchanted Trinkets Complete--a hardcover book containing over 500 magic items for your D&D games!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="MarauderX" data-source="post: 1327833" data-attributes="member: 9990">This is good advice, but DO NOT let the players treat the materials on the racks as 'open resources'.  And she better be willing to put in a lot of time and have plenty of help that she can trust to keep the store open relatively early and stay open late, nearly every night.  From what I understand, most game store owners don't get out much to events, like sports, theater, concerts, shows, whatever.  Be prepared to give that up, baby, since plenty of gamers just don't care about any of it.  I have to say the internet is probably one of the best cheap places to advertise.  If she is getting bulk inventory, go straight to eBay and start selling there.  It may eat up a lot of that time when she is sitting around her store waiting for the next pack of wargamers to waltz in.  Set up a website and link everything you could ever get your hands on to it.  Look at examples and get someone cheap and good to teach you how to maintain it yourself once it gets started.  Diversify.  Be able to supply everything any fantasy/SF fan would want.  Comic books, anime movies, trading cards, hard to find board games, paints & accessories, wargaming figures, minis, limited PS2 & Xbox games, etc.  Make the promise that if you don't have it you will get it for someone, or at the minimum you will track down exactly how much it would cost.  Keep excellent records and document EVERYTHING.  Everything.  From everything like inventory, profits, taxes, new and upcoming products to what the game room is reserved for that night.  This makes it easy for gamers to know when to show up for in-store sessions, as well as knowing what they are playing and who is invited.  The more you do for them, the more you keep their loyalty and business.  Don't let them see you sweat, and don't them know when you are rolling in the money.  It's like a poker game sometimes, and when someone sees you getting too successful they figure you can spare an item or two.  Always reply as if the media were watching: "I'm doin' alright, can't complain as there's always something new coming out - like check out the new D&D Edition 4.0..."  Don't whine either, as no one likes to hear it, whether you are in or out of the store.  Granted I have never owned or ran a game store, I am just sharing a bit of what I know from my MBA studies.  I would like to see more game stores out there, as it seems to be an indicator of more players, which is a good thing IMO.  And if she does open it up, I would hope to hear about it... whether here or wizards or wherever.  Good luck to her.</blockquote>

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