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<blockquote data-quote="Raven Crowking" data-source="post: 5250756" data-attributes="member: 18280"><p>There is a lot of good advice on this thread already. Here's my $.02, for what it's worth (probably about $.01):</p><p></p><p>Important things to sell include minis (random packs, singles), tile maps, battlemaps, etc. Paper, graph paper, hex paper, pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, erasers, dice. The stuff someone discovers they need while playing, but forgot to bring.</p><p></p><p>Keep an eye out for <strong><em>great</em></strong> GMs in your area. Invest in getting them to run demos and open campaigns in your store. Even a modest discount goes a long way towards this sort of goodwill. Be ready to help these folks advertise their games through store flyers or board postings. These folks will draw others to your store via word of mouth.</p><p></p><p>Jump on organized play and tournaments with modest fees. 50% to 75% of the fees to enter go toward prizes; the rest towards costs. Consider classic game tournaments, such as chess. Consider sending flyers to local schools, colleges, and universities about these tournaments.</p><p></p><p>Make a newsletter (available via email/pdf or printed cheaply) with upcoming events, upcoming game listings, looking for players/GM listings, and events in your sponsored games. This will not only make players in your sponsored games feel good ("Look! It mentions we got past the Black Door in Gary's game!") but it makes others interested in joining your sponsored games ("That description of last week's D&D Encounters sure seems cool!").</p><p></p><p>A return on your investment isn't instantaneous. Most businesses fail within the first year. Even breaking even is a big deal. You need to make sure that you have the financial backing to be in for the long haul. It is better to wait and plan longer, save more, and get a better location than it is to jump in and fail. But it is also important to jump in -- planning forever for a store that never exists is a heartbreaker.</p><p></p><p>Speaking of location, parking is important, but walk-by traffic is even more important. </p><p></p><p>Devise means and policies for dealing with shoplifting and prank phone calls. Speak with your local police department to determine exactly what you may do in these regards. For the same manner, consider the possibility of break-ins. When I co-owned Golden City Comics, we used a combination of bars and the fact that you could see the cash register had no cash drawer in it after hours. Every storefront in the neighbourhood but ours was broken into at some point while we were open. Make yourself a less attractive target.</p><p></p><p>Clearly delineate who is responsible for what before starting. It will save you some angst later. Even though you are "the boss" prepare to work harder -- much harder -- than you would at a 9 to 5 job. After all, your hard work should generate direct returns. Even if those returns are not immediately apparent.</p><p></p><p>Try to start generating interest in your storefront as soon as you have a spot selected. Do not wait until the doors open to advertise. OTOH, spend your advertising dollars wisely. Find businesses that have a natural crossover with yours, where those owners also want to draw and keep the same group of customers in the neighbourhood. Movie theatres, for example, or video stores. And cross-promote.</p><p></p><p>Finally, open in Toronto. As close as you can to the Ossington subway station.</p><p></p><p></p><p>RC</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Raven Crowking, post: 5250756, member: 18280"] There is a lot of good advice on this thread already. Here's my $.02, for what it's worth (probably about $.01): Important things to sell include minis (random packs, singles), tile maps, battlemaps, etc. Paper, graph paper, hex paper, pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, erasers, dice. The stuff someone discovers they need while playing, but forgot to bring. Keep an eye out for [B][I]great[/I][/B] GMs in your area. Invest in getting them to run demos and open campaigns in your store. Even a modest discount goes a long way towards this sort of goodwill. Be ready to help these folks advertise their games through store flyers or board postings. These folks will draw others to your store via word of mouth. Jump on organized play and tournaments with modest fees. 50% to 75% of the fees to enter go toward prizes; the rest towards costs. Consider classic game tournaments, such as chess. Consider sending flyers to local schools, colleges, and universities about these tournaments. Make a newsletter (available via email/pdf or printed cheaply) with upcoming events, upcoming game listings, looking for players/GM listings, and events in your sponsored games. This will not only make players in your sponsored games feel good ("Look! It mentions we got past the Black Door in Gary's game!") but it makes others interested in joining your sponsored games ("That description of last week's D&D Encounters sure seems cool!"). A return on your investment isn't instantaneous. Most businesses fail within the first year. Even breaking even is a big deal. You need to make sure that you have the financial backing to be in for the long haul. It is better to wait and plan longer, save more, and get a better location than it is to jump in and fail. But it is also important to jump in -- planning forever for a store that never exists is a heartbreaker. Speaking of location, parking is important, but walk-by traffic is even more important. Devise means and policies for dealing with shoplifting and prank phone calls. Speak with your local police department to determine exactly what you may do in these regards. For the same manner, consider the possibility of break-ins. When I co-owned Golden City Comics, we used a combination of bars and the fact that you could see the cash register had no cash drawer in it after hours. Every storefront in the neighbourhood but ours was broken into at some point while we were open. Make yourself a less attractive target. Clearly delineate who is responsible for what before starting. It will save you some angst later. Even though you are "the boss" prepare to work harder -- much harder -- than you would at a 9 to 5 job. After all, your hard work should generate direct returns. Even if those returns are not immediately apparent. Try to start generating interest in your storefront as soon as you have a spot selected. Do not wait until the doors open to advertise. OTOH, spend your advertising dollars wisely. Find businesses that have a natural crossover with yours, where those owners also want to draw and keep the same group of customers in the neighbourhood. Movie theatres, for example, or video stores. And cross-promote. Finally, open in Toronto. As close as you can to the Ossington subway station. RC [/QUOTE]
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