How do you support a hobby store when you don't buy products from the hobby?

[Jeffrey]

As others have noted, run a game there by way of support. RPG, board game, whatever.

Buy something each session and use it as a prize to be awarded, or even as a "door prize" for those who play in your game. It can be something as small as a set of dice or maybe a gift certificate.

How about starting a SIG (special interest group)/club based on a particular game or group dynamic (The-Club-of-Those-Who-Don't-Care-What-They-Play As-Long-As-We-Get-To-Play-Club).

Offer to mentor new gamers.

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I am particularly jealous of those of you who have had new game shops open near you, most especially ones as nice as the one in the OP. There is nothing near me save an hour or so drive.

 

[Thunderfoot]

If you really want to run a 4e table.... Join the RPGA, take the DM test and run their encounters scenarios as a regular event. Make sure you report it to the RPGA and it lists the location of the store in their electronic flyers and calendars.

As a benefit to you, you and the store get free product for your time and it promotes 4e. I was big into the RPGA during 3.X and ran a lot of demos, etc. I'm not a 4e kind of guy so I can't be counted on to do it anymore, but they are always looking for DMs, who knows, maybe with enough experience you'll end of volunteering for GenCon for the RPGA events there.

Otherwise, yeah, buy other games and run those at the store in hopes of getting customers. When I was out on the east coast a FLGS that was quite successful ran LAN stations and charged by the hour for computer access. Mostly WoW, but some other games as well, that is usually a great business model in the modern FLGS.

 

[MichaelSomething]

Like everyone else said, running a fun open game is a great way to be helpful.

If you truly want to help out a game store without buying anything, volunteer to clean up the place on a regular basis. I bet the store owner will really appreciate that.

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

In addition to the other great suggestions, you could also buy snacks for the table even if you don't want to partake. It's perfectly normal for someone to buy a bag of chips or a six-pack of soda and bring it to a game; just because you're at a store doesn't make that weird. Your players will like it, it supports the store, and you don't have to eat any of it if that runs into your diet.

(That said, I think the key is that if you're running a game that's getting people in the door, you're already helping out. I make a point of buying when I play at a game day in a store or whatever, but when I'm just running games, I don't feel an obligation to do so. I may anyway, but I don't feel like I need to to be a decent gamer.)

 

[Blue]

1. Encourage players to buy materials they are using, not just share books, etc. "Hey, need a mini for your new PC? Check out their display case." Same for at-the-table snacks.
2. Suggest to the group that everyone ante's in $2 for a gift card to go to the MVP of the session (by vote). Gift card means no "rent" to play but still a guaranteed sale for the store.
3. Gaming stores are often looking for DMs for encounters and LFR, volunteer some. A good DM running may be much more valuable to them then a token purchase.

My FLGS had a number of regular games where people never bought anything - guess what, they still pay rent on all that square footage for the space. So encourage the group to buy things. Books and commodities many will prefer to buy at amazon/etc for the discounts, but there are a lot of things you want to hold in your hand to make the call to buy. Minis, dice, etc. (Gamers and our dice luck. Never bought dice over the internet.)

 

[Kzach]

Some great suggestions that I'm taking on-board. I had already planned to run a game in the store but was iffy about also running an open RPGA game. I'll give it a go though and see how I do. I like the buying of snacks for the group one; that will actually probably prompt others to buy as well since one packet of something will whet five people's appetites The gift card suggestion could work but I'd need to make it fair and reasonable somehow.

I could possibly develop some sort of connection to the painters I guess. I'm not a fan of metal minis, though and dearly wish DDM would come back and be successful.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Here's another way: buy gift certificates and give them to your fellow gaming buddies as gifts. The store gets $$$ and foot traffic, and you're not burdened with product you don't want.

 

[Colmarr]

2. Suggest to the group that everyone ante's in $2 for a gift card to go to the MVP of the session (by vote). Gift card means no "rent" to play but still a guaranteed sale for the store.

That is a GREAT idea.

It's an informal "ticket to ride" system, the money eventually get returned to the player group, and the store gets the cash in the meantime.

 

[Kerranin]

That is a GREAT idea.

It's an informal "ticket to ride" system, the money eventually get returned to the player group, and the store gets the cash in the meantime.

You can even have the gift certificate turn up in loot. (just for a laugh)

 

[Aberzanzorax]

I love both of the gift certificate ideas.

The $2 ante and someone in the group wins it at the end is very good....I don't know if I'd give it to MVP, I'd probably just randomly determine it.

I also like the idea of, when giving gifts, giving gift certs to friends (gamers and potential future gamers) to draw them to the store.


Two other options:
1. (Sorta sneaky) When out with friends, find a reason to stop in to the store so that friends check it out there/browse their stuff. Even non gamers can find cool stuff in gaming stores (my FLGS sells some fantasy art, board games as well as rpgs, "geek" memorabalia like star wars t-shirts, etc).

2. What about third party 4e books? I'm thinking adventures here, mainly. I believe Goodman Games, Open Design, and others have published these.