Retail Gaming Store Economics [LONG]
- Thread starter Sam
- Start date
stevelabny
Explorer
A few things I just want to throw into this discussion.
1> I've worked the past few years doing almost every aspect for a small retail photographic supplies store. (just so you know where I'm coming from) When it comes to stuff that isn't selling (particularly discontinued lines, CCGs that have fallen out of favor, and junk) it is your job as the man in charge to
a> keep your ear to the ground, know whats coming. and when the end is near for a product. lower prices accordingly.
b> admit when its over. if lowering the price in did not clear out everything. immediately sell at cost when the product is dead. if it STILL doesn't sell, it just became a prize in your next store contest. (but probably 2nd or 3rd prize, cuz who wants to win THAT?) or buy a certain amount and get one of these free.
2> Don't sell anything at list price. If you don't think your store can survive selling everything at 20% off. DON'T BOTHER. Don't insult my intelligence. I know I can buy anything for at least 20% off online. So do your customers. In NYC many shops give a 20% discount. Some don't. I will only shop in those that don't if I can't find a product elsewhere.
3> Don't half-ass a major part of your store. Don't be a gaming store that sells comics. Or vice versa. Be a gaming & comics store. Or one or the other. Now obviously a just gaming store can still carry gaming-related comics (KotDT, anything D&D, etc) and a comic store can carry HeroClix or some sort of super-hero RPG. BUT don't pretend your a comic store and sell very few comics. A comic store needs full lines of Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse, plus other independents plus BACK ISSUES. Otherwise you'll just tick off the comic fans.
4> Don't have the place look seedy. Pretend you're a REAL retail store.
5> Adapt.
I'm done.
steve
1> I've worked the past few years doing almost every aspect for a small retail photographic supplies store. (just so you know where I'm coming from) When it comes to stuff that isn't selling (particularly discontinued lines, CCGs that have fallen out of favor, and junk) it is your job as the man in charge to
a> keep your ear to the ground, know whats coming. and when the end is near for a product. lower prices accordingly.
b> admit when its over. if lowering the price in did not clear out everything. immediately sell at cost when the product is dead. if it STILL doesn't sell, it just became a prize in your next store contest. (but probably 2nd or 3rd prize, cuz who wants to win THAT?) or buy a certain amount and get one of these free.
2> Don't sell anything at list price. If you don't think your store can survive selling everything at 20% off. DON'T BOTHER. Don't insult my intelligence. I know I can buy anything for at least 20% off online. So do your customers. In NYC many shops give a 20% discount. Some don't. I will only shop in those that don't if I can't find a product elsewhere.
3> Don't half-ass a major part of your store. Don't be a gaming store that sells comics. Or vice versa. Be a gaming & comics store. Or one or the other. Now obviously a just gaming store can still carry gaming-related comics (KotDT, anything D&D, etc) and a comic store can carry HeroClix or some sort of super-hero RPG. BUT don't pretend your a comic store and sell very few comics. A comic store needs full lines of Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse, plus other independents plus BACK ISSUES. Otherwise you'll just tick off the comic fans.
4> Don't have the place look seedy. Pretend you're a REAL retail store.
5> Adapt.
I'm done.
steve
Azure Trance
First Post
Sam said:
Dan ... with glasses, backward baseball hat Dan? Small world
BTW, WOTC in Roosevelt just got an Email today from management - their not closing down, after all, but moving to a smaller store. Some compensation?
Sam
First Post
stevelabny said:
Thanks for the ideas. Those are all good points, though I don't know if #2 is really feasible. Yeah, you can order online from FRP or RPGnow.com or Amazon.com, but you can't play there. The point of having a FLGS that is inviting and open is that people want to purchase stuff from you to support you. If you aren't supporting the gaming public, then they will (and should) seek cheaper alternatives.
#4 is a big issue for me. I want to have a place where people who are new to gaming (and parents) will not feel threatened and not wonder about what type of "sub-culture" environment this is.
Keep the ideas coming.
--Sam
Last edited:
Charwoman Gene
Adventurer
Possible Host for RPGA Play:
Monkey Head Games in Selden. It isn't quite as far as say Men at Arms and not as wonky as trying to run things through the d6 Gaming Club at Stony Brook.
You LI guys do all know about I-Con right?
Major Sci-Fi Con at Stony Brook University. I run it's gaming now. Gonna be a killer year. Gonna have a post trying to drum up interest as soon as our firk-ding-blasted new webmaster gets our update in...
Monkey Head Games in Selden. It isn't quite as far as say Men at Arms and not as wonky as trying to run things through the d6 Gaming Club at Stony Brook.
You LI guys do all know about I-Con right?
Major Sci-Fi Con at Stony Brook University. I run it's gaming now. Gonna be a killer year. Gonna have a post trying to drum up interest as soon as our firk-ding-blasted new webmaster gets our update in...
Azure Trance
First Post
Sam said:
IIRC their staying in Roosevelt Field but to a smaller store. I could be wrong, of course, but I'm pretty sure that's what I heard ...
Azure Trance
First Post
Charwoman Gene said:
My first time at ICON was last year when I was a Froshie at SUNY@SB. I actually only got to try out CoC - we were Allied Forces trying to infilitrate a German castle ... unfortunately, we all died in the courtyard when our cover was blown. It just doesn't seem as appealing to play the games you already have played for a quick one shot instead of games you probably won't have a chance to play anywhere else (I missed a game of Paranoia, frex).
Gene, I've only heard of it vaguely but what is D4? The gaming subset under Icon? Also, from what Nick stated the proposed RPGA tournaments would be somewhat civilized ... (doesn't matter very much to me as I don't have a Living Greyhawk Character; though I'd like to try Living Spycraft ...)
Charwoman Gene
Adventurer
d4 is a micro-convention run by the Stony Brook gaming Club, aka "d6". It'll be in February, date still unknown.
It is unrelated to I-Con, except that I-Con's gaming staff will be using it as a recruiting and testing place.
I-Con is in late march (27-29). It's about a 6,000 person con.
I only meant wonky in terms that regular gaming at USB woiuld be disrupted by breaks in the school calendar.
It is unrelated to I-Con, except that I-Con's gaming staff will be using it as a recruiting and testing place.
I-Con is in late march (27-29). It's about a 6,000 person con.
I only meant wonky in terms that regular gaming at USB woiuld be disrupted by breaks in the school calendar.
Nightstorm
First Post
My take on it
I know nothing about retail but I will tell you what I do know.
AS A CUSTOMER, I bought almost all of my 3e stuff from ACME games in Cincinnati. But no more. I have over 300 dollars in stuff that I have bought over the last 3-4 years. Not once to my knowledge do I remember the owner saying " you know I see you come in here all the time. What's your name?" When I've come into the store the owner is playing a game with a freind or is talking gaming stuff with a buddy. No one ever looks up and acknowledges my presence. Rarly am I thanked for my purchases. If I ask a question I get a reply that is drawn out as if it's killing them to talk to me. Well guess what? The other day I came in looking for Monte Cook's Book of Hallow Might. I was told he wasnt carrying Malhavoc press stuff no more. The conversation went like this:
Nightstorm:Is the Book of Hollowed Might out yet?
Owner: [with a blank gaze and acting like he'd never heard of it even though he's carried it from the start] oh is that Malhavic press?
Nightstorm:Yea.
Owner: We dont carry that publisher no more[than turns around and doesnt say another word]
That stucked with me and that night while on the web I came across something by accident. AMAZON.COM where I found that I can get 33% off the cover of my D&D books. HUMMMMMM 
I know nothing about retail but I will tell you what I do know.
AS A CUSTOMER, I bought almost all of my 3e stuff from ACME games in Cincinnati. But no more. I have over 300 dollars in stuff that I have bought over the last 3-4 years. Not once to my knowledge do I remember the owner saying " you know I see you come in here all the time. What's your name?" When I've come into the store the owner is playing a game with a freind or is talking gaming stuff with a buddy. No one ever looks up and acknowledges my presence. Rarly am I thanked for my purchases. If I ask a question I get a reply that is drawn out as if it's killing them to talk to me. Well guess what? The other day I came in looking for Monte Cook's Book of Hallow Might. I was told he wasnt carrying Malhavoc press stuff no more. The conversation went like this:
Nightstorm:Is the Book of Hollowed Might out yet?
Owner: [with a blank gaze and acting like he'd never heard of it even though he's carried it from the start] oh is that Malhavic press?
Nightstorm:Yea.
Owner: We dont carry that publisher no more[than turns around and doesnt say another word]
That stucked with me and that night while on the web I came across something by accident. AMAZON.COM where I found that I can get 33% off the cover of my D&D books. HUMMMMMM
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