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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="RodneyThompson" data-source="post: 643500" data-attributes="member: 3594">Well, looks like Rob has the inside scoop. From a consumer standpoint, let me emphasize some of the things I've liked/disliked about the two FLGS that I've been to.<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Clean environment: My God this is a must. If you keep the place spic-and-span, keep a nice clean bathroom, and generally make the place as clean as a retail store in a nice mall, you'll automatically put people in a consumer mindset.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Food and drink: Great to have if you're going to have a gaming area! I don't think I've been to a game in the last 5 years where I didn't buy at least a Coke, and sometimes more. Snacks are fuel for gamers.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Customer Service: I gamed in one store for 3 years and the owner knew my name, so I kept wanting to go back. I've been gaming in this second store for 2 years and the owner treats me like a stranger every time I come in. Pretend that you're on commission for every sale, learn names, and be knowledgeable.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Featured item: This is something I've picked up from a buddy of mine that works at an Electronics Boutique here in town. Each month they have a featured vendor, where they push that manufacurer's products on every customer. Don't be afraid to highlight one book each week that you tell every customer about. Just give them a spiel, don't force it on them. It helps if it is part of a series of books, because next month they might be back for the next installment.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Noise Pollution: This one depends on the way your store is built, but in my current FLGS the gaming floor is basically an old garage...meaning that the loud, annoying Vampire LARPers are constantly drowning out my Star Wars GM. Same goes for Magic/MageKnight players who may play several rounds with different partners in a single sitting. You may have to look into some way to cut down on "static" in the room.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Rearranging the store: If the store stays in the same layout all year long, I'm less likely to notice new additions or even older books. A shift in layout can keep things fresh for the customer and eliminate "oh, I've seen that shelf a hundred times" syndrome.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Encourage GMs: One thing that kept my gaming group coming back each week was that the store owner encouraged me to run games there. If you can be a local source for RPGA events, especially some more obscure ones like Living Spycraft, all the better. Likewise, if a new game comes out and only one guy in your store buys it, encourage him to come in and do a demo day for the game. It's what I did for Star Wars d20 when it first came out. [/list=1] And I'm spent!</li> </ol></blockquote>

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