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Message: <blockquote data-quote="random user" data-source="post: 1633460" data-attributes="member: 16581">Disclaimer: I don't own nor have I ever owned a game store.Aside from location issues (which is probably covered under the general starting a small business section), there are a couple of things that I have noticed:- knowledgable or at least friendly staff.  This I think is the most important.  If you can become a resource for gamers, they will come back.  Sure, there is the net now and ways to get info via the web, but there is often something reassuring about having a real human tell you their opinions.- area for gaming.  I like it when I walk into my gaming store and there are people gaming there.  Now, I wouldn't advocate putting that gaming area right in front.  Honestly, I think it might scare some people new but interested in gaming away... it's just too much at once... I don't want people to misunderstand me.  I don't think that your average gamer is scary.  However, there are many many different ways to game, and you prejudice the novice when you expose them prematurely to any particular style of gaming.  Better to let them explore meeting other gamers when they are ready.  Thus, I would put the gaming area towards the back of the store, if possible, or at least not right at the front.Speaking of which, the gaming area shouldn't be smelly, should be well lit, and hopefully comfortable.- As to product, you might do a poll to see how many (German) board game players there are in your area.  Among my gaming group and a couple others I know, board games are popular.  Now, I'm not talking about Monopoly or Life or other staples which many of us grew up with (though selling those might not be a bad idea either, depending on if there is a Toys'r'us etc close by).  The top 100 list on rec.games.board is a good list to start with.  See if there is a market for a store that will have games like Settlers of Catan, Puerto Rico, etc.  If there isn't a store around that sells those types of games, you may find people who would be interested in a store sponsored game night where board gamers can meet.  One of the local stores around here does that, and charges a $2-3 admission (refunded if you buy merchandise).As to CCG's, it won't hurt to carry product.  As to whether you want to run open gaming for CCG's I'm not sure.  Overall I don't think there is a lot of overlap between CCG's and RPG's.  Or rather, I think that your average RPGer may or may not have played CCG's, but I think most CCG players haven't played a RPG.CCG's can be pretty lucrative though.  You may find yourself running a CCG store that also has RPGs.  On that note, from what I've heard Warhammer stuff sells very well.I'm not too familiar with comic books.  I will note that two closest stores I frequent don't carry comic books though.Lastly, I want to again note that I don't have any actual experience running a store.  I do, however, know someone that did own a store, as well as being good friends with an ex-general manager of a store, as well as knowing many employees in another store fairly well.  So take my thoughts with a grain of salt. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

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