What would you like to see in a new game store?

[calimedic911]

Hello,

I am opening a new rpg store in the Seattle WA area. I am looking to open a fantasy focused store but am willing to take suggestions on other lines to carry.

Thanks for any suggestions

Sean

 

[jaerdaph]

Employees who don't refer to TSR as if it still exists. *rimshot*

Seriously though, I know *nothing* about the retail business, so I'll just shut my mouth and wish you the best of luck and every success.

 

[Crothian]

Just get some nice, helpful, and knowledgibile employees. Around here I know more about the products then seemingly anyone who works at any of the stores so they are of no help.

 

[calimedic911]

What types of things do you guys look for? in a game store do you like lots of mini's? do you like books? do you like background music?...etc... I know what I like in a game store but as I have been told many times, my tastes can be a little odd so I am asking for various ideas.

Thanks
Sean

 

[Crothian]

I'm not into the mini scene so I don't look at them. I look at a variety of books. I'm not justa d20 player, though that is the biggest game for me. I like to look at all the new releases from all sorts of games just to at least see what is going on in other games. I also like to see what the latest no collectible card games and board games are that are out.

 

[Glyfair]

I find a lot of gaming space is a plus, although not a necessity. You can find a lot of stores running demos of board, card and miniature games, but I don't see that many roleplaying demos. However, that's a big expense on something you might enjoy.

Of course, I've seen stores with big gaming areas that weren't that good because the various games were too close together. One store I was playing in a Mechwarrior tournament had an XBox Mechwarrior game not 5 feet from the tournament. Initially it was a good atmosphere, but it quickly sunk as the very loud game and very large crowd became very distracting.

This question has been asked several times before on this forum, you might look around for them. Right now search doesn't seem to be responding, maybe when the new servers go online it'll be easier to look.

 

[LazerPointer]

I don't buy minis, splat books, adventures,etc, so here's what I'd think was cool, fwiw.

lotsa dice. I was surprised when I had to go to several stores just to find 4 different color d20's.

a life-size cardboard princess leia.

good layout! make it feel like a nice place to hang out or visit.

a bulletin board to cultivate that community-hub sort of feel.

staff that have other interests besides gaming, too, so people new to the hobby can relate.

I know there is no official product, but one thing I'd love to have is something better than the blank battlemat/pencils etc for walls system I use now. If you got creative and sold the 1' grid scored whiteboard, even if this was your only option, it would be so cool. then you could sell the dry erase markers etc too.

then again, asking me is like asking Homer to design a car. grain of salt sold seperately.

 

[The_Universe]

Sell minis. They're released frequently, and have very loyal fanbases for their varying games (warhammer, confrontation, warlord). The plastic D&D minis seem to be good, as are MageKnight and HeroClix.

Sell cards - people are still addicted to them, and they don't take up a lot of inventory space. Magic, Yugio, whatever.

Background music is good as long as its not overpowering.

Have as many books as you can afford to inventory, but be available for special orders.

Be knowledgeable - amazon knows nothing about games, but they almost always have what people are looking for. You need to be able to beat that.

Keep the store clean, keep your people clean. Smelly help is worse than just being closed.

If possible, provide space for people to game in or on. However, try to keep it seperate from retail space, as no one wants to fight their way past a bunch of angry magic players in order to get to the bookshelf.

Don't wrap books, but don't be afraid to discourage shameless "library" type behavior. Let people glance through, but don't let them READ a book.

D20 is the big boy on the market, but you should certainly include White Wolf, GURPS, and Shadowrun.

Maybe sell other games (board games, etc.) as space allows? RPGs don't exactly pull in the masses. Be ready to answer questions from people that have no idea what's going on, and have ways of bringing those same people into your store - new customers are always good.

 

[mythusmage]

Events. At least one weekly event, and more if you can find the people to run them.

Solicit volunteers to run said events, and be sure to keep in touch with them on a regular basis. If your area has game company demonstrators be sure to get in touch with them. And promote their demos.

A physical bulletin board is a good idea. But be sure to keep it up to date. An on-line presence is also good. Nothing fancy, sales, promotions, a mailing list and a store forum should do it. The last two are real easy to set up with the right site control panel. Don't think you have to impress people, all you really need to do is inform them.

And for those who work, try keeping the store open noon to 8, instead of 10 to 6. Would give the painfully employed time in the evening to drop in and shop if they're of a mind to.

Finally, to amplify what's been said before, have employees that not only know the games, they actually play them.

Just remembered, have a grand opening. Demos and tourneys and stuff like that there. People like grand openings.

Good luck.

 

[johnsemlak]

Have a section of marked down books--overstock, used, previous edition, or whatever. Some people might come regularly just for that, but it gets them in the store.

Other key points have been mentioned I think.