WotC and brick and mortar retail stores - Greg Leeds weighs in

[renau1g]

I wish game stores here would learn to run events properly. It's ironic that one of the quoted posts says they're being 'forced' to run live events, but realistically, they should be doing it anyway to bring in customers.

...other stuff...

Oh well, survival of the fittest I suppose.

I agree with you, unless the store makes itself a hub of gaming for the community then the community will likely just order from Amazon to save 35% off the cover price. If the store runs regular games, has a knowledgeable staff (at least competently knowledgeable about the products they carry), and a decent set-up I would definitely spend the extra $10 to buy my book from them.

If OTOH they expect people to just buy from them because they sell the books, well there's no incentive.

Oh, I love the idea of adding a coffee shop element to the traditional gaming space. I've talked with a couple friends about some ideas like this, but we're all doing well in our careers with young families and can't afford to take this kind of risk.

 

[carmachu]

After all, in the age of the Internet you CAN find it cheaper elsewhere. You will find a better product knowledge elsewhere. What I can offer is a nice shopping environment you will enjoy coming to, and a good selection of merchandise to choose from you can take with you today. And, hopefully for some time to come, that will be valued by some consumers.

The problem comes in that the good stores like Titan and others are few and far between. if you have a great one, Good for you! The problem is most of us dont, which only adds to the shopping online, discussion online, finding gamers online with less hassle and no driving......

If I had a good one, it be different. But sadly I dont, so....to bad for game stores. No shopping in them for me.

 

[amysrevenge]

Yeah, a good store makes all the difference (interesting to see a random plug for my store of shoice in this very thread, made by a person I don't recognize by handle no less).

Frankly, just having that good store nearby makes me feel a greater zest for playing in general. Events and people in the store have rekindled my interest in both D&D and Warhammer.

 

[Kzach]

Oh, I love the idea of adding a coffee shop element to the traditional gaming space. I've talked with a couple friends about some ideas like this, but we're all doing well in our careers with young families and can't afford to take this kind of risk.

Take a page from these guys books as they seem to be doing quite well here: Good Games

 

[Glyfair]

Oh, I love the idea of adding a coffee shop element to the traditional gaming space. I've talked with a couple friends about some ideas like this, but we're all doing well in our careers with young families and can't afford to take this kind of risk.

I will say that the local store that tried that failed. However, they had a lot of things going against them (including alienating a good portion of the gaming community).

Of course, one of the two success stories (will have their 30th anniversary next year), was a group of friends who all banded together to start a business they knew they would love.

 

[Festivus]

If I were to open a game store, a combination coffee shop and game store is exactly what I was thinking of. I have about 18 years before I am ready to try it though.

 

[catsclaw227]

If I were to open a game store, a combination coffee shop and game store is exactly what I was thinking of. I have about 18 years before I am ready to try it though.

It reminds me of that other odd but perfect pairing that was popular in the late '90s, the laundrymat/bar, though they only sold bottled beer, beer on tap, and glasses of wine, it was a 2 1/2 hr affair (the laundry) that became fun.

 

[Kzach]

I will say that the local store that tried that failed. However, they had a lot of things going against them (including alienating a good portion of the gaming community).

Of course, one of the two success stories (will have their 30th anniversary next year), was a group of friends who all banded together to start a business they knew they would love.

Yeah, I don't think coffee shop is the right atmosphere.

The people I linked to above keep it pretty simple. They rent out a decent-sized floor-space and fill it with tables and chairs. The small amount of space they dedicate to selling product focuses on snacks and booster packs, ie. stuff that gamers will buy on impulse. They stock other materials as well, but keep it pretty thin since they're not high turnover items.

By concentrating on the competitive aspect of TCG's and now with the D&D Encounters format, and charging for games and table-space, they've adapted to the market's needs and filled a niche where brick'n'mortar can prosper instead of keeping themselves tied to an old, and unprofitable business model that sinks huge amounts of capital into stock that moves at a snail's pace.

 

[renau1g]

And if you have that D&D game day event grab a few PHB3's (or whatever other book it is) and sell out for a nice little bump in sales.

 

[Dire Bare]

Yeah, I don't think coffee shop is the right atmosphere.

I'm thinking full bar!