WotC: Goodbye, Loren Greenwood, hello Greg Leeds

[DaveyJones]

I'd like to see the new guy get D&D back into toy stores (Toys 'R Us) like it used to be back in the 80's. The more mainstream exposure, the better.

walmart would be a big boost too.

 

[Relique du Madde]

walmart would be a big boost too.

Walmart should be the goal... Toys r Us a stepping stone.

 

[Filcher]

I'd like to see the new guy get D&D back into toy stores (Toys 'R Us) like it used to be back in the 80's. The more mainstream exposure, the better.

Gosh ... I recall all those TSR racks at Toys 'R Us and KB Toy Stores. I'd spend hours there. Getting D&D back into toy stores would be awesome.

 

[DaveyJones]

Gosh ... I recall all those TSR racks at Toys 'R Us and KB Toy Stores. I'd spend hours there. Getting D&D back into toy stores would be awesome.

yup. where they (Gamekeeper and WotC) messed up was trying to corner their own stores. they overshot/overspent and bought into high rent mall stores. marketing a niche product. when it is in a store like Toys R Us or Kay Bee or even the book chains like Borders, Barnes & Nobles, or Waldenbooks (now gone) it can be absorbed into the main stream more readily.
as a niche it is only gonna get those interested few buying (GMs for the rpgs or collectors or relatives who don't know what they are buying).

 

[ssampier]

You say goodbye, I say Hello

I'm not going to count this new person out yet.

From from the bosses I've worked with, the best ones tend to be the ones that don't mess with success. They trust us to do a good job and we get stuff done. If that happens, they stay out of our way. If not, they roll up their sleeves and work with us to make it happen.

As for leaders, the worst CEO I know is a lawyer with no industry or business experience. He likes to change things for change sake, too.

 

[Mark]

[snip]

Monday morning, first thing, please report to The Leeds.

 

[Ranger REG]

Gosh ... I recall all those TSR racks at Toys 'R Us and KB Toy Stores. I'd spend hours there. Getting D&D back into toy stores would be awesome.

Meh. They gotta do more than get a shelf space in Toys 'R Us. They gotta have rooms for playing. That's something I can get at most of my FLGS.

If they offer discount, via membership reward card, I can do with that.

Otherwise, getting the products on Wal-Mart's Roll-Back Price program is more feasible.

 

[hong]

Frankly I'd rather see the company fold than turn D&D into a tabletop MMO/wargame.

3.5: The Last Edition of D&D.

 

[Zinegata]

On Thursday my group got the chance to talk with him for about 1 1/2 hours. He was very enthusiastic about D&D and it's continued success. He was cracking some jokes and was very personable when discussing his plans for continued success of our games. I came out feeling good about things.

He came from a traditional CPG marketing background prior to joining Hasbro. At Hasbro he led the boys toys group including brands that catered to both kids and older collectors including Star Wars, GI Joe, & Transformers. He was also in charge in of global branding.

Glad to hear he isn't one of those Stalin/Hitler type bosses

I'm not overly concerned about him not having a gaming background as well. A typical CEO's main job is really just juggling the finances to make sure the most profitable products get the most funding and attention.

Moreover, if the GamingReport article is correct, Leeds used to work for P&G. Guys who come from that company are generally very solid and competent, so WoTC is likely in good hands (I was an IT intern in P&G for a summer before I decided to go into Marketing for another company instead. But I still consider P&G as the benchmark other corporations should follow in terms of how well they took care of their regular employees and their customers)

 

[Wolv0rine]

It's tough to say on this, really, at this point. I know when I first read about this, my first thought was the same as Zander's. But it's too early to call foul on the guy outright on general principle.
Those of us who say we want a gamer running the company are likely those of us who remember that TSR was doing just peachy (Very peachy, actually) being run by a gamer (E.G.G.), it wasn't until That Heinous Biotch (tm) came in and brought in a bunch of business suits that it became the T$R everyone remembers hating. And I think it's only natural that those of us in that crowd are more than a tad apprehensive about Mr. Leeds, here.
But like I said to begin with, it's far too early to call foul on the guy fairly.