Starting a game store (General questions)

Andon · Post by **Andon** » Thu May 24, 2007 11:50 pm

how many classes would you recommend and how expensive were they for you?

kturock · Post by **kturock** » Fri May 25, 2007 12:38 am

i was a business major, so that wouldn't count. i suggest a couple. see what is offered.
the best i had was that 1 class. the rest were accounting, economics and other general business courses.

look for ones dealing about small businesses, and small business administration. local state colleges are ususally cheaper than universities and private colleges..

then again, i've been in retail since i was 13.. and worked/ran a small family operated restaurant.

my dream job would be to do what you want...
remember the biggest rule of business. if it's a good idea, someone else would've already done it. or is doing it.
you need an area to support you. why isn't there a flgs, friendly local gaing store, in that area already? probably because there isn't enough to support it.
flgs need people with high disposable incomes.. and lots of free time.
schools/colleges/universities, military bases.
without these, it's toguth to stay in business.
know your product.
know what you like, isn't always the best, or even right.
just cause your the best chef in ny, doesn't mean you can run a retaurant in south florida. [guess how many times i saw that happen].

watch whats hot, and in demand. and get ready to cut your losses.
support your loyal customers..
and be ready for them to leave on a whim.

Andon · Post by **Andon** » Fri May 25, 2007 12:43 am

I have TONS of free time. Too much.

As for support - There is a fairly decent sized D&D community around here - My brother and his group of friends have run a few huge games before, with nearly 200 people at them, all (Most at least) from the local area. And I know there are a few people that would be interested if there was a local thing to support it, and I am sure there are more people like that.

dafejj · Post by **dafejj** » Fri May 25, 2007 1:05 am

Problem with d & d is those guys are fickle. They dont buy all the books, even when a new one comes out. They tend to share. Also the d&d line kinda sucks because there isnt a lot of new product coming out often. Its a tough line to move quickly and make good money on. Keep that in mind.

Andon · Post by **Andon** » Fri May 25, 2007 1:10 am

Fair point. But if I can get people that are interested in the D&D stuff and put the D&D stuff at the back, on the way back there they have to look at everything else.

Product placement would be to have a few of the more popular items in front in display to get people interested, and have the rest near the back so that the people have to walk by the other stuff and look at that and possibly become interested while getting to the stuff they want, correct?

AdamSouza · Post by **AdamSouza** » Fri May 25, 2007 1:13 am

A note on consignments.

Allow your customers to sell attractive, well painted models, in your case and charge them 25% for the service. Don't sell other people junk. Pretty models promote the hobby, and you will be happy with how much some people are willing to pay for premium painted models.

Another Idea is in-store auctions. Maybe 2-4 times a year you accept any and all gaming stuff from your customers. Record what belongs to whom and the minimum bid they are willing to accept for each item. Then make a full day event out of a silent auction. Saturday only, bidding from opening till 5. Run a table or two of events highlighting games you want to push at the same time. The key here is ALL THE MONEY goes to you, and the original owners get STORE CREDIT in the amount that people bid on their items. They are not allowed to use credit earned in the auction towards other auction items. They get credit to use in store and you profit

I've been to 2 in store auctions like this and not only did I have a blast bidding and buying auctions but I spent hundreds and made hundreds in store credit in the proccess.
People always spend more than their store credit and will buy all sorts of wacky stuff with the credit burning a hole in their pocket.

Andon · Post by **Andon** » Fri May 25, 2007 1:19 am

An auction sounds like it would be a good thing to do not too long after the store opens up, to get people to come in and have a look around. Get people to know where it is and all.

AdamSouza · Post by **AdamSouza** » Fri May 25, 2007 1:24 am

Store credit is money in the bank for you.

dafejj · Post by **dafejj** » Fri May 25, 2007 4:16 am

Yes general merchandising ideas say that you should put your best selling items in the back so that people have to march threw your store to get at them. Also putting impulse buys next to the register is a good idea. I get people all the time with this. Silent auctions are a good idea but i suggest you make sure you agree with the persons minimum before allowing them to put something up. Some people come up with some outrageous prices for crap.

Andon · Post by **Andon** » Fri May 25, 2007 10:58 pm

What would qualify as 'Impulse Buy' stuff? Dice and trading card 'Booster Packs' are all I can think of

kturock · Post by **kturock** » Fri May 25, 2007 11:04 pm

food. drinks. snacks. new minis for that new character. dice bags. pins. keychains. cheap nick-nacks. chtulhu or other property knock-oofs. like alot of the plush; cthulu and monty python.
mini mates.

Andon · Post by **Andon** » Fri May 25, 2007 11:07 pm

Makes sense. Reaper minis up front? They are usually pretty cheap and they seem like they'd be more of an impulse buy item than a best seller item

dafejj · Post by **dafejj** » Sat May 26, 2007 5:21 am

I wouldnt carry reaper minis personally. We have gotten out of them twice now. Impulse buys are just stuff that will sell if it catches someones eye in the 10 dollar or under price bracket. Most of the stuff listed are good impulse buys. Magazines, food, etc. Ive kept a big box of pepperment patties up front forever and if someone pays cash and has extra quarters from change they fork them over for the patties. Huge mark up on them too.

Andon · Post by **Andon** » Sat May 26, 2007 5:23 am

I don't think I'd do peppermint patties - I'd be to tempted to eat them myself. But candy does seem like a good idea, and it doesn't require a licence as it is pre-packaged, correct?

dafejj · Post by **dafejj** » Sat May 26, 2007 12:01 pm

Do them. a box costs you 10 bucks and there must be 200 patties in there. i think i counted once, i make 50 bucks on something that costs me 10

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Starting a game store (General questions)

D & D

store

reaper

patties