"Cana Brick and Mortar Gaming Shop Work" Topic

After noticing a few very notable Game Store closings recently, I was wondering can a large, game oriented store make it in the modern, Internet and shrinking hobby world?

Smaller stores continue to limp along, often only because they are labors of love.

I know this has been and continues to be discussed, but can a larger scale game store work? What would have to be included, added, etc. to what s "the classic" game store to make it work? What is the model (historical games, GW games, cards, video games) that will work?

Possibly, but not in the traditional business sense. They would have to embrace internet sales, possibly consignment sales, purchasing and reselling used games stuff. I'm sure plenty of others will come along with some great ideas.

I've crunched the numbers for about three years in my town and would agree with Stosstruppen. I could probably pay the rent with a traditional store but nothing would be left over for me to live on.

Board Game Cafe's seem to be doing OK so if one were to bring in light food/bev you might be able to get ahead. Beer/wine would certainly help if you're up for the liability insurance.

Remember the video arcades in the 80's? Snack bars and places to hang out. Plug in that concept.

The game store is changing. Think more in the terms of social gathering place and you get the idea of a gaming bar or cafe. The gaming becomes one part of a bigger package to offer when you diversify.

I'm currently in negotiations with a property owner but they won't allow coffee or food as the other tenants are coffee shop and sandwich shop.

Could use them to my advantage but that money would be going into their pockets and not mine. Trying to figure out if a reach-in cooler and prepackaged foods will do it. To be honest it's not looking good.

Would be interested in seeing more of this discussion.

Video Games are out – they are very very quickly going to a download distribution method.

My guess would be a game playing area/pizza place. The problem becomes one of being more a pizza place than a game store.

The Colpars in Denver are bucking the trend. Two stores that have both expanded in the last few years. They arte full service stores covering every aspect of the hobby (RC -Plastic kits – games – figures – books – paint).

There was a point a few years ago that 3 stories opened up with a ten minute drive of my house. All carried GW type lines. My first thought after visiting them was that all three were someone's dream that was about to be broken. All three gone in less than a year.

A game store, yes. A wargaming store, no. I think you need a diverse stock, a knowledgeable staff that is there to work (not paint their own figures and socialize with friends), a gaming space , and store sponsored events. I would also look at internet sales. I would like to have some space for second hand and consignment items. Drinks and snacks don't make a ton of money, but it is still a small income stream, so you might as well try to get the gamer snack money instead of having them spend it at the gas station down the street.

Historicals? Beyond Bolt Action and maybe Flames of War nothing turns enough to keep the lights on. Want to keep the lights on?

Magic the Gathering, YuGiOh, 40k, boardgames and Warmachine.

The hobby has become too fragmented.

Customer: Do you have Egyptian Chariots?

Shop: In 3mm, 6mm, 10mm, 15mm, 18mm, 20mm, 25mm, 28mm or 40mm?

Customer: 25mm

Shop: Yes we have the lovely ones from XYZ Co.

Customer: Nah, those are too expensive. I wanted them for under $5. USD

Shop: Good luck and have a nice day.

only by caterring to the brony crowd.

What EC said. Diversity is the key. That means IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. It doesn't just mean the old beardy historicals guys need to "embrace" sci-fi/fantasy, 40k, Magic etc. as well as historicals. I've seen a good number of fantasy and card gaming shops die for lack of diversity and little or no play space.

While we're on it you need room to run games VISIBLY, not just in the dark back rooms. Dads and (especially) Moms aren't going to let their little ones join in a a hobby they do not understand in some dank basement or back room. If its visible and open then the kiddies can play, and everyone can see what is going on and get involved.

One of the other big things is that there is a strong sense of community and openness as well. Far too often a shop develops a clique mentality and only the initiates can become involved. It may not be obvious at first but it can and does exist. If rifts develop and folks leave it can often be the death of a store.

Good point about the "openness." I went to the Emperor's Headquarters once in Chicago. Two staff at work and I got a real cold shoulder. Really felt like I was not welcome…never went back and they closed a year or two later.

Store Location, overhead expenses, available money for initial stocking, stable clientele, proper targeting of your market, proper staff (bad staff will cost you sales).

Do not rely on salesmen to tell you what to buy since the result more often than not will be dead stock. They want to sell you stuff that is overstock to them.

Most distributors and manufacturers no longer use the 30 day before paying policy. This makes what you put on the shelves more important for the turnover rate and generating revenue.

Brick and mortar stores are struggling in all sectors. Best Buy is a great example of why. Customers come in, look the products over, then buy online for less because online retailers don't have the overhead costs and sales taxes that brick and mortar stores do.

I think the traditional hobby shop would work if 1) GW decided it was in it's interest to keep them alive in order to grow the hobby once again and 2) they were a social gathering place to see new games and to play existing games (tables for rent).

In areas where real estate is expensive, a meeting place makes a lot of sense, but like the Internet, you have to police it, and a lot of hobby shops don't want the hassle. Hobby shops have to understand that Mom is holding the wallet for these kids. If she comes in the shop and the gamers are reasonably well-mannered and presentable, she's more likely to open the purse and let the kids get involved. That means keeping the trolls on a tight leash, a risky proposition because these guys are also the hobby's most devoted customers.

In short, to keep the hobby and the shops alive, they have to become less niche and more mainstream.