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[Mongrel]

As for the specific points you raised...

1) Max mentioned a few specific distributors, me I don't know the big fish (or the little ones) by name anymore. I will repeat my suggestion that you try to diversify with as many distributors as possible.

2) Charging just to use play space seems like a poor move. Most game stores use that resource to draw people who then purchase product. After-hours rental is a neat way to capitalize on your space but may put your stock and shop at risk from theft, smashery, or general stupidity - unless you're willing to invest in the time or money to make sure it's supervised. And really, if you're going to charge for use-of-space, most folks will just play at someone's house or a local dive, unless they're wargaming and need specific facilities (i.e. lots of big gaming tables). Personally, it's neat idea but I don't think the money is worth the cost in customer alienation.

On the other hand the snack bar idea is a good one. If someone makes a mess, well the basic principles of "you break it, you bought it" come into play. One thing I wouldn't bother to do is ban outside food and drink. If someone really wants Burger King, they're going to go there anyway - better than they run out and come back to the store than leave to continue the game in the Burger King and take all the other folks playing with them. The convenience of your food will be what sells it. So as long as you're priced reasonably compared to whoever's nearby, you'll do just fine.

3) Gamers like to look at stuff. This point is tough, because you need to balance inventory control against the need to foster that impulse buy. It's much easier to avoid impulse buys if you can't see the product. I would opt more for a good layout that has good visibility. You can still keep up with ICS by having only one or two of each item out on display.

I can't comment on the use of old office space but I think your primary concerns should be good location and cheap rent in that order. if the office building you were looking at fits the bill, perhaps it can be converted. I guess I'd have to see floor plans or pictures to comment further.

[Joxam]

then why are you asking pyoko for business advice

clutch stopped posting here years ago

If you don't want to help, don't. I'm not asking you guys for business advice. I know some of you guys worked at stores, I'm looking for names of distributors some of you may have worked with and if at all possible a thumbs up or down. I'm also asking you guys what the best way to set up a game room would be, because as a very good example of my prospective clientele, you know what you want.

[MadMAxJr]

On another note, if you want to ask questions about running a hobby store from my old boss who has been in business close to two decades, I can ask him if he would be open to taking some questions.

[Joxam]

As for the specific points you raised...
2) Charging just to use play space seems like a poor move. Most game stores use that resource to draw people who then purchase product. After-hours rental is a neat way to capitalize on your space but may put your stock and shop at risk from theft, smashery, or general stupidity - unless you're willing to invest in the time or money to make sure it's supervised. And really, if you're going to charge for use-of-space, most folks will just play at someone's house or a local dive, unless they're wargaming and need specific facilities (i.e. lots of big gaming tables). Personally, it's neat idea but I don't think the money is worth the cost in customer alienation.

On the other hand the snack bar idea is a good one. If someone makes a mess, well the basic principles of "you break it, you bought it" come into play. One thing I wouldn't bother to do is ban outside food and drink. If someone really wants Burger King, they're going to go there anyway - better than they run out and come back to the store than leave to continue the game in the Burger King and take all the other folks playing with them. The convenience of your food will be what sells it. So as long as you're priced reasonably compared to whoever's nearby, you'll do just fine.

3) Gamers like to look at stuff. This point is tough, because you need to balance inventory control against the need to foster that impulse buy. It's much easier to avoid impulse buys if you can't see the product. I would opt more for a good layout that has good visibility. You can still keep up with ICS by having only one or two of each item out on display.

I can't comment on the use of old office space but I think your primary concerns should be good location and cheap rent in that order. if the office building you were looking at fits the bill, perhaps it can be converted. I guess I'd have to see floor plans or pictures to comment further.

I should note that charging people a cover charge was never even considered. I only thought that perhaps renting out the thing late on weekends might make some cash from some grown up D&D games or something.

And madmax, thank you, that'd be nice!

[MadMAxJr]

After-hours gameplay is best saved for your regular customers that you are on a first-name basis with, and one of your employees should always be present, if not actually in said after-hours gaming.  I cannot put enough emphasis on this part.  Reward your best customers with small favors and they will speak for your store wherever they go, at work, to friends, at cons, and elsewhere.

[Mongrel]

I can't emphasize Max's emphasis enough. Both about the small favours working miracles and about the supervision. 

This man. Come with him if you want your store to live.

[Mongrel]

Also, if you're letting them use space after hours as a favour they will treat this privilege very preciously, but if you just rent space for money, people will treat the space like dirt.

The limited cash you'd make for rented space on the weekends is almost certainly not worth it, unless you have unique, barn-like facilities that allow special events to be hosted there.

[MadMAxJr]

The other important piece is space to move around.  Some of your gamers will be big fellas.  My old home store had three strip mall lots.  A main store in the middle, a primary gaming hall on the right, and a gaming hall on the left that could have the doors locked and reconfigured so that you could only enter from the store area (Organized event area, reserved gaming space, boss's personal playground day, etc).

A rival store had a single strip mall lot.  Their tables were ended end, chairs were almost back to back and they lined their walls with product.  They had huge miniature gaming tables, two painting stalls and a large register.  Where is the product?  Hanging on wall racks that people bump into moving around the store.  A minimal display was up near the register.  On a full day people did not browse.  They would walk in, look at the gamers and not want to have to inch past people to look at items.  I will try to see if I can take pictures of my old home store and show you what the displays are like when I visit over christmas.  Depending on what they've done since I left, they have three or four large aisles to walk up and down with lots of product to look at, most organized by theme and the more expensive, fragile, 'hot' items are located closer to the register.

Side note, if you have a large store and you run an event with 20+ people, you want to get a person to be your 'spotter'.  You and your staff are busy with the register.  You want someone watching product and shady customers at all times during large events.  Make sure you trust this person.  Your store is full of cool stuff and there are people who have no objection stealing your stuff.  It will happen at some point.  Prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.

[Niku]

I didn't handle a lot of the running of the store I was at, but I can at least give Diamond a pretty decent thumbs up as far as distribution goes, whatever that's worth for a pure gaming store when they deal more in media and tchotchkes.  I don't specifically remember having many problems with them at all, in any case.

[Büge]

A question on a purely greedy level: If your store falls through and you have product left over, can we have first dibs?

[Joxam]

Of course!


....

 
Dick.

[Mongrel]

I've gotten a lot of stuff that way :/

[SCD]

My advice? Don't be an insane beardo.

This guy is speaking from acute observation.