What do you want in a FLGS

[TechnoViking]

After looking for work in my chosen field (Computers/System Administration) for over eight months since I moved to Salt Lake City, I have decided to start applying for a small business loan and maybe open a gaming store.

What do you look for in a FLGS (Friendly Local Gaming Store)?

Things I would like to carry:

• Games (RPG, card, board and War).
• Anime
• Comics (probably by order only)
• Sci-fi/Anime shirts
• If possible shirts and small items from ThnkGeek.com
• Bawls, Jolt and other geek drinks.

I would also have Arena (computer) gaming.

What other things have you seen in a gaming store that you like?

The one thing I refuse to carry is weapons (swords and daggers), I can’t believe the profit is worth all the insurance you would have to carry. Also the big gaming store and the big comic store in town already carry I large selection of weapons, the market has to be full.

Thanks for any advice,
Mike

[Fitz]

My requirements in a FLGS are simple -- that they'd get Hero products in a little quicker than 6 to 12 months after they're released everywhere else in the world.

I live in a city which has one comic store, one roleplaying store, and one miniatures store, and they're all the same store. The market here just isn't big enough to support any competition, so unfortunately they don't really have any impetus to go out of their way to service the tiny Hero-playing population here — I think there's just me and my group

[Nato]

I would like a store that gets major products in almost as soon as they're available. I would also like a store that doesn't shrinkwrap their books on the shelves so I can actually look at them to decided whether to purchase. So far, All Star Games in Diamond Bar, California doesn't really do either. Every once in a while they get a hot product in right away, but they always wrap the books which annoys the hell out of me. I've stopped shopping their and just order completely online. If I can't look before buying, I may as well get it cheaper and FASTER.

[Peregrine]

Bear in mind a couple of basic business facts:

1. The majority of your revenues will come from repeat business.
2. The majority of your repeat business will come from product lines with frequent new product, bringing your customers 'back for more'.

(Note: This is the revenue model that both CCG's and clicky-base minis are using, as well as the model that GW has used for over a decade, to great success.)

I'd recommend that, if you carry comics, you realize that they will likely become your 'bread and butter' in terms of revenues, as your customers will come back on a recurring basis for their 'fix'. Collectible games, whatever's hot in the industry, will have a similar short term (duration of the fad) impact on your business as well. Games will bring revenues based on the frequency of new product and the local popularity of the game.

[JohnTaber]

Hi Mike: How about some of these ideas...

+ Reservation Services - Save me 1 of everything Hero OR let me put something new on reserve (i.e. Delta Green).
+ Discounts For Reservation Users Or Frequent Buyers - Some simple reward program for us die hard types.
+ Room To Run Small Demos Or Demo Game Sessions - Foster new products and such.
+ Knowlegeable and Friendly Staff - I guess this is assumed huh???
+ Late Hours - Open Noon to 8 PM or something like that...

That's what I can come up with right now...

[TechnoViking]

One game store I use to frequent use to have a membership. Pay $10, and members 10% discount on everything, special discounts, and allowed to put things on reserve.

Mike

[Evil Steve]

One that hasn' been mentioned...

A willingness to special order. Put whatever requirements you need, but be willing to get me something (or willing to try) that you don't normally stock. It could give you the edge over competitors if word gets around that you can get game/item/component X.

[Bartman]

I am fortuante to live in a town with multiple competing stores. And although I will occasionally frequent any of them, I buy almost exclusively from a single store. Why? Price. They offer all RPGs at 20% off cover price. The fact that they have an excellent selection and knowledgeable sales staff certainly doesn't hurt, but it is the pricing that draws me back.

As for SLC, I used to live in SLC until '97, and at the time the market seemed fairly saturated with game stores. I would definately suggest a long in depth look at both Comics Utah stores and identify what you like about them and what you would change. I would also get in contact with CONduit , which is the Sci-FI, Fantasy, Gaming con in SLC. Their convention is in May and would be an ideal location to meet a good portion of your potential clientele.

[TheEmerged]

At the risk of becoming Captain Obvious...

The first requirement is that you're Friendly. This is a *big* problem with the "FLGS" I'm currently using; it's clearly a comic store first and foremost and they clearly have their favorites in terms of product lines. I've actually been asked "why would you want to spend money on that?" when calling to ask if something is in. It can be very subtle, like saying "No, we haven't gotten (HERO product that came out three months ago) yet, but we did get in (completely unrelated gaming product from a completely different company)" -- again, something I've actually been told when calling.

The "Local" part may not be as big a deal (insert internet/ebat joke here), although there is a lot to be said for location. Location isn't just traffic -- adequate parking and ease of egress (entrance & exist) can influence the buyer's decision-making process as much as where you are. Speaking for myself, the store I actually buy comics from (NOT the store described above!) is almost 10 miles from my house despite having one within 3 miles. I go to the one I do because a> he's literally right on the way to work (less than a 100 yard detour) and b> part of a shopping center with excellent parking -- neither of which is true for the closer store (I had to walk almost a quarter mile the one time I checked it out).

Which brings us to the Gaming. I've only had contact with one true gaming store in the area, and it closed not to long ago. However, it was tempting to make the 25 mile drive on Saturdays to go in there for their in-house games -- had the drive been less or my schedule more forgiving, I'd have done it for certain. Again, this strikes me as being something a good location could make easier -- I imagine if my comic store were a gaming store, having a Subway in the same shopping center and three other medium-fast foods within very short range would be a major asset.

As for Store, all I can offer is to stay professional. Much like gaming itself, good record keeping can be a major asset.

[Koshka]

This one will really depend on rental space in your area, but try to arrange the store so it's easy to move around in. I've got a choice of game stores, and one of them I refuse to go to in the evenings because they put the public gaming tables right by the front door. That's as in "if he's got his chair pushed back, you aren't getting through". No thanks.

[TechnoViking]

Originally posted by TheEmerged
At the risk of becoming Captain Obvious...

The first requirement is that you're Friendly. This is a *big* problem with the "FLGS" I'm currently using;

I think that is big problem with the big store in SLC. Unless your in the in-store clic or buy $50 worth of Yu-Gi-Oh cards every day the owner and manager can be pretty stand-offish.

Mike

[TechnoViking]

Originally posted by Bartman

As for SLC, I used to live in SLC until '97, and at the time the market seemed fairly saturated with game stores.

There seems to be only one store in town offer a wide selection. The other store only offer d20 and CCGs.

Mike

[Bartman]

Originally posted by Mike Basinger
There seems to be only one store in town offer a wide selection. The other store only offer d20 and CCGs.

Mike

Well it has changed a bit then. I can think of at least 3 that were selling Hero products 6 years ago.

[ShelleyCM]

I'd be happy with clerks who aren't patronizing/overly solicitous. Sheesh, sometimes women do show up in gaming stores. Get over it already!

-Shelley

[TechnoViking]

Originally posted by ShelleyCM
I'd be happy with clerks who aren't patronizing/overly solicitous. Sheesh, sometimes women do show up in gaming stores. Get over it already!

-Shelley

Really, I thought women in gaming store was a myth, like UFOs and Bigfoot .

Since I'm married, I promise not to gawk at women in the store.

Mike