Ebooks

[lastbesthope]

I go to great pains to 'train' willing staff members of my FLGS as to my likes and dislikes of gaming, it usually pays off after about 6 months when they start ordering the stuff for me that I want before I've actually told them I want it, and on ocassion before even I know I want it :lol:

LBH

 

[AndrewW]

I go to great pains to 'train' willing staff members of my FLGS as to my likes and dislikes of gaming, it usually pays off after about 6 months when they start ordering the stuff for me that I want before I've actually told them I want it, and on ocassion before even I know I want it :lol:

LBH

Oh no, he's a psion manipulating brains.

 

[Emperor Herdan]

I go to great pains to 'train' willing staff members of my FLGS as to my likes and dislikes of gaming, it usually pays off after about 6 months when they start ordering the stuff for me that I want before I've actually told them I want it, and on ocassion before even I know I want it :lol:

LBH

Oh no, he's a psion manipulating brains.

Nooo... wouldn't that happen quicker than that... Now if he's a Hiver.... (smile)

Take care

E. Herdan

 

[GypsyComet]

I've never seen an RPG shop that has someone who will actually sell you stuff. It usually just sits on a shelf and then you pick it up and pay them and that's that. There's usually some interaction at the till, but that's about it.

But actual hands-on salesman tactics seems to be rare in gaming stores.

The retail job (not gaming related) I had some years ago forbade chairs on the sales floor for basically that reason. If you were comfortable behind the counter, the chances of you coming out to actually interact with customers went *way* down. Of course, we tended to be busy from opening to closing, so the lack of chairs wasn't as much an issue as in a business where 80% of your business occurs in 20% of your open hours.

Those years in the retail trenches make me a business expert compared to most game store owners, sadly.

The most successful game stores around here have people who break the old gamer mold: friendly, engaging, and broadly knowledgable about what they carry. The stores that fail, and many do, are usually of the "bored guy planted behind the counter" variety.

 

[Dave Chase]

Showing stores how to (or helping stores) promote products is something that some companies do.

Some stores don't really know how to promote products and some individuals just don't have the time to do such.

(The above applies to many stores and not just game stores.)

This is one of the reasons that many game companies employ an individual or two to be store reps (more than just a salesmen), Organized Play/Tournament director and or a volunteer program person.

In turn those companies that do assist the stores will probably receive more orders from that store than those that just have product for sale and make some sale calls.

One of the things that I spent time doing for WizKids LLC was helping stores find 'volunteers' to promote the game and product. Lots of phone/email time and personal visits to stores. If I was attending a convention some where, I would arrive 2-3 days early and have several different store visits during that time. Sometimes even a day after the Convention visiting stores.

It was not just a hello, I'm from WizKids, it was a planned boost from an official rep from the company AND assisting/offering suggestions on store layouts, promotions and game space.

Some stores only needed displays and the VIP visit to help, some needed much more. We would often work with one of the distributors in attempting to help that store get better.

And, This included showing a store how to promote all their products not just WizKids stuff. This tactic caused lots of heartburn internally at WizKids but in the long run (or at least while I was still there) it worked wonders with the stores that we visited.

Store owners get so much pressure to sale a certain product from a certain company. And in a few cases that certain product might be the over the top money maker (MtG, D&D, Clix's, etc). But in many, the store needs to provide more/different games for many customers to mantain a good sale base. Helping a store sell all its products would often make that store owner very happy and they would call us again and even buy more stuff because we helped them create a good cash flow.

Point is (as I have mentioned before), it takes manufacturers, stores and dedicated players to make the game hobby stores very successful.

Dave Chase

 

[The Chef]

well it was a chance visit to a gaming store that got me back into traveller so i certainly see their uses. But i agree that most gaming stores i have ever known people do not engage in any sort of discussion of the games,

however,

go into games workshop and they are all over you like a fly on a sugar pile. and frankly i find that bothersome.

I have always aimed for a middleground, and i've been very successful in retail and field sales for over 10 years because of this philosophy.

and i know because she reads the boards my girlfriend would probably add some decent aircon in a store would go a long way in promoting a more friendlier environment.

Chef

 

[kristof65]

I've never seen an RPG shop that has someone who will actually sell you stuff. It usually just sits on a shelf and then you pick it up and pay them and that's that. There's usually some interaction at the till, but that's about it.

But actual hands-on salesman tactics seems to be rare in gaming stores.

While I've seen a lot of game stores that act the way you describe, the best ones I know do actually try to sell you stuff. They greet you when you enter - by name, if they know it - and their employees try to learn everyone's name if they possibly can. If they know you, they'll point you towards what's new and possibly to your tastes, they'll recommend stuff they think you may like, and tell you what's upcoming. If they don't know you, they'll ask what your interested in, point you to the right direction, and recommend stuff. At the counter, they'll recommend add-on products to what you are purchasing. Furthermore, if you can't find what you're looking for, they'll offer to order it for you, and acquire it in a timely fashion.


Sadly, only a handful of gaming stores operate that way. We had one nearby that used to operate that way until it was taken over by a new owner, and the service went to pot. I'm surprised they're still in business.

 

[Sturn]

After reading several comments about everyone's local game stores, I guess my bias (brick and mortar vs. online) is due to the quality of my FLGS.

My store looks new. My store has well stocked shelves. My store has an owner that knows his business (never been stumped by a question about an obscure game). My store's staff seem to follow the owners lead in promoting products and being customer friendly. My store gives a discount for ordering through them. My store has a gaming room that always seems busy with customers and staff playing games.

Lots that are pro-online seem to have had bad experiences with their LGS's. I hope my FLGS doesn't fall victim to the practices of other SLGS's that push folks to online ordering.

 

[rust]

If the shop holds what the website promises, this is the kind of FLGS I
like - and consider most useful, if not necessary, for our hobby's future.

 

[saundby]

I'm really lucky. I live in a town the size of an anthill on the road between major city A and major city B, and I've got a spectacular little game shop right here in town.

The shop is two shops in one, a UPS shipping store and a game shop. Apparently the combo works out great. Since I discovered it, the owner has become a great friend of mine. He's a big fan of games and comics, knows them and is enthusiastic about them. He knows what I like, and steers me toward stuff I'm happy I bought. He keeps his shop clean and well-organized, and he re-arranges it every so often which is fun.

I try to buy everything I can from him, but he's limited to what Alliance carries, so I can't always manage that. But because of him, I shop the stuff Alliance sells first.

Just so you know it ain't just me, here's what someone from out-of-town (aforementioned city A) has to say about my FLGS.

I've bought all my Mongoose books through him. I'll be in asking after Warships of B5 tomorrow.