Quote from: RPGPundit;828919The thing is, I just don't think the FLGS is necessary or relevant to the hobby today.  Arguably it was, once, though it may have done as much harm as good because it moved the industry out of big-box retail stores (and into these specialist stores that only diehard already-gamers tended to go to), and out of school-groups or clubs and into either playing at the store with the freaks or playing with your own insular little group at home.

See also: Comic book stores.

Quote from: RPGPundit;829264Research into business models/plans that have worked is a really important part of setting up one's own business of the same kind.  And yet another thing that way too many amateurs opening up hobby shops don't do; being nerds, they assume they already know what they need to make a hobby shop work.

For me it was dissatisfaction with existing business models and a desire to explore alternatives.  Suicide, I know, but I think it's working a little more as time goes by.  Last year was rough because I was very dependant on a few big spenders and they drifted away on me but now the customer base has broadened enough that I'm much less tied to the tastes of three or four customers.

Quote from: David Johansen;829380For me it was dissatisfaction with existing business models and a desire to explore alternatives.  Suicide, I know, but I think it's working a little more as time goes by.  Last year was rough because I was very dependant on a few big spenders and they drifted away on me but now the customer base has broadened enough that I'm much less tied to the tastes of three or four customers.

Well, good luck with that.

It's a work in progress and I didn't quit my day job but I've been at it three years now, and I'm feeling more positive than I did last spring when the three big spenders all stopped spending for three months straight at the same time.

I think kickstarter is dramatically reshaping the industry and a new business model that can interact with it is crucial for retail moving forward.

I will be interested to see how Dungeons & Drafts does in 2 years time. I hope they have great success, but I don't know if Fort Collins, CO is the right locale.
http://www.dungeonsanddrafts.com/about.html

Quote from: Piestrio;829364See also: Comic book stores.

Yep.

When did I actually enjoy RPGs the most? When I found them in toy stores. Why? Because back then they were written to appeal to a mass audience and not people who had been playing RPGs for years.

When did I actually enjoy comics the most? When I found them in the spin racks at grocery/drug stores. Why? Because back then they were written to appeal to a mass audience and not people who had been collecting comics for years.


To answer the OP, as far as I know I don't need a FLGS.

I don't need it for product - I haven't bought a new RPG book in years (I tend to prefer games published in the mid-80s to early 90s and tend to dislike most new editions of older games). Even if I am interested in something obscure, the stores tend to only carry the big name stuff; it's easier to just order things online.

I don't need it for playing space - I own a home with plenty of quiet gaming space.

I don't need it for finding new players - I could use a new player or two for sure, but my social circle is predominantly people in their 30s/40s with professional/office jobs and I don't see a lot of people like that hanging out at the game store.

I'm not saying it would be impossible to get value out of a FLGS, but it would have to provide me something I don't even know I want right now.

My main piece of advice for small business: if you've been around for a couple of years, and things are going well, and you're just a little above breaking even, for the love of god DON'T expand.  Don't break down the wall and get that place next door.
I've seen more places go under because of expanding (and suddenly having near-double rent but only a slight increase in sales) than just about anything.

Find out who produces the New Orleans Mardi Gras Coins.  Have Copper/Silver/Gold printed up with your stores logo and mandate that all rpgs held in the shop and ante for Mtg must use these as currency.  Sell the coins for physical cash.  In addition to being in game currency, they can be used as an alternative currency in the shop.  (One must keep you employees honest though!).  

Accounting wise, this keeps some things off the books (which may or may not be legal ).

You know, I wonder if this is just a local phenomena or what but there's been a few local game stores that kept really weird hours.  Like, closed s-m-t, open W but not until 1pm to 8pm, open Th at 10 until 9, then F&S 9-9 & 9-1AM.

These spates of weird hours seem to come just prior to those shops closing.

I think the main trick nowadays is to offer an experience.

A lot of newer hobby retailers up here in Canada are opening with significant gaming space, and at a minimum some form of coffee/drink service. This is partially part an effect of the "Boardgame cafe" stores.

That being said I still go to the venerable downtown stores because they too offer an experience: a depth and breadth of rpg material that the "newer" stores just don't carry.

I wonder if a store that could literally print books on demand will be viable.

. . . I can't believe that the above was my first post on this site. I've lurked so often on the Amber parts of the forum -- I was sure I had posted here a few times.

Quote from: Thondor;831020. . . I can't believe that the above was my first post on this site. I've lurked so often on the Amber parts of the forum -- I was sure I had posted here a few times.

Welcome to active participation.

Quote from: thedungeondelver;830997You know, I wonder if this is just a local phenomena or what but there's been a few local game stores that kept really weird hours.  Like, closed s-m-t, open W but not until 1pm to 8pm, open Th at 10 until 9, then F&S 9-9 & 9-1AM.

These spates of weird hours seem to come just prior to those shops closing.

Usually it's a combination of the owners taking on jobs or new businesses AND trying to cater to the fanbase who may keep "later" hours. I have seen this in WA state and it always foretells a closing. :-(

Quote from: thedungeondelver;830997You know, I wonder if this is just a local phenomena or what but there's been a few local game stores that kept really weird hours.  Like, closed s-m-t, open W but not until 1pm to 8pm, open Th at 10 until 9, then F&S 9-9 & 9-1AM.

These spates of weird hours seem to come just prior to those shops closing.

My comicbook shop and game shop both have hours like that. The reason? One of the guys has another job and only runs his game shop as a hobby. The comicbook shop said it's a way to focus his business.

Quote from: Bren;831025Welcome to active participation.

Thanks, discussions about FLGs tend to bring me out. I did my masters thesis in retail geography on comic and game stores . . . so I'm pretty interested in the subject. This involved visiting and talking to over 50 store owners in the Greater Toronto area.

I recall that one store owner sited having "unified store hours" as something that helped the store succeed. Its easy to remember that a store is open from 1pm to 10pm everyday except Monday. Highly variable hours are a lot harder for customers to recall, and make regular visits.

That being said one of the stores in my study was open only three days a week for a total of 7.5 hours. I still can't wrap my head around how that could be viable. This store did go to a lot of conventions and was clearly in a lower rent area (not much retail in the area, older area), so perhaps that was part of it.