Completely hypothetical situation -
Your area has no Friendly Local Gaming Stores and you're not sure of the size of the local gaming scene either.
 
How would you go about creating a viable FLGS that might actually turn a decent profit?
 
I have a few ideas, but knowing this site has a few people who run or work in FLGS's, I'd like to hear their ideas before I share my dream (which, quite frankly, is as likely to be realised as the one about making love to Jeri Ryan in zero gee )

Quote from: O'BorgYour area has no Friendly Local Gaming Stores and you're not sure of the size of the local gaming scene either.

Research first.  Real business-people make shops in places where they know that there is an existing market for them to tap into.

You do not have enough information yet, period, full-stop.

Quote from: TonyLBResearch first. Real business-people make shops in places where they know that there is an existing market for them to tap into.
 
You do not have enough information yet, period, full-stop.

Smartarse!
Okay, assume there is a gaming population, but also assume you'd like to attract new customers into the hobby rather than tie yourself to a relatively fixed customer base.

Oh ... we're speaking dreamer here, not business-person, right?  Sorry.  Language foul-up.

I think the best way to attract a new customer base would be to bill the place as a gaming parlor ... not merely a place to come and browse the shelves, but a place where you come with friends to play your games, and maybe to meet some new friends who have games in common with you.

Board-games are tremendous for that sort of thing, because they are so inviting to passers-by.  Card games aren't as good for attracting interest, but they have a significantly better profit-per-addict once you do get people hooked, and they work well in terms of limited shelf-space.

The keys would be an inviting, uncluttered atmosphere (for which you pay directly in either greater rent or smaller ability to carry inventory), a convenient but not prime location, and deliberate effort toward building community and offering special events.

If you can swing the licensing and staff to do food as well then you put yourself in that much better a position, but the costs on that might not be worth the rewards.

Well, first I'd register my URL.

Oh, you meant real world, to be honest I think it would be quicker to burn my money, KLF style.

Don't just sell what you like, sell what sells.

Collectible games can do well, and can bring in younger players.  Players can sink $100 a month or more which is better than the $/person than other games.  Just don't get stuck with stock when a game tanks.  In addition to cards,  minis games such D&D miniatures and all the Wizkids stuff is fairly hot.

I agree with Tony - board games have a broader appeal and many of them could be played in a store in a reasonable amount of time.  Carry both inexpensive games as well as the $80 games.  Someone new to the hobby is far more likely to get hooked in on a $5 Cheapass game with a cute cover something that is a serious investment.

I like wargames but I'm in the definite minority.  If you carry them at all, put them in a small corner and don't do big demonstrations of monstrosities that would intimidate most new customers.

Something that most game stores fail on is atmosphere - clean, uncluttered, organized, well-lit stores are more likely to attract new customers than places that look like the cat lady's garage.

I imagine doing this as a fun money losing hobby one day, perhaps once all my other finances are in order and I've saved up money for some time.

The dream involves the following:
A large, clean, well lit area that feels spacious.

Low shelves and wall shelves so the store is a generally open place, with 2-4 side rooms that are largely insulated from noise.

Always a board game or two sitting out.  My FLGS used to demo board games and it was great - the weird pieces were always inviting.  They stopped because of employees not doing their job and just playing all the time I think.  That said, I agree that board games are an excellent lure.  By having people in the store doing something and being friendly you draw people into the store.

Regular special events.  Whether it's CCG tournaments, roleplaying deathmatches, playtests of new games or whatever else I would want something new and interesting happening all the time.

Knowledgeable employees.  I want the other people working at my store to be as interested in gaming as they are in hygiene and customer skills.

Food and beverage sales?  Yes!  I've seen this work in a FLGS before.  They had a movie theatre policy - please don't bring in food (though they didn't mind an actual fast food meal).  Jolt Cola and energy drinks all the way.

For big releases I'd wrap copies of a game beyond the first one on the shelf.  This reduces store wear, fingerprints, and problems associated with frequent use.

Used bin.  Old games and worn newer games go into the bargain bin/area.  I'd probably have two or three, a 25% off, a 50% off, and a 75% off.  If a product languishes in one bin for 3 months then it goes to the next one.

I'd use eBay to supplement my income.  Selling old games or getting rare out of print stuff to sell in the store would be key.  Just normal sales would help me out.

10% off everything in the store every day if I'm competing with any other brick and mortar stores.  I saw a store do this and I always went there for my immediate print purchases.

Store website and message board.  Inform people of special events, provide directions, and encourage community building.

Quote from: Balbinusto be honest I think it would be quicker to burn my money, KLF style.

My plan was not to build an FLGS, but a cafe that also sells some books and games, and position the place as a more general geek hangout.

Basically get a decent size space, turn it into a cafe with a decent menu (possibly co-op the "Bachelor haute cuisine" idea I had for a restaurant), good coffee and refreshments (possibly alchohol, though probably just wine and beer).

Add to that some shelves stocked with gaming books, a selection of novels, manga, various board games and card games.

Some computers and video game consoles as well would be available, at some kind of per hour usage rate.  Computers are an iffy one though, in that if we want them game capable they start to become too expensive to be able to make up the initial cost.

But basically the idea is to diversify enough, that the traditional loss problems of each individual aspect of the business will be counteracted by other parts of it.  Either that, or the whole thing crashes and burns.

I am always surprised when people think
food/drink + paper products + computers = profit.

Bill

Quote from: HinterWeltI am always surprised when people think
food/drink + paper products + computers = profit.

Bill

I never expect profit in an endeavour like this.  

I just expect hopefully being able to keep the head above water.

Quote from: J ArcaneI never expect profit in an endeavour like this.  

I just expect hopefully being able to keep the head above water.

To be clear, I also do not understand this approach. My business ventures always have, as part of the BP, a level of profit. To be sure, you should do it because you like it but profit should be part of the BP. Honestly, it sounds more like a restaurant than a game store, which is fine.

As an aside, a popular model for "game" stores is the Entertainment model. This has about 5% of profits coming from games but the rest being made up of consoles, used video games, DVDs, books, cards and basically anything that can be considered entertainment. It is seductive because it makes money. The Trad game store is a fading (faded?) memory.

FYI - Conventional wisdom is turning against play areas. I made my stores successful based on play areas and pushing RPG lines I believed in (and I knew would sell to the local market). And yes, we sold snacks which made a nice profit. Still, you need to control where people take the food and especially drink or figure a level of loss into your inventory.

Bill

My idea was more along the lines of J Arcane's - don't make it a gaming store.  Make it a place to hang out that also happens to be a place to game that also happens to sell games - perhaps in an adjacent space or by splitting the place.

And I'm going to go against the grain. I'd gear it more towards a place where adults could go to enjoy food, friends, beer, and a game. So I'd go more for a tavern feel than the open well lit space. Put it next to the train line that runs from out here in the sticks into Urbania for ease of access - maybe even run a shuttle every hour.

Why?  Well, I look at me.  I'm 40.  I've got a nice house and a couple of kids.  Think my beautiful mostly-understanding wife wants a house full of gnarley old men and women messing about for a long evening/weekend?  That's not even mentioning having to keep the noise down so the kids can get to sleep. Smoking? Drinking? Are you kidding?

And that's in the burbs where I actually have quite a bit of space to game - more when I finish the basement. What about in more urban, crowded areas. Want to game in that tiny apartment? Or would you rather spend your Friday night in a tavern gaming with your friends?

Just a thought I'd kicked around when they opened a relatively "generic" gaming store here in town (and beat me to the punch).

"The Great Escape"

EDIT: See, and then Bill, who is eminantly more qualified than me (I only had one business that did OK, not a chain) shows me how my dreams suck

Location and atmosphere are probably the most important things for a good FLGS. You cant locate it in the crappy part of town and it has to be clean and well lit.

If this is a serious or semi-serious endeavor then I would try to so some sort of gamer census in the area to make sure you will have a customer base.

Quote from: James J SkachMy idea was more along the lines of J Arcane's - don't make it a gaming store.  Make it a place to hang out that also happens to be a place to game that also happens to sell games - perhaps in an adjacent space or by splitting the place.

In industry fora they call this the "Gaming Club" model. It is what I based my stores on back in the day. Basically, the risks you run are becoming a hang out where:
1. Regulars run off new customers

2. A bunch of regulars who do not buy anything

3. A focal point for illegal or undesirable behavior (this is a danger for any bar, mall or place where people can "Hang-out").

It does work but requires a lot of work (beyond the already lot of wrk retailing requires).

Bill