Owning A Game Store

[JoeK]

I'll still go by my previous post about the shop in Cardiff, great layout - Been there for over 100 years

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"Man and boy..."

[Mr Spew]

I'm basing what i said from when i worked in game. I worked within a large shopping center, and within this shopping center apart from a number of other gaming stores, EB, @jakarta, dixons, woolworths, there was an indie called Thatz Entertainment, still there actually, who were always a fiver cheaper than game.

Everyone would price match them, i really felt sorry for them as they are a really nice little indie store that stocks imports, plushes and other japanese gear, and it was always people with a reward card who would price match or too lazy to go back to the store. So i guess it really does depend on what stores are near by.

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That was years ago - nowadays GAME actively price-match (put them out as £37.99) or have slightly lower prices now.

Plus, I'd NEVER set up in a shopping centre, waste of time and expensive rent.

If fragdolls could get themselves up the level of pro-gamers, you could have a proper LAN setup and hav a "meet the pros" day, imagine the gaggle of screaming girls as soong deftly unloaded into someones face.

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They had a meet-the-Fragdolls day in the Brum Gamestation. Bit nerdy really.

You got to think outside the box though. Well, alternatives to a standard shop at least. I seriously don't believe that a sole-trader can make a decent living out of this area at the moment. The reality is (as someone up above mentioned) - if the big boys are struggling, then that's surely going to filter down unless you do something relatively novel and original with the whole concept.

Obviously, that in itself is a risk - certainly not something I'd choose to do alone. Which is why more and more people set up shop on-line I suppose.

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That's what this thread is for, what would YOU do differently? Food I'm not a fan of in a consumer store. Just games is no the way to make money - going down the pre-owned route, selling games that aren't available here, giving alternatives to customers such as different coloured DSes, retro bundles, Gashapon, plushes, small things that people will actually want to buy (manga, eastern sweeties..), as well as the regular games.

[Dork Knight]

"Man and boy..."

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Sorry, IDGI?

[JoeK]

Sorry, IDGI?

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Sorry, it was a bit obtuse.

You said it'd been there for 100 years...

100 years, man and boy.

Um.

Okay, it's a shit joke.

I'll drown myself now.

[Rowan Morrison]

It's easy enough (and laudable) to say you won't be selling or doing X, Y and Z, but what will happen is you'll realise you can make a little more of a profit - maybe meet some targets or sort out some bills, or maybe simply make a profit full stop - by doing so, and bit by bit you'll start adopting the practices you set out to avoid, especially if your competitors have them covered.

For example, I think an independent game store would very quickly have to implement some kind of exchange policy. I certainly wouldn't buy from a store that didn't offer one, seeing as games are expensive and there are so many stores that do offer one. There's certainly a good chance I'd buy some of the marginal stuff that Game etc. don't sell, but definitely no unreturnable games. It's a simple choice:

Shop A: If you don't like this, you can exchange it or get your money back.

Shop B: If you don't like this, tough luck.

Where are people going to shop? Your store might smell a lot nicer than Gamestation, it might have nice staff, but frankly I'll slum it purely for that advantage. Chances are I'd use your pleasant store to check out the boxes or rolling demos, then give my cash to GS. And I know you, for crying out loud. Imagine how total strangers would behave.

[Dork Knight]

Sorry, it was a bit obtuse.

You said it'd been there for 100 years...

100 years, man and boy.

Um.

Okay, it's a shit joke.

I'll drown myself now.

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Righ, I've got you - Anyway, just found out I was wrong, they've been going for 111 years.

[Mr Spew]

It's easy enough (and laudable) to say you won't be selling or doing X, Y and Z, but what will happen is you'll realise you can make a little more of a profit - maybe meet some targets or sort out some bills, or maybe simply make a profit full stop - by doing so, and bit by bit you'll start adopting the practices you set out to avoid, especially if your competitors have them covered.

For example, I think an independent game store would very quickly have to implement some kind of exchange policy. I certainly wouldn't buy from a store that didn't offer one, seeing as games are expensive and there are so many stores that do offer one. There's certainly a good chance I'd buy some of the marginal stuff that Game etc. don't sell, but definitely no unreturnable games. It's a simple choice:

Shop A: If you don't like this, you can exchange it or get your money back.

Shop B: If you don't like this, tough luck.

Where are people going to shop? Your store might smell a lot nicer than Gamestation, it might have nice staff, but frankly I'll slum it purely for that advantage. Chances are I'd use your pleasant store to check out the boxes or rolling demos, then give my cash to GS. And I know you, for crying out loud. Imagine how total strangers would behave.

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Total strangers don't use the return policy that much, exchanges happen, but people don't realise they have a 10 day return policy unless they've been shopping there a while and are gamers who never pay full price for games.

Games wouldn't be such a high price that you'd be unwilling to buy though. The main games £35 and below. Everything else £25 or less.

Stuff bundled with accessories like Eyetoys, premium stuff like Pop n Music - you don't want to have to return. It was in really good condition, now it has loads of smudges and it's really tricky to rebox and tie-wrap everything again. It's just not viable (in my eyes).

That's maybe why you're not a great candidate for judging the opinion of the public on, you know me, you know you're going to get stuff cheaper online or from me for that very fact. Maybe I'm just up on the defensive here, but maybe just exchanges on pre-owned games?

[frogboy]

Soft lighting

Sofa's, Bean bags

Deep pile carpet - Take shoes off at door..

Big screens

Soothing background music

Bouncer on the door - (Hygene, fucktard control..)

Plenty of stock - All well organised

[Old Dear's Menu]

I go into a videogames shop...to buy games.

I'm not arsed about couches and drinks and metal dance mats.

All I'm after is the game I want at decent price, be it used or otherwise.

This game shop sounds like fuckin' Wetherspoons for Christ's sake...

Just keep it simple.

And clean.

[Qazimod]

If I was to open a shop, I don't want food coming in, and there's no way I'm selling it inside the store unless it's laminate flooring and just sweets from Japan or something.

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I must admit that I'm kind of in agreement here; imagine the chavs getting their greasy chip-fat fingers all over the plastic covers of the display boxes and whatnot. I'd only allow food if it was either wrapped or in the owner's mouth at the time. (I used to visit the retro stores in Westgate St., Gloucester with my friend and he'd usually buy a pasty from the nearby shop, but he wouldn't go in the store until he'd finished eating. It's all about respect.)

[Mr Spew]

Bean bags

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[Børre]

Just make it bright and tidy, and make sure the store smells good. I think the only way to compete with the cheaper chains is to make it feel luxurious, like the Apple stores. I've yet to see a games-shop that doesn't look as if it was furnished by a crew of 14 year olds tbh, but it might be different in the UK(?). With a friendly staff and a good selection of titles, you can be successful.

[JoeK]

Just make it bright and tidy, and make sure the store smells good. I think the only way to compete with the cheaper chains is to make it feel luxurious, like the Apple stores. I've yet to see a games-shop that doesn't look as if it was furnished by a crew of 14 year olds tbh, but it might be different in the UK(?). With a friendly staff and a good selection of titles, you can be successful.

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The Apple stores are my idea of what a good shopping experience should be. Everything's there to use, plenty of staff around - and a number of them really know what they're talking about. Free wi-fi all around. Brilliant.

However, that's what millions of sales of iPods do for a company. Apple wouldn't have done that with a bargepole a few years back.

Anyway - Apple is still fundamentally a hardware store, and I don't think their ethic is quite so easily turned onto a game store. It would be fantastic to have the money to at least try though.

[Rowan Morrison]

Stuff bundled with accessories like Eyetoys, premium stuff like Pop n Music - you don't want to have to return.  It was in really good condition, now it has loads of smudges and it's really tricky to rebox and tie-wrap everything again.  It's just not viable (in my eyes).

If it's not in as-bought condition when returned, fair enough. If it's a special case for some reason, mark it as non-returnable. Nothing wrong with either of those options; people shouldn't expect to be able to return dance mats they've trampled on, for example.

That's maybe why you're not a great candidate for judging the opinion of the public on, you know me, you know you're going to get stuff cheaper online or from me for that very fact.  Maybe I'm just up on the defensive here, but maybe just exchanges on pre-owned games?

Your choice, I'm just saying that if I'm buying a new game I'm more likely to buy it from somewhere that offers the chance of a return, whether I know the person selling it or not. That's why I buy games from Game or GS and not Virgin or HMV... unless I know I'm going to like a game, I'd rather buy it from GS than save a couple of quid using Play or Amazon, purely for the insurance. And it's not really very often I return a game, but GS get most of my business, which is a fair amount, because they offer the service. Which is presumably why they offer it...

Just imagine asking the general public which is better, returns or no returns. You set up a new shop with no returns policy, and all Game / GS have to do is promote their existing returns policies - you've done the hard work for them.

[jonnyalpha]

Grainger Games in Newcastle area is a thriving shop, now a chain. It does good pricing, imports on DS and GBA and also the recent region-free 360 titles. They do trade-ins etc and sell a ton of 2nd hand games.

They do not accept returns unless the game is faulty or unopened. They never have and it has not done them any harm. They have expanded in 10 years from a small stall in the Grainger Market to having about a dozen shops and a half-decent website. They tend to site their shops just off the main shopping area, thus keeping down rents etc, and also have small shops. No areas to sit or anything like that just shelves with games on.

I would guess their success is all to do with smart buying, I'm not sure where they get their stock from, and keen prices. Look after those 2 things and you should be ok. I'm guessing it's not as easy as it sounds though.

[connect]

What're they going to do?  Do the same as they did to everyone else and refuse to let me buy in UK Revolution and DS stuff at cost price?  Oh no!

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That's one thing they do. Then they sue you. And if you think you have a chance of winning

That's the point when you close your business so not to go bankrupt*

*not bitter

[sandman]

1 - make the store proffessional looking. I much prefer my local GS to my local Game, mainly because of the nice staff, but Game looks like a nice friendly shop. GS looks like somewhere I'm make sure my Gran avoided. Its dark, looks cheap and dingy and the retro stuff in the window makes it look like a charity shop.

2 - Location. As many have said, this is the most important aspect. You ideally need a small town that is growing, prefably without a Game and most definately not with more than one game shop

3 - You need to make sure you don't get hung up on silly ideas. Somebody mentioned Thats Entertainment at Lakeside. Its a great little store, but it feels badly stocked and unsure of its identity because it does retro but doesn't have the space for it because it also wants to do DVDs. Stick to doing a few things very well rather than being a jack of all trades.

4 - Don't turn into CEX. I'm not really sure if anyone actually LIKES Cex. The stores I've been to are all staffed by complete tossers, smell, have terrible metallic flooring, are full of chavs selling their stolen goods, sell other stuff like bloody mobile phones etc etc. You need to appeal to the widest demographic possible. My wife won't even go inside the CEX in Bromley. You need a store that appeals to both the hardcore gamers and to the Mums wanting Fifa for their sons birthday. That will help you maximise potential profits.

5 - You need good worth of mouth. This is the best form of local advertising there is and its built up by being cheap as is humanly possible and by being extremely nice to the customers. Bending over backwards to help somebody get hold of a sealed Steel Battalion and helping Mrs Smith make an informed choice over which Barbie game is best will lead to the locals knowing that you offer something the supermarket down the road doesn't - service.

6 - Food/Internet cafe - forget it. Its a terrible idea waiting to happen.

[JPickford (retired mod)]

I go into a videogames shop...to buy games.

I'm not arsed about couches and drinks and metal dance mats.

All I'm after is the game I want at decent price, be it used or otherwise.

This game shop sounds like fuckin' Wetherspoons for Christ's sake...

Just keep it simple.

And clean.

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Good point. In fact I'd be happy with a vending machine and no annoying staff at all, forcing their unasked for opinions on me.

Pick what you want, stick your credit card in, get game.

[Old Dear's Menu]

Exactly.

Cut out the middle gimp, I say

[Mr Spew]

That's one thing they do. Then they sue you. And if you think you have a chance of winning 

That's the point when you close your business so not to go bankrupt* 

*not bitter

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Sue me for what? I'll send them to Forbidden Planet, Grainger Games, and whoever else sells import GBA and DS games first.

2 - Location. As many have said, this is the most important aspect. You ideally need a small town that is growing, prefably without a Game and most definately not with more than one game shop

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Kings Games (or something like that) in smallish Wellington is the only game store there, but the high street is small, and I can't imagine they actually sell much as most people go up the road to Telford to do their shopping. Smaller towns without game shops do exist, but there's no money to be made after watching a few fairly local indies close down due to not selling the stock they were buying in and simply not having enough people coming through the doors (despite being next to a public school and others).

[Cyhwuhx]

Deep pile carpet - Take shoes off at door..

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.::: ANYTHING BUT THAT!

[kev]

I'd make an effort to actually put the games on the shelves in some sort of sensible manner. Game at least put in some thought, I can go in, look at the shelves and be fairly confident that if they have a copy on the shelves, it'll be visible. Gamestation, on the other hand, is just stupid. Everything is just chucked wherever. Is there a copy of the game I'm looking for? Who fucking knows?? I'll have to root around, checking behind things, and quite frankly, I really can't be arsed with that when I could go somewhere else instead. Yeah, I've worked in shops, including game shops, before. I know customers don't put things back where they found them. But GS is so bad, I really don't believe they ever actually even try to sort it out. Actually, SeanR's idea of laminated copies of the cover is pretty good, might go some way to sorting this problem.

But really, I wouldn't own a game shop. I'd much rather own an arcade. Where I'd probably do a little sideline in arcade pads, machines, PCBs, console conversions, imports & assorted rarities, but the arcades would be the main focus.

[angel]

grainger games game's come from europe mostly...theyv all got pal on the box but never scan in any other shops so you cant trade them elsewhere.

they break street weekly.

theyv done some seriously dodgy stuff with gamestation and have almost been in court many a time. some including ripping off GS credit notes, printing libel on window posters.

they dont do bundles cos theyv got no relationships with the big manufacturers. (which is where the discount comes from usually).

theyre super harsh on returns.

funny shop GG. i bought my micro from them and theyre dirt cheap...but theyre far from perfect, and their POS is vulgarity personified.

[Mr Spew]

I'd make an effort to actually put the games on the shelves in some sort of sensible manner. Game at least put in some thought, I can go in, look at the shelves and be fairly confident that if they have a copy on the shelves, it'll be visible. Gamestation, on the other hand, is just stupid. Everything is just chucked wherever. Is there a copy of the game I'm looking for? Who fucking knows?? I'll have to root around, checking behind things, and quite frankly, I really can't be arsed with that when I could go somewhere else instead. Yeah, I've worked in shops, including game shops, before. I know customers don't put things back where they found them. But GS is so bad, I really don't believe they ever actually even try to sort it out. Actually, SeanR's idea of laminated copies of the cover is pretty good, might go some way to sorting this problem.

But really, I wouldn't own a game shop. I'd much rather own an arcade. Where I'd probably do a little sideline in arcade pads, machines, PCBs, console conversions, imports & assorted rarities, but the arcades would be the main focus.

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The local Gamestation is really good for shelf organisation, what is it you have a problem with, pre-owned? They're vaguely alphabetised, but most of the time I do just like hunting through them all and seeing what I can find.

My last find? Rez and God of War in the 2 for £20!

[Jack]

I saw a Grainger Games ad on one of those vans with the big two sided billboard things on the back. Two bits of grafitti on it - the picture of Mario had "PSP's better" sprayed on it, while someone else had replied by spraying "D" and "S" on Lara Croft's tits. The turf war in Killingworth must really be reaching the breaking point.

[Tangent]

Good point.  In fact I'd be happy with a vending machine and no annoying staff at all,  forcing their unasked for opinions on me.

Pick what you want,  stick your credit card in,  get game.

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Or better yet, how about putting the store on the internet?

Hang on...

[kev]

The local Gamestation is really good for shelf organisation, what is it you have a problem with, pre-owned?  They're vaguely alphabetised, but most of the time I do just like hunting through them all and seeing what I can find.

My last find?  Rez and God of War in the 2 for £20!

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the entire shop! new, pre owned, dvd, you name it, it's in a mess! to be fair, i haven't been to my current local one that many times, so maybe they were just a couple bad days. but the local one when i was at uni was always in a right state, so i wasn't inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.

i can bring myself to root around the retro sections a bit, knowing (er, hoping) that one day i'll come across radiant silvergun and panzer dragoon saga at £5 bogof, but when it comes to current gen, i just can't be arsed.

[Mr Spew]

the entire shop! new, pre owned, dvd, you name it, it's in a mess! to be fair, i haven't been to my current local one that many times, so maybe they were just a couple bad days. but the local one when i was at uni was always in a right state, so i wasn't inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.

i can bring myself to root around the retro sections a bit, knowing (er, hoping) that one day i'll come across radiant silvergun and panzer dragoon saga at £5 bogof, but when it comes to current gen, i just can't be arsed.

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Radiant and Panzer go out quite high anyway, so no chance of a cheapy - not to mention they're really cutting down on retro even PSOne.

And to be fair, it depends on the manager of the store, it can look a tip, but I've only just realised in the past couple of hours how good my local is for finding stuff. It's really nice aside from the shit carpet, lack of air conditioning and dingyness that comes with every Gamestation store (bar the Telford one).

[Djx]

Soft lighting

Sofa's, Bean bags

Deep pile carpet - Take shoes off at door..

Big screens

Soothing background music

Bouncer on the door - (Hygene, fucktard control..)

Plenty of stock - All well organised

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Save some money. Sell games from a car boot instead

An upscale game shop is a great idea. It'll take some seriously hard work, though.

[Transient Curse]

I still think it's Dooooooooomed but I think that a stock search facility available to customers would be great. Rather than looking through a whole section looking for a particular title it'd be nice to just put in a keyword and see if it's in stock and perhaps if it's also available preowned.

I would rather look than go and ask a member of staff for this service it should be noted, I generally can't be arsed with talking to shop assistants at all.

Also, my local indie has their till by the door and they always say "hello" and then ask if I need assistance after I've been in the shop for about 30 seconds. I really hate that. The hello is fine but not being allowed to browse in peace makes me not want to go in there.