[Musings of a Game Store Owner] Learning to Be a Better Boss

TheDude really loves being his own boss. He finds the challenge of managing himself, his time, his talents and his wisdom to be one of the most rewarding experiences he's ever encountered. We found this career almost entirely through a happy circumstance, but he knew within a week of trying it that he wanted to do it  for the rest of his life.

Sell games & dice forever? Awesome!

We've already made the decision that this is permanent for us.

That conversation was kind of illuminating, because at one point, I had a different opinion than TheDude did about what we would be doing in 5-10 years. His totally committed and confident comment that he wanted to do this until he retired or died, whichever came first, was the wakeup moment for me. I had to buy in pretty fast- fast enough for my response to be-- "Okay".




That mental transition from "we will quit doing this someday" to "this is what I am doing for the rest of my life" made a huge impact on my thoughts of career and long term goals. After quite a lot of trial and error, TheDude and I discovered that my talents are strongest in getting people to do things, and that kind of led me to my title inside our business. From there, what I wanted to "do when I grew up" became much clearer, and I've finally got concrete goals for the first time in my life.

I had no idea until recently. 

I have no formal training in the "job" I'm currently doing OR the job I want to grow into for our business. I'm doing a lot of learning on the fly, a lot of trial and error, and a lot of learning from other peoples' mistakes. None of those things are bad or wrong, they just put me in a situation where I don't feel totally competent or comfortable. I know that no matter what I do, I will always have something to learn or grow into, and that's ok, but I want to feel like I know what I am doing.

TheDude has learned a lot of how to run the business from day-to-day trial and error. Since we bought our business already existing, he had the benefit of talking to the previous owner and asking for advice. He also has a good network of professional connections inside the game retailer "network" and reads a message board for game store owners regularly. Most of the things he has needed to learn have come to him in the form of relationships and/or advice, and that has worked for him. He may still want to pursue formal training or further learning in specific fields, but at this point, he's where he wants to be. I'm not.

The "job" I hold and the job I want to have are both in-depth and complex enough that I can't really make it up as I go along. There are laws and regulations I have to be in compliance with as well, and while I'm doing ok now, I would hate for things to change and get caught unawares. I've also been influenced by a couple of people I've admired from afar, and these people are just consummate professionals that are always learning and growing.

So I've decided to go back to school.

Short answer? No. 

This is entirely for me, for my personal goals and my idea of what I need to have and know to be effective as "The Boss Lady".  I'm not doing this with the hopes of a new career or a better job- I'm doing this because I think I need it to be better at what I am already doing. There was a little outside pressure, which I definitely took into consideration, but that pressure was more of a push than anything else.

This will probably only change things a little- my customers won't be directly impacted, but the wisdom and knowledge I gain can only help me improve and be better at my job. I can only improve the experience for my customer base by being more informed, more up to date and working more to my strengths.

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[Musings of a Game Store Owner] It Goes Both Ways

Running a Friendly Local Game Store involves a lot more than just sticking games on the shelf and hoping people buy things from me.

My business boils down to a long string of relationships. To be successful at what I do, relationships are essential. Inbound associations with vendors, suppliers and representatives are just as important as community building, employee interactions and customer service. Building strong ties on all fronts gives me flexibility, knowledge, the ability to be competent and someone my customers can count on for "the juice" of gaming goodies.

If I haven't made it abundantly clear by now, good relationships work two ways. There's give and take on both ends of the equation. When it's a customer; I give them knowledge, wisdom, advice and a good amount of welcoming; and they in turn give me curiosity, interest, acceptance and participation (as an example).

Sometimes I get more than that from a customer- it's not uncommon for a regular to teach me a game, tell me about a new release, or otherwise pass information to me. I think that's a cool thing, because that means I can pass it on to other customers in turn. It's a two way street, and it works because it's mutual.

I expect that same kind of mutual consideration from the manufacturers and companies I do business with. It makes financial and business sense (to me) to treat the people that showcase your product, educate your customers, demonstrate your systems and otherwise get your merchandise into gamers' hands with respect and SOME kind of mutual dignity.

This expectation might be something close to insane or unrealistic; and if that's the case, I am sure you will let me know. However, I can't fathom a world where it's a smart business move to shit on the people that sell your product in retail outlets. I don't agree with or understand any scenario where treating the missionaries of your game worse than your customers (hell, worse than dirt) makes any kind of sense at all.

But it's happening.

The first time it happened, I was more than annoyed. I was honestly angry at the company in question, but I did my best not to discuss it too publicly. I felt an obligation as a purveyor of this company's products not to tarnish their image, and to promote their product so their items would sell. At that point in time, it helped that the company was launching a new product. The product itself was great, and in many ways, really good for a large group of customers. It made being excited about and for the company a little easier. I ate some crow and was quiet, because it does my customers NO good to hear bad things about the company producing the new doodad they have in their hands, and ultimately, I was making money and building relationships at the same time.

But it's happening again.

This time, I'm not staying quiet. I'm breaking out the big guns and telling you about the way a certain company is treating its retail partners. That is to say: like fucking crap. 

I'm sure you have all heard that there is an official release date for Warhammer 40,000 6th edition. Some of you might even be excited, looking forward to reading all the rules and checking out what the changes will do to your armies. Quite a few of you have blogged about the announced date and are discussing whether the "new AP" you've heard about will enhance or destroy your favorite plastic dudesmen.

Me, I'm pissed off.

My monthly sales depend on miniatures. At one point in time, GW products made up 40% of my sales. I need the grimdark on the shelf in order to pay rent. It's just the way it is. I work hard to promote (outright pimp, in many cases) the 40K universe and the awesome models that GW puts out. I am giving GW more than profits, I'm giving them branding and awareness. That kind of marketing isn't anything a company can buy; and in many ways I think that marketing has lead to GW's prominence in the hobby world.

All of that to tell you: I found out about 6th edition's official date from Lantz and Paul . We didn't get any notice at all from GW. We heard about a major investment (both in time and money) not from the company we are supposed to have a relationship with; but from guys who are at least friends, if not customers.

This isn't the first time GW has pulled a stunt like this. Games Workshop has continuously shown me that they don't value me, or consider me a partner in any way. In the past six months, I've gotten better treatment from any number of avenues; and it really makes me mad. The "mushroom" treatment isn't just something that the dudes in Nottingham do to you, the customer- they do it to retailers, too.

You're a peach, GW....

In telling you this information, perhaps I am revealing details that are private and should be kept that way. Maybe I am pointing out my own weaknesses and showing you how bad I am at relationship building. Or maybe I am just fed up with companies that hand me a line of bull and expect me not only to buy it, but sell it to you, my valued customer, too. Regardless of the scenario, I'm telling you. I don't see any benefit to keeping up appearances to those that read this; most of you know I try to be honest and realistic as much as possible.

I just can't be excited about this latest turn of events. I can't be knowledgeable, wise, or the "expert" when I know less than my customers. I can't be thrilled to promote a product about which I know virtually nothing; considering how many rumors have been circled and/or squashed. I can't offer any insight or information; because I don't have any. This is not a relationship, it's a stranglehold. It's not mutual; and I sure as hell don't like it.

Coming soon: "Breakups".

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On Sci Fi Tropes and GW

Discussion time folks.  I fully expect and encourage a lively, spirited debate on this subject, so please pay attention.

Warning, Sci Fi nerdery ahead

A while back, I had some choice words that I wanted to say about how all of the new Necron models look like they were ripped straight out of the Battlestar Galactica reboot.  Time slipped away from me and I never got to write that article.  Now, in the face of a 2nd wave of Necron models, I think it's time to bring that discussion back.  Since I've also had several months to think about it, I'd also like to highlight a few other pieces of Sci Fi imagery that GW has worked into their models.

After the jump I'll be displaying some of the greatest and most blatant offenders from the GW canon.  Feel free to link to more in the comments and participate in the discussion that will ensue.
It is perhaps not without irony that GW, a company who (rightly so) is swift to pass out C&D letters, has been dabbling in borderline plagiarism since its inception.  No, I'm not talking about the fact that without D&D GW would never have existed, but speaking more generally about their constant ability to rip off or perhaps if I weren't wanting to accuse them of anything untoward- "incorporate" Sci Fi tropes and design concepts from movies and literature.  I am not here to pass judgement on whether this is ok or not- I'm really not sure yet, myself.  But I'd like to hear from the readership on this one.  Does this hurt the hobby?  Does this hurt copyright holders?  Is this hypocritical behavior?  Does it help us connect more readily with a product? 

The literature discussion is played out.  Everyone and their mom has a post on some forum about the day they learned that all the Chaos Gods were ripped off from mythology and literature.  You know the post- the one that exists solely to prove how well read and smart the author is.  Since we all know how smart and well read I am already, I'll move on to showing you all that I am also something of a cinephile.

Enough of that noise, let's look at some pictures.  Oh and I don't think this really applies anymore now that nobody in the first world is on dial up, but this is going to be pic heavy.

First up today (and I'm only going to be dabbling in the 40K verse this time around) we've got this grav tank from "Star Wars Episode I"

  ....and here we have the Tau Hammerhead:

Kinda even has the same paint scheme, no?

While we're on the subject of Star Wars, Here's the AT-ST walker from "Return of the Jedi:"

...and then we have GW not trying so hard (and again with the same general fucking paint scheme) with the Imperial Guard Sentinel:

Speaking of Sentinels, here's what "The Matrix" says they look like:

Which appears to have....erm...."inspired" the new Canoptek Spyder model

As promised, here is some BSG stuff.  Like this Resurrection ship:

...then we have the Necron Ghost Ark:

But of course they could not leave the Cylon raider alone either

Looks a lot like the Night Scythe methinks

But why stop there?  Why not move into the Alien movies (and we're not even talking about the blatantly obvious entire Tyranid Range which I won't even bother to picture here)

Gee dethtron, you're right those face huggers do look an awful lot like the Necron Canoptek Wraiths

'Ah, but would anyone dare to touch "Highlander II," one of the worst movies ever made?' you ask.  Well of course.  So I apologize for the picture, but Reno and Cora the "hedgehog twins" are here

It appears that the entire Internet does not contain a single action shot of them flying, but if you happen to know of one link me and I'll update this.  Nonetheless, if you could see them flying, one rides a hoverboard like these Dark Eldar Hellions:

and the other has wings, not at all unlike these Dark Eldar Scourges:

On the subject of Dark Eldar and returning to our "Return of the Jedi" motif from earlier, I present you with this skiff:

which may remind you somewhat slightly of this Dark Eldar Raider, but with less knives

Add some swanky gunpods and you get Skeletor's flying thingamajig from the ever terrible "Masters of the Universe"

Or you could just wind up with the Dark Eldar ravager

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[Musings of a Game Store Owner] What Makes a FLGS?

What is a FLGS? What should it have or offer to be the place you want to shop? What elements makes a store truly excellent?

I’d like to explore that with you for a week or two, and let you express your expectations and the successes of the stores you frequent.

What are the key elements to making your local store great, or groan-worthy? I’m very interested in hearing specifics. How important is knowledge of the product (and which specific products), stock levels, special order policy, play space, cleanliness, and more.

If a discount is important to you- please tell me what level of discount you expect and on what products. Across the board, just specific lines, with a “membership club” or “punch card” – how would a discount work?

Are terrain, tables, ability to reserve space, regularly scheduled events, good judges, and good tournaments important to you? Can or should your store owner or staffer play while they are on duty, or in tournaments? If so, can or should they be eligible for prizes? What about TO’s or judges?

What level of competitiveness do you hope for at your store? How can your store promote that level? What kind of prizes and bonuses do you expect for leagues and tournaments?

There are a lot of gamers out there with a lot of opinions. I’m interested in hearing those opinions not just for my sake, but also to help grow communication between all. With some wanting extremely casual “beer & pretzels”, and some being WAAC, it can only help to gain an understanding of what is important to all players so understanding viewpoints can happen.

Please feel free to share, and next week, I’ll be asking about the things that make a game store not so good.

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