Spinachcat wrote:There are columns and blogs by game store owners on the web and I highly recommend you hunt them down. My main suggestion is to realize that traditional retail is dead for hobbies and the new normal is the creation of a community. Whatever you can do to create a community is what must be done. Also, you can't expect your community to buy games from you and that's why secondary sale items like Coke and chips and individual minis are key items.
You are exactly right! That is what I am trying to stress to the others who are like: "We can order this or that right off the bat." And Shawn and I are like, "No! Order Magic: The Gathering cards and things like minis, have some homemade stuff there as well." We can let people know that we can order books and LARPing supplies for them.
Most of our profits will be from Magic: The Gathering, people who want to rent tables from us (be it with a Diorama for minis; a Magic table [which are incredibly easy to make]; or a plain gaming table), as well as from food and drinks. Plus, we will host "Friday Night Magic", once a month.
The house rules are simple. When children are present, no cussing. Note: saying, "You Ogre humping, demon spawned, son of Baba Yaga!", does NOT qualify as cussing...So if you must cuss, keep it in game terms. No bringing food or beverages in, unless a tournament is in progress. No smoking, although e-cigs will be permitted.
We are wanting to start small and build.