do some kind of cool viral campaign, though not as your only means of marketing, but to hook in the people who "get it"

whats the FLGS situation in the city your setting up in? how many stores, where in relation to your place?

>>5718460
put up imperial guard propoganda, the "local recruitment office" is your address

Advertisements.

Do women posing in costume or with figures make you want to go to a store more? I've had my sister and cousin, both good lookin' ladies, offer to do some modeling for future adverts. Or do you prefer simple straight-to-business ads?

And where should I be putting these ads to reach out to the "basement dwelling" type? Obviously I've got the local colleges covered.

rolled 23 = 23

>>5718433
>Favorite Local Game Store

Friendly Local Game Store.
FRIENDLY

>>5718486
Well, there's a Games Workshop about 30 miles away. There's another "FLGS" that's actually a shithole that is a long way away from its former glory. Again, about 20 miles away. Other than that there are no locations that have available playspace in almost the entirety of my county.

rolled 6, 4 = 10

I have errie feeling your talking about the Game FLGS near me *cough* war house * cough*
Anyway
I would love for a place to be organized, clean and well lit. Also AC is needed.
As for color scheme I would love something like nice wood and plaster feel like a old tavern.
did I mention Organized, Clean and well lit?

As far as signage I would suggest something sweet and simple.

>>5718510
No, the place I'm talking about is called Comic Quest in Orange County, California.

Organized, clean, and well lit. On the list, certainly.

>>5718488

Women are just going to scare or enrage people, skip them unless they're fictional.

>>5718523
They will be assisting me in running the store on an irregular basis.

>>5718488
red light districts, near schools (try to make the adverts so they dont catch on with kids), cheap liquor stores

rolled 3, 1 = 4

>>5718522
Odd the Warhouse is in Log Beach California
Check it out
its a fun place but a little dirty disorganized and need better lighting
Go there Learn what not to do
Google it go there like I said

>>5718541
Their website isn't loading. Can't imagine why. I'm doing a run around to a bunch of different stores tomorrow. Going to try and get some pictures and discuss with my compatriots what they are doing and how to improve upon it.

>>5718433
Go with the sign in your pic, OP. Theme everything else similarly. It'll be awesome.

>>5718594
Actually I'm already published for my Doing Business As under "Fortress Games". Got the website for it too.

rolled 7, 9 = 16

>>5718576
630 W Willow St.
Long Beach, CA 90806
(562) 424-3180

The power of Google compels you

>>5718541
Wow... that's the store I used to go to all the time, before I moved to Davis. Yeah, it's kind of run down, and the employees are in the back playing WOW all the time. >.> Fortunately, there's a Battle Bunker in Westminster now, only a bus ride away.

And it's Long Beach, not Log Beach.
....do I know you?

>>5718601
Keep you websites events list up to date, none of this events of 2006 crap

>>5718618
Site's not up yet. I just recently secured the domain.

>>5718623
I was just giving you a stern warning

holy fuck, wasn't it just two weeks ago that you were brainstorming to do this? how did you move so quick?

rolled 6, 8 = 14

>>5718610
Maybe
you do perhaps you don't I don't work there and I only went there for Dark Heresy and WH40K bullshit
I don't go there much since the original owner ( Happy or whatever his name was) Died its gone even more to hell is what the word is on the street.

>>5718635
Duly noted. I am going to make certain that my website is a thriving part of my business. Complete with online ordering, shipping, and in-store pickup.

Keeping a place clean, organized, and professional looking is going to go a long way in making the place accessible to parents. Personally, I've seen a lot of stores that were total dives but still charming.

Isn't The Bunker down in Long Beach?

>>5718651
You know what really did it for me? My family approved. I presented them with the general outline of my business idea and they all leapt on board. It was... downright inconceivable. I never thought they'd be interested at all, and would blow it off as one of my random crazy ideas.

rolled 9, 10 = 19

>>5718677
The Bunk is in a strip mall in
Westminster
Ita alright place
I guess
Nice place shitty people is what i am really saying

Ok... In my town there are 2 comic shops. One Has big Murals of comic characters on the sides of the building facing the streets.
The other is a small building with just a sign in front. It took me over a months just to FIND the place once I heard it opened.
Guess which one gets more business? (as a side note, in both locations the owners live in the buildings themselves. the same goes for the nearest gaming store about an hour away)

Take out an add int he local paper, put up posters and flyers around town (especially on the campus)find out if there are any interested organizations (like clubs and stuff)in the area and make sure they know.
Also, a bulletin board is always a plus. Good place to advertise for gaming groups and such.
AND SELL REFRESHMENTS. You wouldn't BELIEVE the money the coke machine at the good comic shop gets.

>>5718677
Not since I lived there....

>>5718652
Yeah, I only went there for 40K stuff.
Hmm. Are you Bill or Keegan, by any chance?

rolled 8, 3 = 11

>>5718707
The Bunker*

i know that the GW store in Glendale is shutting down in October and they have plans to open up 4 more stores in the LA area, so be prepared early next year, cause they'll be popping up around then

>>5718707
Yeah, the Bunker used to have a cool group of people running it, but they all left when the manager started a new store elsewhere, and the new crew is a bunch of assholes. Still better than the War House, though.

>>5718712
Which one gets your business? It's not readily apparent. I'm guessing the tiny, out of the way one.

I've got most of that covered. I actually contacted the UCI RPG club and the leader expressed a desire for a mainly D&D place with private rooms. Describing it as a "huge draw".

>>5718707
well it is westminister after all

>>5718677
No it's defintly down in West Minster. I don't think there's a GW in Long Beach.

rolled 4, 7 = 11

>>5718713
No and No

I am James thats all I am going to say

op whereabouts are you setting up shop? only games workshop in oc to my knowledge is in orange

>>5718726
This, the guys who work at the Glendale Galleria GW are closin up shop early October and 4 more stores are going up in LA at some point. but they havnt said where they are

>>5718754
Never mind, then.

>>5718738
The one with the Murals gets the majority of my business. The Small one has a smaller selection and is just so far out of the way that its just easier to go to the other one.
The bigger one USED to sell paintball stuff, but the owner made enough money on comics that he stopped earlier this year.

>>5718761
Indeed. It's at the Block in Orange.

I am looking at setting up in Costa Mesa. Rent should be cheap enough to manage a store there.

>>5718754
I am also James! There can be only one, so obviously we must fight. I will arrive at your new store with a claymore and a horned helmet. Be prepared.

judging by the discussion in this thread OP has already created a small amount of viral advertising

>>5718795
Actually I didn't expect anyone in my area to pop into the thread, but yes. Viral marketing is happening here. Whether it was intended or not... well it's too late now.

>>5718775
very nice, I'll keep an eye out for your FLGS next time I'm back in town. discounts if I mention this thread :3 ?

rolled 8, 6 = 14

>>5718782
What the fuck highlander?
All bring my steam powered Gun

Also

ITT: Why so many fa/tg/uys live in southern Californian?

>>5718820
Time of day, it's early morning on the east coast

>>5718820
Is this happening in SoCal? Oh fuck SoCal directly. Fucking Koreans EVERYWHERE.

>>5718827
1:30AM is more like... Late nighttime.

>>5718814
10% discount for all fa/tg/uys! Bring your /tg/-membership card!

>>5718433
Same, OP.
> Save the English language on the Internet: www.аnоnтаㄥк.com/ICARE

>>5718807
i posted >>5718795

OP use viral advertising cause #1 its free #2 its the best way to reach neckbeards and new people alike #3 its free

if theres a local university nearby post fliers over the thousands of fliers telling people about some artfags' band playing at a bar. also twitter, facebook and other networks to spread the word.

also for your store, half the year i live in Eugene Oregon and theres basically 1 FLGS with tables. they have a nice big window front with fliers all over it and the inside is pretty lounge like. definitely have some tables so people can paint/build and have at least a good mural inside.

>>5718847
Currently the plan is Wargaming tables in the back of the building, in a little patio area (if I have a back space, the building I am looking at does). A couple private rooms if I can swing it for D&D etc. And a lounge by the front of the business for Cardgamaen/lounging.

>>5718882
if this works out, publish a how-to guide or something. It's been my dream to open my own FLGS.

>>5718892
My issue currently is that I have no history with business. I've got a lot of help though. My mother's friend who is a freelance financial advisor is helping me with a POS (Point of Sale) system, I'm going to purchase an ecommerce cart for my website, and I'm looking at some classes. I'm patient though, no sense in not taking my time. With luck the economy will begin to see an upswing by the time my store begins to take real shape.

I'm learning a lot. I hope to start up a blog. If I do, I'll post it so you can read and keep up with my adventures.

why not a mural, with cutebold impersonating various characters ?

>>5718952
I think if I were going to do murals, it'd be on the walls of the private rooms, on the inside where passing customers can't see them.

Right. Thanks for the info everyone. I'm going to bed. I'll keep in mind what you've all told me so far, and use it when we come to that stage!

rolled 6, 1 = 7

>>5718882
Hey question This Privet rooms sound like awesome on a stick but what do you do when they start braking your shit when your not around?

Cameras?
Guards?
Plan?

>>5719014
Cameras. They sell 4 cameras for like 400 bucks at Costco. While they are private rooms, I have to protect my investment. Anyone caught damaging store property without reimbursing me will be suspended until further notice.

Okay. Now I'm REALLY going to bed.

What are these private rooms going to have that they can break anyhow? Tables?

>>5719026
Tables, nice chairs and donated equipment. Maybe someone snags some merchandise in a box off the shelf, takes into one of the rooms, and unboxes it while I'm not looking. Speaking hypothetically of course.

>>5719026
Never seen an idiot fuck up drywall with a chair or thrown object?

rolled 2, 9 = 11

>>5719039
shit sounds awesome you have worked out well.
I would gladly go to your store

rolled 1 = 1

Um, before you go to bed, could you leave some internet thing so we can follow your progress with the store?

While I live in Hollywood, I'm pretty sure I'll be forced to go through Orange County at least once before the year ends.

>>5719057
Thanks. I really appreciate that. Hopefully I can get a loan and a storefront that doesn't suck.

Hopefully I don't go bankrupt. Hopefully rocks don't fall, and everybody doesn't die.

>>5719058
www.fortressgames.com

There's nothing there now, but keep an eye out.

>>5719064
if you incorporate right can't you protect your personal assets?

>>5719068
I don't know! What is that? Can you elaborate further?

>>5718522
Wait you are going to be setting up IN comic quest? Or near it? Holy shit either way good luck man.

>>5719083
No. I'm opening a new storefront.

>>5719078
I don't really know any thing

I have once made the logo and mascott design for a game shop in France : http://www.lataniere.fr/

I'd be glad to give you a hand on this one

>>5719068

Like a LLC?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limited_liability_company

certainly helps as opposed to being a sole proprietor.

>>5719089
Okay, in Costa Mesa right? Also, you can count on me to be a customer! Been fucking waiting for a FLGS near me.

>>5719096
Thank you, I appreciate the offer but I have many ideas of my own I wish to pursue. I would feel strange if I didn't have a solid hand on the image of my business. Especially so far as the logo is concerned.

>>5719102
Yessir. I'll be happy to have you in my store. And your money in my pocket.

All of this is actually a ruse. I'm going to stand inside a random closed down business, invite Anonymous in, and then rob him blind... ...kidding!

>>5719097
Very confusing. I'm saving that link for now though. Hmm.

>>5719068
How do you figure that stuff out? are there lawyers or advisers to explain that shit

>>5719131
I think it has more to do with insurance, than it does bankruptcy situations.

>>5719128
You'd have a solid hand on it, don't worry. I didn't say I would do all the work, I would have just developed your own ideas.

I just proposed it because I've done it in the past, and I may not be a "pro" in communication and marketing, but I know my way through computer graphics.

Here's a quick example of the logo I've been thinking about. 5 seconds in Paint.

>>5718488

Straight to business ads, or ones that play on some humerous aspect of one of the systems you stock/support.

Nothing annoys me more than adverts, which have nothing to do with attractive females, shoving one in your face in the hope that some spotty kid with an enraged libido will by the product...

I'm looking at you fucking Snrogtees.com sitting at the top of my SFW board...

So unless they would just be posing as a customer playing a boardgame (across from a more normal customer archetype) then I'd say avoid. I know if I saw those adverts with women (who obviously do not play the systems) posing I'd avoid it out of principle.

alright well heres my opinion. my place was pretty bland when i first opened up yea i had a separate game room that could hold 16 players at any given time and i always make sure i have just about everything in stock. but the place was well depressing. after a few month i was losing the place already not enough people were coming to my place on a regular basis. So i start holding tournaments and what not and it helps a little but even the people that discover my store and lived in the area weren't willing to come on a regular basis.One day i asked a couple of the gamers why dont you come here and play even if your not gonna by anything it could really help me out because the more people that are in here the better the place will look to people interested in starting to play a table top. and all of them had about the same answer. it doesn't feel like a second home. well what do you mean? there reply was a hobby shop should just scream awesome from wall to wall posters promotional trinkets paintings its gotta be able to make me willing to leave the table i have sitting at home in my room. so i tried it and the difference was noticeable almost immediately.Ive had my shop 6 years now and i live in the apartment above and i couldn't be happier. so seriously just make sure that your store will immediately be engraved into their memory.

p.s. i also have a life size blood angel out front

p.p.s another thing one person said why they didnt come more often was the one on the otherside of town was right next to a taco bell.... but i dont think theres much you can do about that

>>5719217
So true. When you said "Feels like home" what did you do to make it feel like that?

Damn you people and tricking me into staying up.

well i have a soda machine and with any purchase of 25$ or more you get a cup with unlimited refils for the day. comfy seats. have a couple of recliners in the back for the people who just come to watch and such. i have a table specifically for painting and one for modeling with a "community" bits box ill tell you how that works if you really want to know. i mean just think about everything you have at home that makes gaming more enjoyable then at a hobby shop and do it times 10. also durring tournaments snacks are provided:)

pic related cause no matter how many times people see this on my wall they still laugh

>>5719233
Whatever you do, see to it that you also sell soft drinks.

>>5719252
I'd love to see some of Jo's artwork up as posters on my future store wall. Interesting points. I wasn't planning on selling soda out of a dispenser, they open topped cups spill too often. Bottles for sale should work better.

>i mean just think about everything you have at home that makes gaming more enjoyable then at a hobby shop and do it times 10.

I actually don't have that much Warhammer stuff at home. Just books. I'm an avid reading fanatic, though. Piles of books everywhere. I think I understand what you're saying though. People want comfort and accessibility.

>>5719185
Vector thrust ! :D

More reasearch Y/N ?

>>5719257
my game seller friends stocked dry noodles for his own lunch. When customers saw it, they wanted to buy some.

>>5719288
Oh hell, you were right. I've loving those ones down at the bottom. I wonder if they'd print well. Have any additional thoughts on themes for my merchandise room/signage/iconography for ads?

>>5719252
>well i have a soda machine and with any purchase of 25$ or more you get a cup with unlimited refils for the day. comfy seats.
Holy fucking hell batman. This sounds awesome.

I wish my lgs would have that

yea theres a way around that i have a table for food and the food doesnt leave that table...except for me :D. and if your not planning on selling warhammer books as in novels have a place with store owned copy's of stuff like kill team and death world for people to come and read while they hang out or just a place to get away from everything else where they feel safe

>>5719295
have a refill

>>5719304
A decent sized section for literature is on the list. I read a lot. A LOT, so I know what's good.

Okay, thanks for the help /tg/ but I REALLY. REALLY need to go to bed now. 40kun, I'll be contacting you later. Expect an email from a mysterious stranger.

>>5719288
- The "F" in fortress is separated too far from the rest of the word.
- The tower takes too much of the logo if you intend on it being text focused
- The lines above and left of the words don't fit, and are too sharp
- The fonts are bad, the bottom most doesn't fit with the structured feel of a fortress, and will appear fuzzy in print (and cheesy on any large format)

Either make the tower part the FOCUS with the text being additional, or the text the focus. Not both.

>>5719335
I'm loving third down right side. The block lettering looks way more appropriate. Okay sleep.

if your still here, this is sounding great. i teach as a means of getting enough money one day to open up a FALGS (Fucking Awesome Local Gaming Store), and as my wife has also always wanted to open a Nerd Shop, looks like thats the plan.

some advise i have heard:
1- don't make money straight away, invest the money from the shop back into the shop. dont skim money from the buisness, make sure you have another form of income for the first year or so of business. this is not because you anre going to go bankrupt, but because it builds up your assets.

2- Make everyone feel special. "hey, whats that? you are in a collage RPG club? show me your card and i'll give you X% of something!" shit like that.

3- know the games you stock. all of them. if you dont know the game, open one up as a store copy and play the damn thing so when i come into your shop and have an interesting story about my tier 5 unicorn telepath you can say, "wow, thats a cool character. he doesn't afraid of anything."

4- ITS NOT A FRIENDS CLUB. all of my LGS's (note i didn't say friendly) owners treat the store like a private club house, to the exlusion of their customers. i no longer go there.

bumps for op