tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150649422744296369.post776569911819867579..comments2023-12-23T02:17:12.549-08:00Comments on Quest for Fun!: ACD Games Day (Tradecraft)Gary Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11897166491600280320noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150649422744296369.post-30999573833120667142014-02-12T08:38:09.949-08:002014-02-12T08:38:09.949-08:00We had the same problem in our current location, a...We had the same problem in our current location, although not quite THAT big. We ended up taking a space that was probably 1K or so square feet more than I wanted (perhaps a third bigger than we hoped for), and that couple thousand dollars a month of rent for years was a real drag on becoming profitable in the new location.<br /><br /><br />Now it's paying off, as we expand our gaming space and lose about 10% of our retail space, everything will be about right. Our retail space is still flexible enough to add a ton of inventory, eventually, so we're good for years to come.<br /><br /><br /><br />Your space sounds amazing. I can't even imagine 6K square feet in our area, it would be $15,000/month, in a marginal location. <br /><br /><br />If you've got the kind of business that would benefit from more traffic, as in a clean, well lit, place with matching fixtures that might be confused for a corporate retail outlet, then it sounds spot on. If you've got more of a destination store, you probably don't need to pay for higher traffic. <br /><br /><br /><br />As for the dining experience, I'm assuming you already have a retail store? Or maybe restaurant experience? I would be open to tackling one of those two, but both together, without experience, sounds pretty tough. <br /><br /><br /><br />So I would consider the restaurant if I had a retail store already and wanted to diversify, or I would plan for a 6K square foot game space but not in a high traffic (expensive) area. Just some thoughts. It's hard without the details. That's definitely exciting and you should be thinking sales per square foot with such a massive place. Don't pay for space you don't need.blackdiamond925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150649422744296369.post-34579100669998710252014-02-12T08:25:48.246-08:002014-02-12T08:25:48.246-08:00I'm spending my whole week on this blog, and y...I'm spending my whole week on this blog, and you have so many good numbers in here! I'm not in a major metro area like you are, so I'm not going to hit your upper numbers, but I still want to ask you so many questions.<br /><br /><br />We have an interesting dilemma. We've found this amazing space. High foot traffic, high visibility from freeway, the space inside looks like a pub Gandalf would visit. (Including a gas brick fireplace.) The owner is retiring, his wife has a bead business with these amazing tables that he will throw in for free (think steampunk wrought iron bottoms and heavy wood tops.) Everything is perfect, but the space is TOO BIG. So, I see you expanding your store (in fact, your expansion looks an awful lot like this 6k square foot space we're looking at, with the upper mezzanine, except ours is a 100 year old building with architectural details, etc.)<br /><br /><br />I guess it comes down to, how much do we want to diversify (by offering a dining experience, seems to be likely for the extra space) or do we just settle on a smaller spot with less traffic? Arrgh. I just want my hand held as I work through all these probabilities.sunnydalebettynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150649422744296369.post-61485913930489006852014-02-11T12:47:33.081-08:002014-02-11T12:47:33.081-08:00This was Madison of 10 years ago, so things have p...This was Madison of 10 years ago, so things have probably changed a lot. I was thinking about partnering with another store or perhaps just building a big one from scratch. I would have been moving at the height of the housing market, would have bought a house with cash and started a store with a big budget, again with cash. Lots of illusionary money back then.blackdiamond925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150649422744296369.post-21996677273914060962014-02-11T12:04:47.213-08:002014-02-11T12:04:47.213-08:00I'd love to hear about the research you did in...I'd love to hear about the research you did in Madison. I'm a local gamer here, and we've had two stores recently decide to move locations and become more web focused, which has led to some intense debates between my friends and I as to how we'd go about opening a store in Madison to fill the gap. Purely hypothetically of course.Aaronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150649422744296369.post-42054672391503302532014-02-11T10:41:27.649-08:002014-02-11T10:41:27.649-08:00Having done it a few times from California, I woul...Having done it a few times from California, I would say no. It's two full days of travel.blackdiamond925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150649422744296369.post-44800807546356062042014-02-11T10:33:04.178-08:002014-02-11T10:33:04.178-08:00If you want to test run the presentation, I'll...If you want to test run the presentation, I'll be happy to make the drive to Black Diamond.<br /><br />Seriously, I'm debating which retail "con" I want to go to this year. I haven't done the distributor game days before, and I think GTS is out this year due to family things. Think it's worth a fellow Californian making the journey to Wisconsin?Jennifer Wardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150649422744296369.post-29688013088529586482014-02-11T10:27:48.895-08:002014-02-11T10:27:48.895-08:00Thanks Bryan. I'll try to stop by.Thanks Bryan. I'll try to stop by.blackdiamond925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150649422744296369.post-45651137289064399842014-02-11T09:22:06.182-08:002014-02-11T09:22:06.182-08:00Hi Gary. I've love for you to visit my store w...Hi Gary. I've love for you to visit my store while you are in the area. It's about 4 minutes from ACD's sweet new warehouse. We're a bit of a "bizzaro" store compared to the typical gamer den, with an emphasis on board gaming. I did a presentation at ACD Game Day past year about drawing "everyone else" to your store that was very highly received. Regardless, I'll see you at the show!<br />--<br />Bryan Winter<br />I'm Board! Games & Family FunI'm Board! Gamesnoreply@blogger.com