A place like Maelstrom games

[Oly1987]

So I got to thinking, would it be possible for me to make a store like maelstrom games? Found a pub in Grimsby that is just off the main road entering Grimsby, with parking and a function room (the shop?). Would it work? Is it worth seeing where I can find £95,000 for the pub (plus whatever else needed to convert it into a shop/pub). What would it stock? all sorts of questions help me answer them!

[lunchmoney]

Biggest question that needs answering: is there need & demand for a store/hobby centre there? Any business manager at a bank is going to ask that. If there is no need/demand then the store will most likley fail and you wont get a business loan and will lose your own money.

With the rise of internet shops selling at discount, compared to brick and mortor stores, you'll have to compete.
The only advantage you'll provide is the product is instantly in the buyers hands and a friendly face to offer advice etc.
And the hobby part, the function/gaming room, will run at a loss. You will be paying rates/rents for the space and will not make enough to cover that cost from table charging. The recent closures of Cut 'n' Thrust and Triple Helix are evidence of this. They are now stores only, rather than somewhere to go and play games.

I'm sure there are more issues than this (in fact I know there are, trust me), but MONEY is the biggest one. No matter your good intentions otherwise, it's always becomes about the money.

Do some research in your area. Talk to your bank's small business adviser.

And good luck

[SillySod]

So I got to thinking, would it be possible for me to make a store like maelstrom games?

The strict answer to that is "yes". However....

Presumably you are asking if you could create a profitable business? Again, the answer to that is "yes" but with a whole heap of caveats that add up to "probably not". There are a whole bunch of game stores scattered around the country so there is clearly an opportunity to make money. The problem is that there are also a ton of potential pitfalls and problems starting with raising the appropriate funds in the first place.

Which makes me ask: why? Why do you want to create a new store in the same style as Maelstrom Games? Perhaps it is a bit of a personal question for public boards but you need to at least ask yourself that question and outline a very specific list of the objectives that you are hoping to achieve.

[Olaf the Stout]

So you want to create a store that rips off a heap of customers and suppliers?

Being slightly more serious, I would not use Maelstrom Games as something you want to aim to emulate. Also, get some serious business advice before making any large financial decisions. You're talking about a lot of money, so you want to do your homework to make sure the demand is there and your business model is profitable before going ahead.

Olaf the Stout

[Ullis]

Nobody'd never become an entrepreneur if they only looked at the risks and potential pitfalls!

I think the biggest questions on this are the competition and potential demand. A game store probably creates a monopoly in the sense that two game stores can't be profitable located near each other. So if there's something too close by already, then it probably won't work. Competition also comes from private games clubs as they're an alternative to your gaming area.

Potential demand is obviously people who would frequent your store and gaming area. There's probably a minimum required size for a town that can support a gaming store. I don't know a single thing about Grimsby so I'm not a judge of that.

As mentioned here, just renting out gaming space must be a loss making proposition. You need to sell snacks and drinks, while keeping costs down (so no fancy coffee machines that require someone to operate them) to come out with any profit.

[nonumber]

I've got a lot of ideas floating around my head for such a venture in future. If you haven't already I'd do a quick business course maybe even online just to give you a little knowledge on what's required (and would probably help at least a little when trying to get funds). After that as has already been said, you need to find out if there's enough demand to make it worthwhile.

[spubbbba]

As Maelstrom have shown there are plenty of pitfalls in running a hobby store. It’s a very risky business as you really need to add something extra when compared to shopping online. You’ll have much higher overheads so won’t be able to compete with their discount, though a loyalty scheme may help.

Since it’s a pub with both a bar and function room are you wanting to be like Maelstrom with a shop, bar, space for tournaments and an online store too? If so you’d need to sort out things like licences and have staff etc, you could always run the pub and store separately using them to generate business for each other.

Stock will be an issue as you’ll need to buy a certain amount to have it ready in store. The difficulty is balancing having a wide range of products with wasting money on stuff that will lie about gathering dust. So do you want just miniatures and from which companies, hobby supplies, card games, comics, etc?
You want to have a wide enough range of products that will encourage impulse purchases, as if someone comes in wanting a certain item and you don’t’ have it then they may just get it online instead. But equally you don’t want to be persuaded to buy a bunch of stuff that costs you a fortune and you can’t shift.

[outcast]

I'm afraid I can't offer much help in the way of business advice but a friend of mine who is a lot more knowledgeable in this area claims that coffee shops are one of the easiest business models to succeed with. Certainly, this seems to be the case in Stroud - not a big town but now supporting close to a dozen coffee shops (on a quick count up in my head). Even with a Costa opening up right in the town centre the surrounding coffee shops still seem to be maintaining a good trade.

If you are reasonably close to the town centre or good levels of passing trade (people will drive out to a game shop but they won't drive out for a coffee) then I see no reason you can't provide an environment that non-gamers will be comfortable drinking/relaxing in and gamers will be happy shopping/playing in.

Contrary to some posts, though, I do think a good coffee machine is important if you want to make a serious go of the cafe/bar side to attract non-gamers - people just don't seem happy with Nescafe instant anymore

Many years ago I briefly entertained the idea of running an online game shop for euro-games etc. and one of the problems I immediately hit was that in order to get the games at a price that would allow me a profit I would have to buy them in quantities that weren't ideal e.g. Puerto Rico (RRP of about £25) could be bought from a distributor for around £17 but only in boxes of 12 - this is fine with popular items but leaves you with a lot of stock if you are trying to offer a broad range.

If you do decide to go ahead with it I wish you the best of luck with your venture!

[Oly1987]

I like the idea of having a pub-restaurant\shop\gaming hall (though the last one would be the hardest). Im thinking of a family friendly pub with pub grub and a store attached. Was thinking of doing an indiegogo to help raise funds with rewards including pint glasses, tshirts, discount vouchers etc and a dedication plaque for higher pledges. Would have an online store as well to help keep interest from further afield

[spubbbba]

That sounds really ambitious now and even more expensive are you sure that’s wise? That would need a hefty original outlay in stock, development and staff. Pubs, restaurants and hobby stores are all difficult business to make a success of and combining all 3 will be hard.

Maybe start with a small shop that has a couple of tables and also sells snacks. Stuff like crisps and chocolate or outcasttex’s suggestion about coffee sounded good. You’d need to strike a balance between space to display what you’re selling, tables so people can play and any space else you’d devote to other stuff.

That way you can find out which stock sells and build up a loyal customer base. If the shop prospers then you’d have scope to move to a bigger venue. Plus evidence to put in your business plan if asking for a loan.

[Olaf the Stout]

In any case, this is not the most appropriate place to ask for advice. Ideas maybe, but you're talking about a significant financial investment here. You should be speaking to someone who knows their stuff about a business plan.

Olaf the Stout

[Oly1987]

well the pub may be a little ambitious, so been looking around for other properties, there's a fairly large shop going for £100 p/w, plus theres a small model shop who's owner is retiring and is looking to sell up in the middle of town.

[DixonCider]

Apologies, all I can find on Maelstrom Games is that they have gone under. What was it?

[Darkson]

There's a recent thread(s) about them on here somewhere. Please don't take this thread OT by bringing that discussion up here.
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=37355

[DixonCider]

There's a recent thread(s) about them on here somewhere. Please don't take this thread OT by bringing that discussion up here.
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=37355

Just trying to find out if it is/was a gaming store or a pub/restaurant or a gamer pub