In the Sally Forth comic not long ago, Sally’s sister found work in some kind of craft or novelty store. She and the owner were the only ones who bought anything, so when they got their pay they were really just getting their money back. A circular economy at its worst!
That’s now how it works.
At Left-Half Comics, I kept a 4’x8′ gaming table in the back. Cost to reserve it: $1. Not a dollar an hour, just a dollar. I then gave 20% off all merchandise while they were playing there. I had a soda machine back there, set to forty-five cents a can; as low as I was allowed to set it.
I didn’t make a lot of money when a group had the table. What I DID have, however, was:
1. A friendly, affordable location to game.
2. Some income from the table gaming.
3. MASSIVE good will from my customers.
4. Loyalty from all my gamers who bought their supplies, comics, and other stuff from Left-Half.
5. An unbeatable word-of-mouth campaign.
6. Upbeat, lively activity that increased the good vibe in the store.
Mouse, my advice to you is: Consider this loss-leader stuff that will pay off HUGE in money, but more importantly in good will, loyalty, and grass-roots advertising by your customers.
You have that right, Pete. Some things are literally worth more than the money you theoretically lose having them. Mouse is too stuck in the numbers. In my younger days we had a store that sold cards and comics and they had a couple tables at the back for people to play card games. It worked as the best introduction to ‘how awesome are these games’ you could have asked for!
U.B… Yah… that happens, I’m sure. It’s kinda like that at comic conventions… you trade work with your fellow comic table mates… You sometimes don’t make money, but you wind up with stuff… that you may or may not be all that excited about.
Pete: Yah… you provide a cool and fun place to hang… then it snowballs. Loyalty goes a long way. It does take time to get going… you just have to hang in there while it does.
Judy… yah… hang in with those crafters!
Trev… yup… a table, a smile and it builds from there.
RN… Math is involved… but the bottom line shouldn’t be the focus… the bottom line will take care of itself if you build community and loyalty and good word of mouth. Math helps though.
In the Sally Forth comic not long ago, Sally’s sister found work in some kind of craft or novelty store. She and the owner were the only ones who bought anything, so when they got their pay they were really just getting their money back. A circular economy at its worst!
That’s now how it works.
At Left-Half Comics, I kept a 4’x8′ gaming table in the back. Cost to reserve it: $1. Not a dollar an hour, just a dollar. I then gave 20% off all merchandise while they were playing there. I had a soda machine back there, set to forty-five cents a can; as low as I was allowed to set it.
I didn’t make a lot of money when a group had the table. What I DID have, however, was:
1. A friendly, affordable location to game.
2. Some income from the table gaming.
3. MASSIVE good will from my customers.
4. Loyalty from all my gamers who bought their supplies, comics, and other stuff from Left-Half.
5. An unbeatable word-of-mouth campaign.
6. Upbeat, lively activity that increased the good vibe in the store.
Mouse, my advice to you is: Consider this loss-leader stuff that will pay off HUGE in money, but more importantly in good will, loyalty, and grass-roots advertising by your customers.
Well said, Pete! Hang in there, Mouse.
You have that right, Pete. Some things are literally worth more than the money you theoretically lose having them. Mouse is too stuck in the numbers. In my younger days we had a store that sold cards and comics and they had a couple tables at the back for people to play card games. It worked as the best introduction to ‘how awesome are these games’ you could have asked for!
Well, we can’t all be bright at math.
U.B… Yah… that happens, I’m sure. It’s kinda like that at comic conventions… you trade work with your fellow comic table mates… You sometimes don’t make money, but you wind up with stuff… that you may or may not be all that excited about.
Pete: Yah… you provide a cool and fun place to hang… then it snowballs. Loyalty goes a long way. It does take time to get going… you just have to hang in there while it does.
Judy… yah… hang in with those crafters!
Trev… yup… a table, a smile and it builds from there.
RN… Math is involved… but the bottom line shouldn’t be the focus… the bottom line will take care of itself if you build community and loyalty and good word of mouth. Math helps though.