[GZG] [OT] Boring Business Talk was: Re: Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi!

I've heard rumors of such, and even think there was some similar things
happening here for the first GWUS stores. In 2003, they'd been bragging about
having up to 54 stores in the US, and '...our sales to independent retailers
and our direct sales in North America were sluggish,'. By last year, they were
up to 82 stores, but talking about cutting losers.I'd hate to be in a town
that had a thriving store, ran under by the process you describe, then have
the company store bug. Not saying it happened, just an ugly thought.

http://investor.games-workshop.com/latest_results/Results2003/full_year/
operatingreview.aspx

http://investor.games-workshop.com/latest_results/Results2007/full_year/
businessreview.aspx

I think my partners would pooh-pooh the notion of a direct threat,
though.
They've been much more concerned with WoTC/Hasbro's move to more online
distribution of RPG materials, the 'virtual' version of a company store moving
into town. Our delight at the marvelous sales of the new edition of D&D will
turn to feelings of betrayal if local roleplayers get the latest material, and
even play, online. I've seen some of it already.

They're probably right; ours is a small market, and even HobbyTown perceives
us as hardly worth the effort as they're well diversified. However we see it
happen, though, it would be discouraging to promote a line only to have the
company come into town and become direct competition.

Outside of our business in 'German' board games, which is threatened by book
and toy stores, I'm seeing little other hope as alternatives. I even tried
talking to Brigade Models, but couldn't find the support around here. Wish we
could run GZG lines...

The_Beast

Jon (GZG) wrote on 07/08/2008 02:58:36 AM:

***snippage***

> One of the things that did a lot to sour GW's reputation in the UK