State of te gaming hobby

textfilter: chose text/plain from a multipart/alternative

Hi

There seems to be two propositions about the gaming hobby: 1) that the hobby
is in good shape because there are more manufacturers and game systems than
ever. 2) that the hobby is in bad shape because local game stores are not
succeeding or not stocking many figure lines. One person even went as far as
"Even GW can't make retailing work"

I think both these propositions are true.

The hobby is changing. The internet is disintermediating the hobby with many
manufacturers supplying direct via the internet. They get retail priced sales
for the same costs as sending to wholesale suppliers.

The days of bloated supply chains with distributers, wholesalers and retailers
all getting their margin are gone.

Recently GW had to restrict the sales of their EU retailers to the EU only to
prop up their creaking supply model in other regions.

If game (or any) stores are going to survive they need to do more than stock
product and take your money. There are only 2 reasons for buying from a local
store, immediate delivery or knowledgable staff. When you get better service
and price from Amazon than from your local book store why would you shop
there?

Some game stores are becoming gaming clubs with a retail outlet, this seems to
work to a point but it's very expensive way to use store space.

So I think the hobby will go more and more online for sales of product. The
internet will be the place to find products, supplies, local players and
events.

Bricks and motar retailers will need to have direct cupply agreements with the
manufacturers who will need to consider whole of world pricing.

Recently Addidas got into a lot of trouble and brand damage for retailing a
Rugby Wolrd Cup shirt for 200 in New Zealand and people could (and did) buy it
for 100 from US online retailers.

I think wholesalers and distrubutors with regional sales territories are an
endangered species.