> I think you hit the nail on the head. Comic stores are usually
> disgusting. I know there is no way I am going to be able to sell my
> products in conventional gaming stores because I know my
> target audience
> will never set foot into them. And even if they did I doubt
> they would
> ever go back Dirty store fronts, cluttered counter tops,
> noisy groups
> of rough-looking people gathered to paint miniatures, lack of customer
> service, and lack of some type of store directory are all
> common reasons
> why gaming doesn't reach out to a variable customer base. Stores like
> Barnes and Noble sell gaming materials, but IMO you have to be looking
> for them and know what you are looking for. I doubt that many newbies
> are drawn to D&D through book stores.
You'd really like the new (august 2000) gaming store here in Columbia,
Missouri. Clean, open, atmosphere and great customer service. Take a look
at http://www.valhallasgate.com/inside_images_1.htm which will give you an
idea of what the store is like inside. Unless they're unable to obtain
what I want (hasn't happened so far) I buy all my RPG materials and several
card/boxed games there. The only reason I don't buy comics there is I get a
decent discount at the store that I do buy my comics from (which does almost
match your description above! ;).
Valhalla's was a startling contrast from hobbyshops I had been in
the past which were either like you described, or at least cluttered with
lots of other things that I wasn't interested in (other hobbies, like model
trains, etc.) and with the advent of D20/3E I've been doing my best to
'support my local gaming store' much to my budget's dismay. ;)
Iain.
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