The problem with EB and GameStop is that they're just anotehr brick and mortar store, they're no different than the Sears, JC Penny's, and Suncoast Video outlets in my Local mall.
Thus I think the idea of a mere "Store" isn't what GameTavern needs or even wants it seems. It'd have to be unique in the same way that the Apple Store in San Francisco is unique -- it's not a shack in the middle of nowhere, just as McDonalds has Golden Arch's the GT Store would need a signature "design" to it.
My ideas:
- Wall Decor: Black, Blue, Green, Purple and Silver are in, these are the colors seen on consoles so Green, Blue & Purple "Neon" Lighting would be a nice additional touch, a Black floor with a Silver Tri-Force in it would be a major plus for Nintendo fans, maybe some other franchises could get into the floor.
- Don't just sell games, PLAY GAMES! An "Arcade" would be nice, I may not want to buy that new PSP sitting on yoour shelves, but if you have an MK II Arcade Machine I'd love to see Tournaments well run and gamers havinga good time.
- Think Bookstore/Coffee shop meets gaming: You have the store, but you also have a sort of Cyber-Cafe area, the "Cafe" itself does a fast food thing, Pepsi and Coca-Cola are obvious "Gamers beverages" as is Mountain Dew and some form or Orange Soda, Dorito's and other brand-name snack foods will add to the ambiance of a "Gamer's shop" and fast-food could be served as GT Members and employees adn consumers could socialize, maybe someone is new to gaming maybe somene wants to meet people and make a friend. This would establish the image of a "Friendly" store.
- LAN Gaming Area: In addition to the traditional "Arcade" you could have some Comptuer's set up for LAN Gaming on one side of the store, this would be an area used for head to head gaming competitions prizes could range form cash to free games or a custom PC. All LAN Gaming PC's would be custom-built for and by GT Staff Members so the store would have a GT Look the scheme could be "Wine Red" on these and maybe you could sell them too in small quantites. Most gaming stores sell consoles and PC hardware but not full PC's a GT PC would be amazing!
- Cyber-Cafe Computers: Again custom-built Systems in the "Ocean Blue" scheme of Gametavern.net and sale of said machines in addition to the "Wine Red" machines. Across from the LAN Area would be the Cyber-Cafe area with the PC's and the food, these would open to
www.Gametavern.net as the homepage URL obviously and you could charge people to get online while away from home or while they're having their rig being fixed which brings me to the next section.
- FIX BUSTED PC's/Mac's/Consoles!
If you had a "Repair Center" section, and the job was easy, people could walk in with their PC or Console and have repairs and upgrades done while they play games and enjoy the GT store, it'd be a nice extra.
- Gametavern: The Magazine & Catalog -- in addition to the store you could have your own Magazine & Catalog available with Strategy guides and EGM and other magazines on news stands.
- Awards: If someone wins a Tourney regularly consider medals and whatnot, another idea for Tournaments would be Gametavern "Uniforms" for players, obviously the employee uniforms would be different but these could tell you who's a regular and who's not.
- Different levels of Access to the store: Maybe offer some sort of "Special Access Card" deal, Bronze, Silver and Platinum levels, like Wharehouse stores. Bronze would be for general customers, the guy who buys games and has a shirt that has the mario + Mushroom = Super mario type. Silver would be for anyone who's a GT Forum member, added privleges would be some insider news but a limited ammount, maybe a few freebies. Finally Gold Level Members would be right under staff, if you're agold level member you'd have to be a GT member, you'd be advanced in Rank after two years of silver, maybe a tournament or two and would have access to some special areas in the store such as new equipment, maybe the ability to test new ideas for the store or decide what goes in or doesn't go into it -- market researchers who are free and give their time to their hobby, they'd get frequent shopper discounts and be the people associated with GameTavern, guys who you'd see and say "Hey CamFu!" or "How's it hanging Crash?" That type of person.
Also where is the store going to be located? I'd likeot know how much I'd have to pay to fly out for the opening day of the GAMETAVERN Gaming Store f this dream came true.
I like the ideas, but if I were to set it apart from the Radio Shack's of gaming stores I'd take on a new approach to how the store is run, obviously there would be music from game soundtracks and J-Pop playing through the store speakers (Think of SEE-SAW's "Anna ni issho datta no ni" pumping through your sound system.) and maybe some video monitors showing game demos, anime, and Sci-Fi shows to really get people hyped for what they're doing, target the gamer and all he or she enjoys, not jus the sale of games.
The whole Game "tavern" theme makes me think a bit of some sort of retro-look in areas of the store, for instance bar-top counters and saloon-style doors inside some areas. A "coat-of-arms" would be nice too, keep the theme intact basically.
Finally, I know this goes beyond the idea of a store, but isn't that what we're sort of thinking about or am I misunderstanding people? The reason EB and Gamestop don't stand out is because they're just store, if the GT Gaming store (My name for it) was morre than just a store, a store with a background and a Cyber-Cafe/LAN Party area like some Hobby shops, and a unique business model I'd really like iit. Remember though your employees will want their cash too, Healthcare benefits are obviosu pluses giving people a way to advance in positions would be nice and if the store became a nation-wide chain you'd want to offer all those "Corperate Benefits" that other businesses offer. An online shop would be nice too, if the store is on the West Coast I wouldn't be able to get there very often as I'm in NJ, but if it were online as well I'd be able to buy from GT more often. Likewise, if it became a chain I'd want to have one built in my town! We don't have any sort of Cyber-Cafe near here so a chain of Gametavern stores would do well in this area with the ideas I've proposed, it'd also save people a bit of a drive and make them more likely to go to a gametavern store than to an EB or Gamestop. I don't know your full plans but I hope some of this is useful and wish you all the best of luck, I lok forward to one day shoppingg at the GT store!