anglefish wrote:
I'll tell you what I see in the two more successful stores in my area.
Cleaniness and lights, especially the bathrooms:
This is especialy true since you'll end up running Pokemon and Yugio tournaments and the Moms will check out your store. (Btw, they'll see your place as more of a pre-teen daycare where they can drop off the kids with 10 bucks for 5 hours of peace.)
Another big reason for good lighting and some high standards for organization is that you will prevent a lot of shop lifting. I've been managing a retail store fo 10 years and the biggest deterrent you can have to shoplifters is adequate staffing and a clean/bright store. If something gets moved in your store, you'll notice it. If your store is a pig pen, how're you going to have any idea what's missing much less so that customers can find product.
Signage:
You don't have to spend a fortune on putting area signs up in your store. Check with some local sign makers in your area for pricing but you can help your customers out by making it obvious which part of your store contains the OOP material/Board Games/etc. There will always be the person who stands right below the sign and asks if you have XYZ in your store, just chuckle and lead them by the hand.
Training:
If you plan on hiring a staff, you will have to train them. There's nothing like going to a game/hobby/electronics store with specific questions only to have the kid behind the counter stare at you like you grew a second head. Develop something to keep at the counter (Binders with pictures are a good start) as well as some kind of stanardized "you will now have to know at LEAST this much before I let you talk to my customers" curriculum.
Security:
Do not feel the need to put every piece of inventory you have on the sales floor. Make sure that your stock room makes sense to more than just you (alphabetical and by game type springs to mind). This will lower the amount of time your staff needs to stay in the back getting product (and therefore not serving your customers) to either restock or if someone needs multiple copies of something.
Do not put to much stock in video systems, they might help you feel better later but they do nothing to prevent shoplifting. Customer service prevents shoplifting. Let your customers know that you know they're there (greet within 20 seconds of entering, even if it's just a wave and a "howdy") and if you're not busy with someone else, HELP them. Teach your staff that there is nothing to gaurd behind the counter, their place in with the customers.
Now the ugly truths of retail...70% or more of your inventory shrink issues will be internal problems. Either disgruntled employees thinking they deserve a "bonus" or giving their buddies a discount. Conversion is also an issue with employees (conversion being an associate selling "out the back door" and keeping the proceeds). Bad checks will likely make up the second largest problem (ask other local business how they handle check problems to get the low down on your state's laws).
Having internet access in your store will be a great tool for researching something a customer might want (can't remember the title? punch in what you do to google) but you will want to learn how to block access for anything that would cause problems (torrent sites, porn, etc). The last thing you need is some parent who thinks your responsible for corrupting little Jimmy (parents always want to blame someone else).
