[Akimoto]

I accidentically hit the back button and over 1000 letters disappeared. Screw opera browser. Anyway, here is a short summary of what I wrote poetically and perfect, which got FSCKED up by *"#*¤# opera.

Anyway, short summary of what I wrote;

I'm planning to make a store, I need a good name, it will contain games, RP books, TCG, toys, gadgets and community room for players to sit down and play with other players (+ more I can't think of at this moment).

I need a good store name.
I need to get entrepreneur experience (at least basic), so I can make my vision happen.
What skills do I need to get to run a business?
Links?

All help appreciated.
Spam is not.

[jawfin]

Go to your closest & favourite RPG store and ask them how business is going. Make an interview with the owner/manager and get a sense for it. I only say this because my sister and her husband opened a RPG store (called "The Hit Point"), selling games, figurines etc. as well as having several playing rooms at the back of the store, like a dungeon themed room etc. Make your hobby your business if you can, but only if it is profitable - you need to get back what you put in.

By the way, my sister's business failed miserably, and she has a degree in accounting. It was all about the escapism of her then husband; a business based in fantasy (as it were) won't succeed - thus I'm encouraging you to ensure it is credible.

[Akimoto]

Was it big? I mean, how big was the store she made?
Sounds big with several playing rooms... and a shop ontop of it.

[jawfin]

The purchased the existing business from a previous owner.

2 story building, access was via a short staircase to the upper story, where the POS was (building was built on a hill). Downstairs via internal staircase to the games rooms. The shop itself was like a large lounge room (as it was really a converted house).

If you are intending to rent a building for your shop-front, have you counted the cost of the rent, worked out what GP you need to make to cover costs. Also the setup cost of starting a business (what you have to pay the government to register a business name), opening a business bank account, whether or not to employ staff, and, unless you can do all the financials yourself (which I doubt unless you also have a degree in accounting) ask your accountant the expected expenses. Then, your lawyer, for public liability insurance etc, as well as normal insurances. Cost of parking too, depends on your country's rules about that.

Also, try to have a specialty to draw distant customers, like Warcraft figurines

Finally, do not rely on the promises of friends to keep your business afloat - they'd be good for keeping the wolf at the door for 1 day of the month. Factor in the enormous expense of advertising - word of mouth just won't cut it, not even in the highly specialized and closed world of RPGers - unless you happen to run stalls at RPG conventions and thus literally do have thousands of contacts.

[Evan]

well aki i may be only 12 but a have an idea for a name and what skills you might need.....Name:The Game zone (where gamers can buy/sell/play together to have fun) Skills you may need:you might want to be able to do good at math, be good at using a computer, being good at doing inventory, and knowing what to buy+being able to avoid over-spending.....(hope this was helpful aki!)

[Akimoto]

The Game zone is almost like our already existing norwegian "gamezone.no".

And adding a "The" infront of it won't cut it. Also, I've been thinking to maybe originally add a "coffee shop" kind of store, but with a theme like hobby shops. (Figurines, RP Books, Books in general, Cards, Games and such).

However I still need to find the balance in making them work "together". We cannot make food just putting everything in a pot and hope they taste great together. We need to adjust the ingredients first. x.x

Actually, If everything goes well, I will be doing specialty studying into financing and accounting (starting up a business school etc).

[jawfin]

Adding food into the mix makes a whole world of difference, at least it would in Australia. There is health and safety, and a lot more licensing -.-
You may also be obligated to provide public toilets too, which have its own wealth of standards. You can, maybe, get away with just providing a decent coffee machine, but, once food is introduced it really changes the rules.

[saunby]

Jaw does have a couple of good points there but it does make you look different in a good way, my local bike shop is also a coffee shop, and a bloody good one, its brilliant to go in, have a browse of bike bits, and shiny expensive bikes I will never afford, followed by a lovely cuppa and a read of a mountain bike mag!
As far as Im aware they dont have toilets but obvious you would have to look into all those things!

[RVCA]

steambookbay.com

[Akimoto]

I am looking for good books to read into for learning basic business management and accounting. If you know a good book, please list it~

Thanks.

Adding food into the mix makes a whole world of difference, at least it would in Australia. There is health and safety, and a lot more licensing -.-
You may also be obligated to provide public toilets too, which have its own wealth of standards. You can, maybe, get away with just providing a decent coffee machine, but, once food is introduced it really changes the rules.

Not in Norway. Exception being if it's a restaurant, as far as I know. Where I work, we sell food and such, but we have no public toilet.

steambookbay.com

Your link doesn't work.