tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post7891346933305477536..comments2024-01-23T04:05:39.851-06:00Comments on Plastic Legions: Games Workshop meet the recessionJPLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461099993856743894noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-4594833991322705872009-07-06T19:49:44.182-05:002009-07-06T19:49:44.182-05:00I was talking to my local store (chicago bunker)ab...I was talking to my local store (chicago bunker)about the new vet policies and once explained kinda made sense. It's not that they want to alienate us, but more so that we get up off our butts and do stuff ourselves. I know that the bunker is hosting several tournaments and a couple campaigns that are ran by just local clubs. I've seen some really cool stuff put on by the clubs lately. Also if you think about it doesn't not having an employee bombard you with veteran events every 2 minutes sound nice?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-45837259282068165332009-07-06T19:49:42.342-05:002009-07-06T19:49:42.342-05:00I was talking to my local store (chicago bunker)ab...I was talking to my local store (chicago bunker)about the new vet policies and once explained kinda made sense. It's not that they want to alienate us, but more so that we get up off our butts and do stuff ourselves. I know that the bunker is hosting several tournaments and a couple campaigns that are ran by just local clubs. I've seen some really cool stuff put on by the clubs lately. Also if you think about it doesn't not having an employee bombard you with veteran events every 2 minutes sound nice?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-73119894205206643732009-04-17T22:45:00.000-05:002009-04-17T22:45:00.000-05:00Re: Anonymous wondering why the Springfield, VA st...Re: Anonymous wondering why the Springfield, VA store moved from mall to strip mall, it's because everyone is bailing from Spr. Mall--it's being torn down in the not too distant future. The new location is a little bizarre in neighborhood, but it's well placed by a major highway.<br /><br />My younger son is just starting to get into GW, so we're hoping to see the Fair Oaks Mall grand opening. Very revealing blog and comments here, though--good info for a non-GW mom like me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-9271566471657776592009-03-29T00:22:00.000-05:002009-03-29T00:22:00.000-05:00i dont know if anybody said this yet (i didnt chec...i dont know if anybody said this yet (i didnt check) but both stores near me were both closed in the same month and now i have to drive for 2 hours to get to the closest store which is now the la battle bunkerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-39979179851863478012009-03-27T11:34:00.000-05:002009-03-27T11:34:00.000-05:00Ed S. has been gone from the Chicago area for abou...Ed S. has been gone from the Chicago area for about 2 years now. When ever it was that GW folded the regional sales offices back into the national office.<BR/><BR/>I'm a bit surprised that Ed was behind the No Vets movement - he was always a strong supporter of clubs and events during his time in Chicago. Could be he was just carrying out direction from higher up. On the other hand, we was a bit unpredictable....Chicago Terrain Factoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13120517237019460964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-38099603156632266372009-03-27T11:19:00.000-05:002009-03-27T11:19:00.000-05:00I do not believe so. our former manager is now a r...I do not believe so. our former manager is now a regional and his boss, whose name is escaping me at moment definitely is not Ed. perhaps he is still in the chain, its just if they aren't involved in the shops or events. I wouldn't have an opportunity to meet them. I'm sure several of the past/present GW employees who stop by here, may know.JPLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12461099993856743894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-28021624154268764492009-03-27T11:04:00.000-05:002009-03-27T11:04:00.000-05:00Is Ed Spetigue still working in the Chicago area f...Is Ed Spetigue still working in the Chicago area for GW? I think he is responsible for most of the 'no vet' ideals. That's how he ran things in the MD/VA areas.. <BR/><BR/>Perhaps he still hasn't figured the US out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-89888705539831333542009-03-25T16:48:00.000-05:002009-03-25T16:48:00.000-05:00"the other Kevin said... Oddly, our inside the mal..."the other Kevin said... <BR/>Oddly, our inside the mall stores here in northern Virginia are closing in favor of strip malls. When I talked to one employee before the Potomac Mills store closed, they encouraged me to patron the FLGS."<BR/><BR/><BR/>This is why I can't, for the life of me, figure out why they're opening a store in Fair Oaks Mall. Especially since the Springfield store just moved out of the Mall (from what I hear, haven't seen it yet).<BR/><BR/>It's like they don't learn their lesson. Or they're opening stores they know will close just to get the initial foot traffic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-13728088685313635012009-03-24T12:08:00.000-05:002009-03-24T12:08:00.000-05:00Gerg,Man I miss those Summer campaigns. I wish I ...Gerg,<BR/>Man I miss those Summer campaigns. I wish I could say I was more involved in the couple that I had a chance to experience (I was mostly a new player at the time). Did that type of thing really require so many man hours of labor that GW couldn't support them? <BR/><BR/>They also had the neat effect of "advancing the story line" in an other wise static story. Well at least the Fantasy campaigns advanced the story...The 40K one (the last summer campaign to run) felt a little 1/2 assed...Bill Limhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18205842386449694975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-63562981420820273742009-03-24T09:27:00.000-05:002009-03-24T09:27:00.000-05:00Also, as far as sales goals, that may apply in som...Also, as far as sales goals, that may apply in some of the other locations, but unless my store was supposed to pull down half a million per year, not hitting wasn't the reason they closed it.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05825588070030592216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-35642945352085380572009-03-24T09:22:00.000-05:002009-03-24T09:22:00.000-05:00I understand the focus on new gamers. I just disa...I understand the focus on new gamers. I just disagree with the current strategy of throwing the veterans to the wind. <BR/>Also, does anyone else miss the summer campaigns?Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05825588070030592216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-82279229071139062422009-03-24T08:39:00.000-05:002009-03-24T08:39:00.000-05:00I don't play in tournaments, but I do have an opin...I don't play in tournaments, but I do have an opinion on why they have been shafted this year. Did anyone see the attendance at the Westminster Dog Show this year? WAY DOWN. These are people far more fanatical than GW Tourney players, in a sport that is popular enough to be televised, with serious money in it for the winners (indirectly from breeding fees etc.), and it still wasn't worth most contestants time to travel there and attend. I think the economy won't affect GW sales too harshly, but it might affect peoples ability to travel any significant distance for a tournament.The Inner Geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12794001001232191042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-7671580395743607022009-03-24T01:36:00.000-05:002009-03-24T01:36:00.000-05:00I spoke to the LA bunker manager-who transferred f...I spoke to the LA bunker manager-who transferred from another area, he stated that stores are being shut down because they didnt make the sales numbers-period. It doesnt matter how nice and friendly you are-if your numbers are not high enough-your store will be shut down.<BR/>now GW did open a new store in the OC, and I was told they were going to open 12 more-so if they close down 2 stores-well do the math.<BR/>new stores are to be 30mins away-fairly close to each other-and sending all "hooked" customers to the battle bunker for events, (which the LA battle bunker has increased in size). it does seem GW is trying to get more money from us crack users. They know we will buy their product-but like the Tobacco companies-they need fresh blood, once we are hooked-we still go back.<BR/>And it doesnt matter if you buy from them or from an online store-you still bought their overpriced product, so GW still wins in the end.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-1421159107178724562009-03-24T00:51:00.000-05:002009-03-24T00:51:00.000-05:00GW focuses on the new hobbyist because frankly, th...GW focuses on the new hobbyist because frankly, they spend a lot more money then the vets, on average 300-1000 dollars in their first year. My General Manager (i own an independent retailer) worked for GW for 7 years managing a bunker for 2, one december he sold over 150 Battle for Macrags, no kidding.<BR/>GW has been over staffed for years, especially in middle to upper management, but they are killing themselves by cutting so many red shirts. It's silly to have 4 guys working on a tuesday night but i have heard stories of red shirts having to clear out their store so they can take their mandatory 45 minute lunch break as there is no one else working. I hope GW can find the happy balance between low payroll and excellent customer service. We have three employees plus my lazy but to help out every once in a while and manage to have at least two people on every day, three on Fri and Sat. <BR/>I would ask all those gamers out there to try to find a good independent retailer and support them as small businesses are the backbone of our country and you will be keeping those dollars local, i admit i am a little biased.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-4035608972881658472009-03-23T17:06:00.000-05:002009-03-23T17:06:00.000-05:00Thanks for that Gerg, Its more confirmation in lin...Thanks for that Gerg, Its more confirmation in line with what we are seeing and hearing. Can I ask where you were located? State, metro region?JPLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12461099993856743894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-54677677430229983842009-03-23T16:51:00.000-05:002009-03-23T16:51:00.000-05:00I worked for GW up until December. They closed my...I worked for GW up until December. They closed my shop at the end of January. We were told, from corporate, to focus on new customers and people walking into the store for the first time. We were to politely disengage with veterans and go peddle plastic crack to the newbies. And they really encouraged us to jump around like monkeys. <BR/><BR/>The opinion from the higher ups is that veterans are hooked. They'll keep buying product. And they don't really care if you buy it online for 20% off. They still get paid. The current operating plan for the shops is to act as recruitment centers for new hobbyists then shuffle them off to Bunkers or Independents. That's why the focus has shifted away from veteran events. <BR/><BR/>As far as the layoffs. GW offers the best retail benefits package I've ever seen. The health insurance they offer is phenomenal. If they exceed their margin goals this year they'll be paying out the difference to share holders and employees. Unfortunately, one of the easiest ways to inflate those numbers is to let people go. So they are. And they're axing stores that don't quite fit the mold. If your store isn't in one of the major metros, i.e. you only have one or two shops in your city, and it hasn't been shut down, it will be. And they won't tell you. They'll try not to tell the staff until about 2 to 4 weeks out. The only reason we found out was because we couldn't hire someone to replace one of our guys who left. They had to tell us why. <BR/>As far a community goes, they don't care. GW thinks that all they have to do is provide the models and we'll take care of the rest. I don't think their right but there it is.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05825588070030592216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-70196515201903039522009-03-19T14:15:00.000-05:002009-03-19T14:15:00.000-05:00I'm sorry to hear about ur store guys. It's a real...I'm sorry to hear about ur store guys. It's a real shame when GW are such big idiot to not think about which stores to close and which people really want. Luckily for me I live in the UK and there are at least 4 or 5 stores within an hours drive (the closest being about 10mins away). But hopefully post crunch theyll see the light and re-open ur store. Keep barking down GW neck about it!<BR/><BR/>BenBenedictushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09392693958913410566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-5267633005459568002009-03-19T12:37:00.000-05:002009-03-19T12:37:00.000-05:00Oddly, our inside the mall stores here in northern...Oddly, our inside the mall stores here in northern Virginia are closing in favor of strip malls. When I talked to one employee before the Potomac Mills store closed, they encouraged me to patron the FLGS.<BR/><BR/>Have to agree they're pushing aside the veteran hobbyist. I first came to see that when they stopped selling bits.<BR/><BR/>Real shame to see them not encourage building the community. To me, that's what the addiction is all about.the other Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03109487639989936564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-66709379735296153052009-03-19T08:10:00.000-05:002009-03-19T08:10:00.000-05:00I'm not a GW addict (yet, although the Great W...I'm not a GW addict (yet, although the Great War WWI game is singing a siren call...) but I do go there from time to time for curiosity and for painting supplies for my D&D miniatures (and to buy LotR minis). <BR/><BR/>I was really surprised that there's a GW store in Gurnee and one in Vernon Hills. Considering that FLGS's that cater to a wide variety of gamers are closing faster and faster these days, I thought the northern Chicago area might be saturated with two GW stores - but you're right, they are "mall stores" where the experience is very retail versus what I find at my FLGSs.<BR/><BR/>FWIW, I know there are a bunch of miniatures gamers that go to Games Plus in Mt. Prospect. I don't know if that's convenient to any in your group, but Curt has been around a long time and he's a very welcoming sort - and he has nearly 1/4 of the store for GW related merchandise.Michael S/Chgowizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052820400496340137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-89827372571551293322009-03-19T07:40:00.000-05:002009-03-19T07:40:00.000-05:00O.K. guys and Gals, Let us start with Chris's comm...O.K. guys and Gals, Let us start with Chris's comment, they do not sack re-focus and grow; they just grow because of us. Long term Gamers that will find a way to make these "wonderful" minis' because the G.W. product ...well really is mostly the best looking out there... hence the crack concept. YES, the Northridge and the Glendale stores on Southern California are closing; and yes with little notice and absolutely no regard to us the clients and especially to our beloved staff. They had been placed on notice and then formally told that their employment was being severed. <BR/> The Bunker is 50+ miles away from Northridge, and the farthest guys that lostr their store last year, Pac Vue, have to come 30 minutes longer to just find new friends and a new store and within a 6-8 month period they lost their second place to Game. We as a community have a direction and some cohesiveness, and are looking for a real retail store that will allow us to participate with the owners as we have had 6 years of watching G.W. commit Suicide on themselves in our region. The Los Angeles area is impossible to travel through for a casual afternoon at the Bunker. Early when there is no traffic and we have to wait till noon and late after 8 for traffic to let up.... How does anything work when the stores are doing fine except that they F'ed up by buying leases in big malls, for 80K per year in the first place? That is real Business sense gone wrong. Forget the economy, as you say, the addicted hobbyist will find a way but the comraderie, the afternoons spent together just painting or helping each other with a conversion and yes, let us not leave out the dedicated staff that we have well, routinely had to make new friends with but we did, just because they were always being changed up on us for trumped up reasons. Yea, there were the really wierd ones that did not fit the Red Book mold and good riddance but what about the kids that we watched grow into fine hobbyists over the last 6 years? Oh, and let us not forget the immortal words from Corporate Management, "What do they care if we close the store." I can answer that can you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-89770896149010476872009-03-19T06:15:00.000-05:002009-03-19T06:15:00.000-05:00I recently played a few games of WHFB at the Battl...I recently played a few games of WHFB at the Battle Bunker in Glen Burnie Marlyland and the manager seemed really upbeat to me. He mentioned that several new GW stores are being opened up in the states as GW expands. He also mentioned that even if they promoted every employee of of GW retail staff in the states that there would still be manager positions open. I recently received a bullentin from GW concerning the opening of two new stores. Maybe they are just shaking things up and bringing the exposure up whilst dwindling some of the mega centers of the hobby to compensate? Just a thought. <BR/><BR/>P.S.-Your blog rocks! Keep up the good GW and hobby coverage.Rysmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01089206569413315454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-79623323784995513172009-03-19T06:06:00.000-05:002009-03-19T06:06:00.000-05:00It sounds like GW in the US is about as effective ...It sounds like GW in the US is about as effective as GW here in the UK.<BR/><BR/>I live and game in Nottingham, home of GW, and as a result I know lots of people who have worked for GW over the years.<BR/><BR/>With only one exception, every one of them has been sacked / made redundant. Generally as part of some mind boggling bad management decision. <BR/><BR/>And yet, GW are still here after 30+ years. Every time things get bad, they sack a load of stuff, refocus and start growing again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-47910660304838102552009-03-19T00:08:00.000-05:002009-03-19T00:08:00.000-05:00GW #158 in Northridge California closes at the end...GW #158 in Northridge California closes at the end of March, with notice given on March 6th and the reason of high Mall rent/lease expired, with no plan to re-open. The Manager who was with the GW for 5 years fate is unknown at this time. Additionally, the Glendale CA store is on the chopping-block as the lease is rumored to be up in November.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-81888061850318787202009-03-18T20:31:00.000-05:002009-03-18T20:31:00.000-05:00For a company with such a niche and so 'dedicated'...For a company with such a niche and so 'dedicated' a consumer market, it's astounding what kind of decisions GW seem to make. If the community is nurtured with goodwill and open arms, the custom will follow.<BR/><BR/>Mind you, I've only been to a couple of stores in the Chicagoland area*, but a combination of that and stuff I pick up on blogs suggests that GW stores are far more 'generous' over there in the US than here in the UK now. <BR/><BR/>Looking back at old copies of WD from the nineties, there were always sales, special offers and coupons. I can remember always delving in the bargain bin at our Portsmouth store in the early 90s. Now? Nothing. The prices are always notching upwards with no breaks apart from the odd 'bundle' - if you spend over £150 in the first place! <BR/><BR/>I don't get why they'd throw their plastic-crack fans so few bones - it's like they want to actively discourage loyalty.<BR/><BR/>Humbug.<BR/><BR/>* My in-laws are in on the South Side and out in Naperville. I'll look some of these places up the next time I'm in town...Admiral Draxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07476823273954165890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786977598764243863.post-55349024601549915192009-03-18T19:53:00.000-05:002009-03-18T19:53:00.000-05:00My local GW is a mall location in the greater Los ...My local GW is a mall location in the greater Los Angeles area, and I've seen firsthand how the staff cutbacks have affected things. The last time I went in, there was only one person staffing for the day (down from an easy 3-4 employees at any given time).<BR/><BR/>I had to wait fifteen minutes at the register while the staff member finished a demo.<BR/><BR/>Now, I have to say he was very apologetic about the whole thing, but the situation is kind of indicative of the GW mindset - focus on new players buying product, and leave the older loyal customers to fend for themselves. Because, of course, once someone is hooked on the games, they will still be buying their plastic crack for life, right?...uh, right?<BR/><BR/>I guess we'll just see about that.Odiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10640581334924139121noreply@blogger.com