Traveling across the country in search of great retro games, you come into contact with a lot of great people but you also discover some unique stores too. Now, not every store is magical by any means but there are some great spaces out there that really transport you to another world. Every “trip” is different too; there isn’t a typical type of store though it’s nice to report that every store The NES Club went into, the staff was positive, friendly and willing to help us in any way. Here’s are the big three categories what we found was cool in our travels and I hope that some other store owners can take these ideas and make their store even better!
Signage: Do your store logo up with some heart and passion and carry that aesthetic inside you store.
Organization: Have the store layout make sense and even, take the customer through mini areas full of eye candy; encourage exploration passively through active choices when laying out merchandise, artwork and furniture.
Art/Decor/Ambiance: Probably the most important element to appeal to anyone off the street is to create a space that literally looks like another world. We saw stores that hung anime posters, game art, played music, had props, statues and more and everything was of a similar theme and connected with every other item. In other words, there was though behind the look of the store not just random game posters framed or not framed on the wall.
The goal with a store, from a customer’s point of view, and I should clarify that I have very little retail experience so by no means am I an expert, is to provide an experience – and the more addictive that experience, the better. The experience can be pure escapist where you feel like you’re in a game when you walk through the door. The experience can be more social where the staff chat about games in a friendly manner but encourage your input and repeat visits.
It’s very clear when a store is set up as a commercial enterprise first and foremost; The prices, the layout, the staff, and the turnover of product, all reflect that attitude instantly and gamers can smell it from a mile away. This is why gamers feel less comfortable in stores like Gamestop and other more corporate entities – it’s clear they are designed to make money regardless of who’s paying and their unique tastes. Now, I also love aspects of Gamestop and other smaller chains trying to find a balance but the number one thing that will keep people coming through your door as an independent retailer is to put passion in everything you do. As a filmmaker I often have choices where I can pass on shooting more, or settling and saying “that’s good enough.” And admittedly, there are days where I’ve done that and it’s always come back to haunt me so I’ll never do it again – the crew of The NES Club knows this best: Long hours are a must in the world of passion projects and you take advantage of every opportunity possible.
So the next time you’re in a store, take a look around, make some notes about what you like and share with other gamers, store owners and friends because the best part of gaming is discovering the people and places that share our interests.
About the Author:
Rob McCallum is a filmmaker with multiple awards for his short subject material and the director of the upcoming feature-length doc, “Nintendo Quest”
2 Dudes and a NES 