Fate Reforged Prerelease is done! Thankfully the weather was good and the turn out was also. Had plenty of issues for the Prerelease. Lost power to the whole building. That makes things challenging. Luckily the power came back. Had only two Prereleases signed up for and one was on the wrong date. I was surprised that I was able to get Wizards of the Coast on the phone on a Prerelease day and get that fixed. Though did have them call me back. We were joking they would call back while I was in the bathroom. The credit card reader machine broke. A small wheel came off of it. Maybe two centimeters big it was so small. Managed to find it and was pleasantly surprised it worked again. Had more players for the noon Prerelease than any other previous noon release. Went pretty smooth player wise. Marc played and won the draft on Friday. Marc then played the Saturday midnight morning Prerelease and manage to draft Ugin, The Spirit Dragon. Marc played again at the 8 pm on and we joked how lucky he was and now he needed to one up the Urgin pull by pulling a Urgin foil card. Sure enough Marc pulled it.
The Promo Ugin, must really be rare. Only one person from all the drafts we had pulled it. It was finally pulled at the 8 o’clock Pre Release. The promo blue packs were a hit with the players. Shout out to Wizards of the Coast for sending them.
But really Wizards of the Coast Game day is on Feb 14th, Valentines day? Just what are you trying to say about the gamers? Not that I really care about Game Day. $5 per person to hang out for over three hours. Babysitters make a better rate than that. And when the players start quitting because they lost a game and no longer have a chance to win the game mat it feels even more like babysitting. If you are a prize shark then by all means don’t come to my store. The store is set up for casual fun play. Emphasis on fun. I could care less if your the world champion of Magic and you want to the whole world to know it along with the fact you are just here for the game day play mat. I would rather have a decent human being with good sportsmanship who has a life that just wants to play for fun playing here. You want to have fun? Then come to Rodman Comics. That simple.
And before the prize sharks say Rod you should just have more prizes and then people will not be quitters. Yeah, its easier to spend other people’s money. For Game day have twenty boxes of Modern Masters as prizes! Just buy them offline for over $350 each and give them away. That will pack them in. Gee, that is a great idea! I can do that every week! I would lose money and be out of business but as long as those prizes were there who cares?
When Magic first came out I went to Comics Plus and played Magic. There were no prizes. It was packed. People played for gasp, fun. And it was fun. I don’t even want to know how much money I spent there over the years.
That said the birth of the internet hurt sales for brick and mortar stores. No longer could a brick and mortar store get full retail for a box of Magic cards. I started going to Dragonfire because Dragonfire was more comics focused than Comics Plus. Comics Plus had a lot of gaming. Miniatures and a wide range of games. Comics Plus also had Magic gaming on Wednesdays. The day new comics came out. The place would be so packed I would literally have to watch my step since it was so crowded with people playing on the floor. Which I found annoying. Part of the reason there is no gaming here on Wednesdays. Wednesdays make the store go. Comics were my main hobby. The only games I was interested in were Magic ccg, Star Trek ccg, and Star Wars ccg at the time when I started going to Dragonfire. Ironically I would start playing Magic and the other card games at Jeff’s place. One of the owners of Dragonfire. Though I would end up dropping Magic and later dropping Star Wars. Years later when Star Trek ccg started their second edition I dropped it. I thought the cards were cheaper and the new card layout was weak. And that meant more money to spend on comics. Though when Heroclixs came out I was hooked. I still have the first years worth of Heroclixs on display at my house. People will often ask why are there three of each character? Back then a majority of the heroclix characters would be used three times. One would be a rookie, one experienced, and one veteran. What better way to use the same sculpt three times? I wish they would do it with current heroclix sets. To often people will buy two heroclix boosters and get repeats.
Back when Magic first started it was a race to get the cards. With in days of a new Magic release they would be sold out and there would be no more available. I believe Fallen Empires was my last set. I believe Jeff and me moved on from Magic to actual gambling.
Dragonfire would even stop carrying Magic due to people buying it off the internet. I really, really don’t want to know how much I spent at Dragonfire. I shopped there for over a decade. I might have bought Jeff a car. Though never once did I ask for a discount. As much as I was at Dragonfire there were people who asked for discounts and Jeff would flat out say no but they were few and far between. I can’t go a week with out someone asking for a discount. Seriously who goes to a bar and asks for a discount? Who goes to Wal Mart and asks for a discount? When I get asked for a discount I think not a customer. This sadly is the entitlement age. Where a gamer can play for hours and think I owe him for his presence in my store. Not all gamers think that thank goodness.
I am so jaded with people asking for discounts that when I went to Visual Eyes to buy my first expensive pair of sunglasses when the owner offered me a discount for knowing me I told him flat out no. I told him I was so tired of people wanting discounts from me that I would not do that to him. As a fellow business owner I understand there needs to be gasp actual profit to keep a business going.I like the people at Visual Eyes and want to see the business stay around.
Also hitting me up for a discount or treating the store employees or me poorly can come back to bite you. I had a person whoes services I could have used such as a plumber but since they don’t really seem to care for the stores services I certainly didn’t use their services. I used someone elses. Like a customer gets to decide how they spend their money I get to decide how to spend the store’s money.
And if you want to do a trade walking in and ignoring the signs stating no outside food or drink is always a deal breaker. Do people think I just printed them up for the heck of it? I am not going to get rich off selling snacks and soda. The soda I sell has lids on them so that way if they get knocked over odds are they have the lid on them and I don’t have to clean up the spill. Again people don’t walk in to bars and Wal Mart with drinks and food bought else where.
Though for the first time in the store’s history we did raise the price on soda. It went up a few cents.
Did play heroclixs at Dragonfire. But me and the person who came with me both thought the judge was let us say less than helpful. I think we played twice there. In this day and age of handheld devices that can easily look up answers, why have judges? Back then though Wizkids required them.
And though I would never tell them in person Greg, Josh S, Steve D, Kyle, A.J., Amy, Carson, Chance, Drake, Ty, Ben, Michael, and all his sons are a great group to play heroclixs with. My heroclix regular gamers make it fun to host heroclixs.
The Magic regulars here are a great group also. Tom, Josh C, Bruce, Justin, Tanada, Marc, Ben F, Judah, Skylar, Ross, Andy B, you guys are the reason there still is Magic gaming. Gaming I said. Most Magic sales are made outside of gaming here. Even if the gaming were to go away as long as Magic is still as popular as it is now we would still sell it.
As for the comic regulars? Heck, you guys are why Rodman Comics is still here. Comics are a majority of our sales. The typical regular comic reader is loyal. Meaning they shop here and will not shop anywhere else. I can count on their support. Where the average gamer who plays at stores will go where ever is giving away the most prizes that week. Business wise I think that speaks for itself. Though the people who do not play in organized play but buy gaming material do make up a good part of the business.
Wednesdays are the best sales days because new comics come out that day. Now when a new set of Magic comes out the Friday they come out is like an extra Wednesday which is great. New comics are weekly while Magic is not. Usually new sets of Magic are roughly seasonal releases. And no I do not think Magic needs new material faster.
I understand there needs to be a reason to buy from a business. Though there also needs to be a reason for a business to cater to a person.
Again our new hours are as follows. Mondays 4 to 8. Tuesdays 11 to 8 (though if your lucky you may be able to come in at 10 that day), Wednesdays 11 to 8, Thursdays 11 to 8, Fridays 11 to 8. Saturdays 11 to 8. Sundays noon to 5.
Magic players at 5:30 there will be a Monday night draft. We will have a Commander deck as a prize for the return of Monday drafting. Friday Night Magic Drafting at 8 will still be going on. Saturday Night standard at 8 will still be on. Though come Feb we may announce moving Saturday Night to Sunday during the day to be more efficient. Meaning I don’t really want to be here till 11 at night on a Saturday anymore. Sundays at 1 we will have Modern.
If there are any issues feel free to email me
Rodmancomics@aol.com. I am the only person who checks the email. You will still see me. But by expanding the hours that doesn’t mean I want to be here more. And when the weather gets better I plan on enjoying it. Sundays and Mondays are two days I would like to enjoy away from the store. Again just because I am not here doesn’t mean I am not doing anything for the store. Like right now I am not at the store but I am typing up this issue of Projections. Sundays are my day for book keeping and bill paying for store. At home I can list items to sell online and so forth. After spending over four years working two full time jobs the goal for 2015 is to slow it down. By no means does it mean I care less about the store it means time for other priorities. Granted some of those priorities are seeing my friends more, traveling more, golfing more, and enjoying life more. Though I work a lot I work to live not live to work. I have never seen anyone on their death bed say I wish I would have spent more time at the office. I want to enjoy life.
I have contacted some of my friends which I have hardly seen since opening the store and it looks good for weekly get together’s again. Golfing looks good for this year. The year I finally golf more is the goal. And Vegas looks pretty good since I just got done booking the flight and hotel. 2015 resolutions are looking solid.
Vegas will be for business actually. A trade show. The GAMA Trade show. One that Wizkids is listed as being at. Sweet. I can thank them in person for the Con In Your Store program finally! Fantasy Flight Games the makers of Star Wars X Wing miniatures will be on hand. Wizards of the Coast is also listed along with other game producers. The only catch? The Saturday after the trade show is the next Magic Pre Release. Five days in Vegas flying back Friday evening to Iowa so I can work at the midnight Saturday morning prerelease might be a little much for me. The Friday show alone starts at 8 in the morning and ends at midnight. Spring break will also be that week here in Ankeny. So after four years this might be the first Pre Release I miss. I really want to go to Vegas and I really want to attend the trade show to see if I can learn anything and to meet some of the game makers. I just don’t know if I will return for the pre release or just skip the pre release or even just cancel having the pre release. Which truthfully shouldn’t happen. It does look like I will write an article again for Bleedingcool.com about the trade show. Such as I did when I went to Diamond’s Summit last year. Decisions, decisions.
I am pumped for the trip. Meeting some people there so the evenings should be even more fun. There is tons of things to do in Vegas. Heck, I am looking forward to returning to the pin ball museum. Do feel old though. One of the people I am meeting last time we got together for a vacation it was the best vacation I had went on. But I think it was the only vacation we went on. Sad, how time flies. Though that is part of the reason I am trying to get out more and enjoy life again.
In all seriousness let me know if there are any issues. I can not be here all the time. Though I can be a good owner.
Dungeons and Dragons has now split into two groups. The new D&D is popular.
If interested D&D is played every Thursday evening at 6.
Even played Star Trek ccg Sunday. One of the rare times I have actually played any games recently. Was a lot of fun.
And of course every Wednesday is new comics.
I am sure any amount would help.
Skylar was nice enough to tell me he will go elsewhere for free comic day so it doesn’t cost me. Skylar received a free comic that day for saying that. I appreciate the thought. Though I do not believe that Free Comic Book Day succeeds in bringing in new customers I do truly view it as a customer appreciation day. A day I give back to all those that have supported the store. As I told Skylar do not worry about any costs. I have already ordered the comics for Free Comic Book Day. I truly hope they find their way to people who will appreciate them. If you shop here already I hope to see you here for Free Comic Book Day. I will rent out the movie theater for Avengers and then open and give out comics. I do hope to have something unique also for that day. Maybe even two unique things for Free Comic Book Day. Currently working on them. Granted there are a lot of things I am” working” on. One I may announce next week if it is good to go. Another most likely months in the future.
Star Wars 1 is a hit. If you haven’t pick it up yet and are on the fence pick it up.
Been reading a store called Black Diamond Games blog and really wish I had discovered it years ago. Black Diamond Games has been in business for over a decade and keeps older blog posts for others to read. There is so much where I just nod my head and agree and say if only I had known. Sadly, I have learned things the old fashioned way the hard way.
If you are curious about the behind the scenes workings of a store or want more info about opening your own gaming store I suggest you check out their blog. Granted we are primarily a comic store but we do have gaming.
Wizard World Des Moines we are looking pretty good to go for. It will be the first convention we have done in awhile. If it works out well Rodman Comics will be back for it in 2016. Shout out to Ryan for working the booth for me and answering my none stop stream of questions. This delegating of assignments is pretty cool. Artist Mike Zeck is listed as attending the show. I am a big fan of his Punisher, Secret Wars, Deathstroke the Terminator, and G.I. Joe work. I would not mind having a commission from him. A Snake Eyes vs Deathstroke the Terminator with Rodman Comics in the background? Hmmmm……
Now I get to hope the weather stays nice enough for nothing to slow down the Magic shipment of new cards that are due to arrive Thursday. There was a time before where the shipment was delayed till Friday and that was a big headache. And since Rodman Comics will be open at Midnight Friday it will be tough to sell what we do not have if the cards fail to show Thursday. I understand why Wizards of the Coast requires vendors not to ship their product to far ahead of a release date. To many people would break release date and sell early.
Just got off the phone with our vendor and the shipment looks good for a Thursday arrival.
Warhammer material is now in. I would like to try hosting a game for it and seeing how it goes. If interested let me know.
We are on twitter. We are on Facebook. We have an online shopping cart.
As always thanks for your time. And hope to see you at Rodman Comics!
