Here is a great way Games Workshop could actually help the cornerstones of the hobby instead of constantly having their hand out for more cash.
As you know, we are all about supporting local stores. They are really a place to grow the hobby, somewhere to hang out, and overall just something we think everyone wants to stay around. Recently, we took a look at some unfortunate practices taken by companies from Magic the Gathering to Games Workshop, that are far less than helpful.
So, it’s awesome to see companies helping out game stores when they need it. If other big companies took this approach, it would really foster a ton of goodwill and help everyone involved. Let’s look at more about the program.
TCGPlayer & Legend Story Helping Local Game Stores
TCGPlayer & Legend Story Studios (the maker of the new hot TCG called Flesh & Blood) are helping local game stores by donating $75,000 to fifty different stores.
They did this with a joint direct-to-consumer campaign which was set up to give the money back to the stores. The money was raised by sales of the First Edition Flesh and Blood: Monarch Booster Bundles and then the money was distributed from there to 50 stores. The participating stores were able to sell the products at the best possible price and not fight with all the online distribution.
Let’s hear what TCGplayer CEO Chedy Hampson had to say about the program:
Recognizing the important role local gaming stores play in the broader gaming ecosystem, it is critical to me that TCGplayer engage in direct-to-consumer campaigns that benefit brick and mortar stores,” said Chedy Hampson, Founder & CEO of TCGplayer. “I believe this collaboration with Legend Story Studios delivers on this promise and reinforces our belief that local gaming stores are the lifeblood of the gaming community.
While many companies force stores to fight with online shops, this took the opposite approach.
Together, we demonstrated how easy it is to keep brick-and-mortar shops at the center of the gaming ecosystem, awarding $75,000 to participating local retailers and allowing fans to buy the Flesh and Blood products they desire at the best possible price.
This also doesn’t seem to be a one-off thing as Legend Story was very happy with the results and also wants to do another campaign like this. To see more about the entire program, check out the details here.
A Great Way Games Workshop Could Actually Help the Hobby
With COVID things have been harder than ever for local game stores, then when you compound how companies are treating them, things are super tough. Seeing something like this not only proves you can help keep game stores at the center of attention but that people will support. This is also a win-win for everyone.
Games Workshop and other big companies like Asmodee have been getting some hate lately from the community and something like this would foster so much goodwill. People would be happy they are doing it, they would still make money, and the big companies could get some much-needed good press.
We’re not sure what type of program they could run, but anything would be helpful at this point.
What sorta company outreach would be most helpful?
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About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
