Gaming the System: Memberships and Loyalty
Gamers, Magic players in particular, are a fickle bunch. We are constantly on the lookout for an LGS that will treat us better. Offer us a better deal. Make us feel welcome. The trouble is most store owners fail to create a lasting connection with their customers so...
Level Up Your Customers, Level Up Your Business Part 4: Mentors
August 23rd 2013, the weekend of Grand Prix Oakland. Hosted by Channel Fireball, the attendees of this particular Grand Prix were treated to an excellent seminar about how to build a proper deck in a Sealed tournament by two masters of the game, LSV and Ben Stark....
Level Up Your Customers, Level Up Your Business Part 3
This is the third instalment in the Level Up series. If you haven't read the first two parts you can find the first one here and the second one here. Each one leads into the next but if you prefer to read things backwards I can't stop you. Some people like jigsaw...
Level Up Your Customers, Level Up Your Business Part 2
Last time we talked about how to turn customers who don't play Magic into beginner/casual players. That article can be found here if you haven't read it yet. The principle behind the concept of the Customer Development progression is that a local game store owner...
Level Up Your Customers, Level Up Your Business Part 1
Magic: the Gathering is an excellent game. 21 years and still growing is a pretty good track record. It is fairly easy for a local game store to open up, declare that they have game tables and Magic cards for sale and have a steady source of income for their business....
“Let’s have a three way” is a terrible way to introduce a girl to the Magic community
Female gamers have always been a rare breed. But that's changing and the game of Magic is no exception. The number of women who play Magic is on the rise and they are beginning to change the way the community operates. Between Melissa DeTora and Jackie Lee kicking ass...
Stolen Identity sucks in real life
I understand how Slim Shady felt way back in the day when all he wanted was for the real Slim Shady to please stand up. Being impersonated is strange. Somewhat flattering, but mostly just annoying. So this is the story. My wife and I are currently looking for a new...
The new (slightly longer) path to the Pro Tour and what it means for you
The game has changed. In the past two years the growth of Magic and the tournament scene has been both a boon and a curse. I'm sure everyone has heard a horror story or two about a PTQ that was run catastrophically. Too many players, not enough seats. Registration...
Lessons Learned at the Last Level – How to open your own LGS for $3000
Partners are the key Business has always been attractive to me, even when I was young. Right out of high school I knew I wanted to run my own Local Gaming Store. I decided to abandon my studies in Computer Science and instead open a gaming establishment with two of my...
The Phyrexian’s were an inside job and WotC’s plot to steal your wallet.
It's a conspiracy. They want your money and they know how to get it. They are mad with power you see, they have even begun to manipulate how will we draft our cards together. Them. They. You know. Big TCG. Wizard's of the Coast is a front for the Illuminati with a...