Matthew Scott 686's page

My basic question is: how can he maximize Pathfinder to help his store stay afloat in this confusing time for gamers?

Marnak

The hardest thing to do for many retailers in general (myself included)is to anticipate the future needs of their customers, which seems to be the problem your friend is having. Obviously, there aren't many of us that can compete with online businesses as far as pricing, so the key is to encourage the social atmosphere, so to speak, of the storefront. Having a place for like-minded people to gather, especially in gaming, is a godsend for many of us, so organizing in-store events, such as new releases, one-day tournaments (with prizes), game days (or nights) are probably the easiest ways to get customers through the front door.

As far as encouraging people to invest in Pathfinder, try this strategy:

1. download and print out the free introductory Pathfinder/Gamemastery products, or use "store copies."
2. round up and recruit capable and/or willing DMs to run one-shot adventures, or mini-tournaments with said products; you can 'pay' them with either gift certificates or one-time purchase discounts.
3. give out prizes for mini-tournaments; these don't have to be the big ticket items, just cool enough to get the players' attention (the adventure path guides come to mind)
4. keep a small stock of Pathfinder/Gamemastery items on hand; "one to show, one to go" is an important retailer mantra. If sales pick up, you can always order more.
5. don't invest heavily in just one system, even if it is your favorite (ie; 3.5 vs. 4e). The key here is to boost sales overall. Keep ordering your core products, the ones that sell most consistently, and slowly add in the new stuff.

I don't know if all of this has been tried by your friend already, but my FLGS has been doing this for years (24+) and they are still around.

I am having a hard time finding a good LGS in my area. Can anyone recommend a FLGS or good LGS in the East Bay area of California? Preferably within walking distance of the BART?

I don't know if you've found it yet, but there's also Games of Berkeley right across the street from the downtown Berkeley BART station. I used to work for their parent company in SF, so I can tell you that they have some old time gamers who show up from time to time. Also, I just found out that Gamescape in SF hosts a Wednesday night game night at a cafe close by. Check it out if you're interested.