How can I get LESS benefits?

Weronika

This is fantastic news!
I hate when people say quit 'playing' your business and get proper wage job - do they not think somebody actually have to play business to give out those wages???

Your story proves that it is worth it to work for yourself!

JimmyTheWig

Great news Fishcake.

Obviously it's a shame for so many that the other store went bust, but you've obviously played things well to have managed to pick up the custom.

Out of the suggestions here, which have worked well?

Fishcake_Random

We started;
* running tournaments (games, card games like Magic and Pokemon) this let us use the shop as a venue as well as a store.
* Faxing service, this has been more popular than we ever thought we have at least 3-4 to send a day.
* Accessorys for games, very popular, things like guitar hero facias and stuffed toys.
* Printing service, has been going well thanks to all those local students who forgot/ lost their essays due in "today" tends to be irregular as depends on when assessments are due in.

We were unable to use any of the food and drink ideas due to conditions in our lease and health and safety things.
Hope that helps
x x x

Sixer

Thanks for updating, Fishcake and I'm so glad things have picked up.

Another idea: 99p or £1.99 sim cards. These you can usually get for free from the local cash and carry.

Fishcake_Random

We do apply for the free orange ones when we see them on offer. Thanks to orange wednesdays these sell like hot cakes

LadyMorticia

Fishcake_Random wrote: »

Wow, I thought this thread would have been lost in the depths of the MSE forums lol.
I am pleased to announce that we as a business we are actually doing pretty well Our main/only read competitor went bust at the end of November, leaving many people high and dry as the owner ran off with their "xmas saving scheme" pennys and we were able to rescue quite a few people. This has given our store a fantastic reputation boost and got us a mention in 3 local papers (free advertising).
Just due to the other shop closing we have at least double the customers walking in the door and we have since heard the other shop would bad mouth us and spread rumours.
The whole situation with Game has been a major boon for us as our preorders for Mass effect were pretty astronomical due to them failing to receive any copies. Our new game preorders have since been very healthy
We tried most of the ideas suggested on this board which not only helped out with a few pounds here and there but brought people into the shop who would not have been interested in the game side of things alone.
Although we are still receiving some benefit the wages we can now afford to take from our business meens we are only "topped up" on rent and slither of council tax. So although I can not say we are benefit free we are certainly on our way to achieving it.
x x x

I'm so glad that things have been better and I hope they continue to be that way.

millym

Great to hear your story, and that business is picking up. One thought I had though, is that if it has become uneconomical for a big chain like Game to sell these products, then maybe you should try and identify where this market is headed, and go in that direction. Sorry, don't want to rain on your parade and all that, but I reckon if you keep being flexible, you will do well!

Fishcake_Random

I think the biggest issue with GAME was that they ordered so many new games which they couldn't afford unless they sold. If a game flops or you over estimate then you can be stuck with some dead stock that will drop in price like a stone.
We only buy to order on new releases so we never have any games without a buyer lined up on new stock.
I also believe that GAME was just to big a company, as a small shop we know what sells well and what doesnt in our store and ajust accordingly. For example DS games/accessorys were not really selling for a long time so we only had a few token bits on one shelf, now we cant get stock in fast enough so it has its own section of the shop.
It is also not uncommon for game to have 2 stores in one town and then one game station. so they are in huge competiton with themselves.
x x x
x x x

Iffy_Wallet

Thanks for the update Fishcake. Glad to hear that it is all coming together now.

Could you manage to track down a young artist (at art college maybe) who likes drawing dungeons and dragons style pictures (without infringing any copyrights!), who might let you sell these on a sale or return basis? If any really stunning pictures emerged, would there be any chance to get them printed up in poster form and share any profits after print costs?

Well done. Good luck. Keep up the good work. It is really interesting to hear how you are carving your niche out and how you are making it all work.

kbrumann

@Fishcake_Random - just out of interest, how much council tax do you pay for your 2 bedroom flat? And how much do you make out of your shop? In other words, is your shop making any money or would your time be spent more wisely finding a job working for somebody else?