Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show

GTS09 24: Inventory Management - What’s In It for Me?

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Speaker: Chris Patterson, InnerwerX inc.
Inventory management is not just a process for retail stores. It is a process that starts at with the manufacturer and doesn’t end until the customer is happy with their product. So what role do you play? And how can it make you more profitable? We’ll discuss the answer to these questions and also Inventory standards, the future of Inventory control, and the role that Retailers and Distributors have in creating it.

GTS09 23: Point of Sale Systems

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Speakers: Jim Crocker, Modern Myths; Steve Olsen, A Little Shop of Comics; Aaron Witten, Gamestation.net, and Joann Gain
From an old cigar box to a modern computer-driven integrated accounting package, everyone needs to keep track of their cash as well as the product moving through their store. In this seminar, we'll cover different methods of inventory control and cash management, from old fashioned manual systems to electronic cash registers to state-of-the-art computerized Inventory Management. We strongly encourage participants to bring along your paperwork and system write-ups for manual systems, and reports, files, or even working examples of computerized systems. We hope to have several working computerized POS systems on display with a breakdown of typical costs and time commitments to get them up and running, so please bring your specific questions about various systems and we'll do our best to address them.

GTS09 22: The Daily Grind/Manager's Toolkit

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:54:12 -0400

Speaker: John Riley, Grasshopper's Comics

Tips and tricks to get you through the daily operations of your store. We’ll talk about scheduling, daily shipments, and other aspects of your store’s day-to-day routine.

GTS09 21: Macro-Managing

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:24:29 -0400

Speaker: John Riley, Grasshopper's Comics, Steve Olsen

Stop micro-managing and start thinking big. Now that you’re up and running, it’s time to start looking at the big picture. John will discuss some good ways to get out from under the ‘daily grind’ and start thinking about your company’s future, not just that day’s shipment.

GTS09 20: Human Resources: Never Having to Say "You’re Fired"

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Speaker: Cheryl Stern, Worldwise Imports

Retailing expert Cheryl Stern talks about Employee Performance and Retention – Getting the work done right! How to hold yourself and others accountable. How to take corrective action. How to get the employees you want and need.

GTS09 19: Human Resources Part I: Hiring and Beyond

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:22:00 -0400

Speaker: Dean Kao

In the first hour of our 2-part series on Human Resources concerns, we'll discuss the things you'll need to think about before bringing on staff, and how to make sure the staff you already have makes sense for your level of sales and available budget.

We'll cover the basics of how to advertise you're looking for staff, what to look for, and the pros and cons of various solutions including hiring family, part- and full-time staff, and (not) hiring friends. We'll have sample interview questions and hopefully even a few of our members' employee handbooks and other HR paperwork for you to look over. Feel free to bring your own HR paperwork, employee handbooks, and anecdotes about your best and worst hires, as well as any specific questions about areas you'd like help with.

GTS09 18: Getting the Most out of Your Chinese Manufacturing

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Speakers: Dan Tibbles, Bucephalus Games
Time tables, pricing, sample issues, shipping, customs, and more—how do you deal manufacturing your goods in Asia? Experts in the market share their secrets and answer your questions.

GTS09 17: Surviving Your First Year

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:34:02 -0400

Speakers: Dave Wheeler, Dragon’s Lair
You just had your Grand Opening. Now What? Come and learn strategies and tactics for dealing with the unique problems of ‘the burn’, the difficult first year where planning is crucial and cash can be scarce. We’ll discuss lines of credit, small business loans and grants, and how to regularly evaluate your performance to keep on track and adjust quickly if you need to. Please feel free to bring your business plans and/or early numbers for comparison and friendly peer review.

GTS09 16: New to Used

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:54:35 -0400

Speakers: Jim Crocker, Modern Myths; Laura Witten, Gamestation.net
Many hobby game stores do good, high-margin business buying, selling, and trading in used and secondary market product. Whether it's RPGs, Magic or D&D mini singles, or even video games, there's lots of ways to turn old games into new profits.
In this seminar, we'll cover some basic systems to get you started in buying and selling used merchandise. We'll talk about systems for Magic singles, used RPGs, video games, and even back issue comics and used graphic novels. We'll share systems for organizing and cataloguing your stock of second-hand merchandise, legal and ethical guidelines you'll need to be aware of, and some basic, general pricing and payment guidelines. Feel free to bring along your own systems and buy-sell lists to add to the resources available, as well as specific questions about getting or dealing with specific problems in your existing system.

GTS09 15: Selling Your Store - Store Design

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Speakers: John Riley, Grasshopper's Comics; Dave Wallace, Fantasy Shop Comics & Games
In an effort to reach out to new customers and not just sell to the same old regulars, you need a store that encourages new fans and doesn't just stock the product. We’ll cover layout, customer flow, sight lines, and all aspects of how you present your inventory. Whether you’re just opening, completely renovating, or looking to make a little adjustment, well have ideas for all kinds of racking, fixtures, displays, and signage. Please feel free to bring plans and pictures of your store for comparison and friendly peer review.

GTS09 14: Selling Your Store - Creating an Identity

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Speakers: John Riley, Grasshopper's Comics; Dave Wallace, Fantasy Shop Comics & Games
In an effort to reach out to new customers and not just sell to the same old regulars, you need a store that encourages new fans and doesn't just stock the product. We will examine displays, advertising, marketing, and customer interaction methods to make your store more interesting to everyone that comes in.

GTS09 13: Producing In-Store Marketing Materials for Retailers

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Speakers: Mike Webb, Alliance; Anthony Gallela, Bucephalus Games
Your games are among 100s that retailers have in their store. What can you do—what can you provide for them—that can help them to sell your games, and that they will be likely to use? Marketing and retailing experts share methods that have worked in the past and will in the future.

GTS09 12: The Customer Service Revolution

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Hosted by Marcelo A. Figueroa
Guestology, Buy-ology, environment & neuromarketing - do you know what these elements add up to? The answer is a revolution in customer service that can improve, and expand your customer base & their buying power.

GTS09 11: Game Publishing and Retail for the New Media

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Speakers: Gareth-Michael Skarka, Adamant Entertainment; Sean Patrick Fannon, OneBookShelf.com
PDF delivery, Kindle, Print on Demand -- the future of publishing is evolving, and game publishing will evolve with it. A discussion of new media options for publishing games, and how those options can benefit publishers and retailers alike.

GTS09 10: Buyer's Training, Part 2

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Speakers: Dave Wallace, Fantasy Shop Comics & Games
Session II: Intermediate/Advanced: Numbers and Systems. Good stocking is a lot more than just ‘order 1 of each, 2 if it’s D&D’. Industry veteran Dave Wallace will discuss specific strategies for building your expertise, tracking sales and order data to allow more efficient buying, and more. Learn how a dedicated buyer can free up time for managers to manage and owners to concentrate on long-term strategy, and the systems you’ll need to put in place to let one buyer handle multiple product lines and/or stores and get the feedback needed to make smart purchasing decisions.

GTS09 09: Buyer's Training, Part 1

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Speakers: Dave Wallace, Fantasy Shop Comics & Games
Session I: The Basics: Terms and Overview. Good stocking is a lot more than just ‘order 1 of each, 2 if it’s D&D’. Industry veteran Dave Wallace will discuss specific strategies for building your expertise, tracking sales and order data to allow more efficient buying, and more. Learn how a dedicated buyer can free up time for managers to manage and owners to concentrate on long-term strategy, and the systems you’ll need to put in place to let one buyer handle multiple product lines and/or stores and get the feedback needed to make smart purchasing decisions.

GTS09 08: Making Board Games Work for You

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Speakers: Dan and Sara Yarrington, Myriad Games
This seminar reviews everything you need to know about selling board games, whether you’re tarting from scratch or integrating them into your existing product lines. Stores that already carry board games, whether board game only or general game stores, are encouraged to attend to share their strategies and boost sales.

GTS09 07: The 2-2-2 Demo Plan

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Speaker: Alex Yeager, Mayfair Games
Alex shares a process to create demos and how to work with staff and demo people to demo games efficiently and correctly to your customers.

GTS09 06: Community Partnerships and the Games Industry

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Speaker: John Ward, Executive Director, GAMA

Join John Ward as he discusses ideas on how members can partner up with school systems, afterschool programs and other non-traditional community partners. Meet our new Executive Director, and talk to him about the future of GAMA.

GTS09 05: The 12 Selling Steps

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Speaker: Cheryl Stern, Worldwise Imports

In Specialty Retail, we are empowered to "sell" to our customers. This seminar covers: a review of the 12 selling steps, training employees to "sell", how to train the 12 steps, and how selling enhances your customers' experience in your store.

GTS09 04: Game Industry Accounting 201

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Speaker: Aaron Witten, Gamestation.net

P/L? Gross Profit? Balance Sheet? What bearing does all of this have on MY business? Come and let CEO/CFO Aaron Witten of Gamestation.net demystify some of the myths in our industry regarding accounting and how using it properly can impact and improve your business. Discussion will be analysis-heavy, with topics to include but not limited to: P/L business management, how to budget, weekly cash flow analysis, cash versus accrual based accounting, and so on. So, break out your No. 2 pencils, bring your calculators, Excel spreadsheets, & company numbers and let Aaron help with bringing your business up to a whole new level of professionalism and profitability with this course. This course is suitable for ALL tiers of our industry, and Q&A time will also be available.

GTS09 03: Don't Worry, Make Money

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Speaker: Aaron Witten, Gamestation.net

Believe it or not, Profit is not a bad word! In this new analysis seminar by Gamestation.net CEO/CFO Aaron Witten, learn the simple tips and tricks he uses to tweak and fine-tune his company and other in our industry by the numbers to yield maximum results. Attendees are encouraged to submit in advance or bring their real-world business numbers with them and get constructive advice – without revealing your identity -- from Aaron… Q&A Time will be available during the seminar.

GTS09 02: Overview of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Speaker: Chip Bowles, Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC

What you don't know can hurt you! A basic overview of the Consumer Product Safety improvement Act (CPSIA) focusing on important issues concerning product testing, what constitutes a Children's Product, and an overview of how retailers and manufacturers can protect themselves from liability for lead, phthalates, or lawsuits.

GTS09 01: Legalese-Minor Issues

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 31 May 2009 20:17:55 -0400

Speaker: Chip Bowles, Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC

Many of us have stores specifically designed to appeal to families with children, and hold events meant to attract young gamers. Some of those younger gamers may play regularly at our stores, spending significant periods of time without their parent or guardian there to supervise them.
In this seminar, we'll talk about the potential problems that supervising younger customers can bring, and how to assure you're doing your best to comply with laws regarding their supervision during both events and regular store hours. We'll discuss the best ways to help parents understand your rules for use of your game space and events, and what you might need to do should any incidents occur. Please come prepared to discuss your local laws and ordinances and how you've dealt with them, as well as your rules and regs for handling kids at events as well as during regular store hours. We'll also be taking questions about specific circumstances and how to legally and safely take care of the kids in your store.

GTS08 21: Lessons Learned - GTS Wrap-up

Game Manufacturer's Association — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:06:41 -0400

Speakers: Anthony Gallela, Executive Director of GAMA; Kell Wallace, GRD Chair; Trey Reilly, Program Director, GAMA Members of the GAMA Board of Directors, the Retail Division Board, and the GAMA Staff are waiting to hear from you about what went well this year and where there is room for improvements.

GTS08 20: Comics in the Game Store

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:06:26 -0400

Speaker: Jim Crocker, Modern Myths
Many game stores sell comics, and many comic shops sell games. This seminar reviews everything you need to know about selling comics, whether you’re starting from scratch, or integrating them into your existing product line, with a special emphasis on graphic novels and the book trade. Stores that already carry comics are encouraged to attend to share their strategies, boost sales, and better integrate other products into a "hybrid" store.

GTS08 19: Manager Awareness

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:11:03 -0400

Speaker: Dave Wallace, Fantasy Shop Comics & Games
This session covers the 'big picture', how good managers integrate the various aspects of their jobs to make sure their stores run smoothly. Learn how to evaluate your performance and your staff's, and how to respond as necessary.

GTS08 18: Demographics

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:53:02 -0400

Speaker: Mel Thompson, Melchior Thompson & Associates
Analyzing demographics is a key part of finding a good location for your store. Learn the things you to look for before ever requesting a lease.

GTS08 17: Retailer Outreach

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Speaker: Alex Yeager, Mayfair Games
Alex will describe some of the successes that he has had in using games in an educational and Scouting setting, and how some of the lessons learned can be used to help retailers set up outreach opportunities.

GTS08 16: Pre-Release Discussion

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:35:22 -0400

Moderator: Mike Stackpole
In this discussion, we'll take on the contentious topic of pre-release tournaments and events. What effect do they have on the local game economy? How do Tournament Organizers affect local retail sales and game interest? What effect does it have on casual play? As this is a passionate topic for many, this discussion will be strictly moderated to keep it productive.

GTS08 15: Buyer's Training

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:52:06 -0400

Speakers: Dave Wallace, Fantasy Shop Comics & Games; Gordon Lugauer, The Board Game Barrister.

Good stocking is a lot more than just 'order 1 of each, 2 if it's D&D'. Industry veteran Dave Wallace will discuss specific strategies for building your expertise, tracking sales and order data to allow more efficient buying, and more. Learn how a dedicated buyer can free up time for managers to manage and owners to concentrate on long-term strategy, and the systems you'll need to put in place to let one buyer handle multiple product lines and/or stores and get the feedback needed to make smart purchasing decisions.

GTS08 14: The Entertainment Model

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Speaker: Tony Lakas, The Danger Room
By making your store "more" than just a Game Store, you can sell things to people who are not your core customers. We will cover how to buy, sell, display and process merchandise outside of the traditional game channel, including but not limited to: video games, music CD's, movies on DVD and VHS, and other merchandise while remaining a strong game store. Learn how to create a store that appeals to every single person who walks through your door. Please feel free to bring examples of your success or difficulty in moving beyond the traditional game store product lines for comparison and friendly peer review.

GTS08 13: Macro-Managing

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:25:41 -0400

Speaker: John Riley, Grasshopper's Comics
Stop micro-managing and start thinking big. Now that you're up and running, it's time to start looking at the big picture. John will discuss some good ways to get out from under the 'daily grind' and start thinking about your company's future, not just that day's shipment.

GTS08 12: The Bottom Line

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Speakers: Dave & Kelli Wallace, Fantasy Shop Comics & Games
This seminar presents the tools you need to analyze where your money is going and how to keep more of it in your pocket. Please feel free to bring your store’s financial data (profit and loss statement, year-end, etc) for comparison and friendly peer review.

GTS08 11: The Good, the Bad and the Questionable

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:56:21 -0400

Speakers: Ken Burnside, Ad Astra Games; Dave Wallace, Fantasy Shop Comics & Games
A discussion about product packaging, from the perspectives of a Graphic Designer and a Retailer. What works, what doesn’t, and why? We’ll talk about simple changes you can make to your design to really make it pop, and popular mistakes to avoid.

GTS08 10: Legalese

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:51:45 -0400

Speaker: Gordon Lugauer, The Board Game Barrister
A discussion of current changes in the law that affect the game and retail industries. Learn what you should know about these changes and what you can do about them.

GTS08 09: The Unrealized Potential of Podcasting

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:50:38 -0400

Speaker: Don Dehm, The Podcast Advantage, Pulp Gamer
The potential of podcasting has yet to be realized in our industry. During this presentation we will evaluate the misuse and misunderstandings that have been standing in your way. You will also learn about incredible training and marketing opportunities few have thought to explore. No technical knowledge is necessary.

GTS08 08: Making Board Games Work for You

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:36:43 -0400

Speakers: Gordon Lugauer, The Board Game Barrister; Tim Peiffer, Games & Gizmos
This seminar reviews everything you need to know about selling board games, whether you’re starting from scratch or integrating them into your existing product lines. Stores that already carry board games, whether board game only or general game stores, are encouraged to attend to share their strategies and boost sales.

GTS08 07: PR for Retailers

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:24:29 -0400

Speaker: Jay Adan, Greenfield Games

Public relations is the managing of outside communication of an organization to create and maintain a positive image. Public relations involves popularizing successes, downplaying failures, announcing changes, and many other activities. Learn to examine how you’re seen by your customers, and how to change that image into what you'd like it to be.

GTS08 06: Customer Service

Game Manufacturer's Association — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:44:00 -0400

Marcelo Figueroa covers all aspects of customer service from the greeting to closing the sale, including the aspects of customer service that happen behind the scenes.

GTS08 05: The Daily Grind/Manager's Toolkit

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Speakers: John Riley, Grasshopper's Comics; Linda Ross-Mansfield, Pendragon Games & Hobbies
Tips and tricks to get you through the daily operations of your store. We’ll talk about scheduling, daily shipments, and other aspects of your store’s day-to-day routine.

GTS08 04: Credit Management and Protection

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:12:54 -0400

Speaker: Ron Solomon of The Credit Collective

A discussion of receivables and credit management. An expert panel will explore issues that are vital to the financial health of publishers and distributors, both large and small. Discussion topics will include how to find reliable credit information on potential retailer debtors, how to determine which accounts will get terms, how to determine how much credit to extend to a particular account, how to set up an effective dunning system for late paying accounts, how to get your Sales and Credit departments to work well together, and how to choose and when to use a collection agency.

GTS08 03: Store Identity

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Speaker: Dave Wallace, Fantasy Shop Comics & Games

In an effort to reach out to new customers and not just sell to the same old regulars, you need a store that encourages new fans and doesn't just stock the product. We will examine displays, advertising, marketing, and customer interaction methods to make your store more interesting to everyone that comes in.

GTS08 02: Games in the Library

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 22:59:12 -0400

Speaker: Dale Lipschultz and Jenny Levine of the American Library Association

Libraries across the country are reaching out with games and make great partners in reaching new players. Learn how to work with your local library and what libraries are looking for in this wonderful presentation from the American Library Association.

GTS08 01: Retailer Strategies for Maximizing 4E Sales

Game Manufacturer's Association — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:39:49 -0400

Speaker: Joseph Goodman, Goodman Games, Aldo Ghiozzi from Impressions Advertising
The big news in RPGs this year is D&D Fourth Edition, and it's a big time not just for Wizards of the Coast. Retailers will be able to benefit from other product lines as well, ranging from accessories to sourcebooks. In this one-hour seminar, publishers supporting the 4E launch present their strategies for maximizing 4E sales, including tips on in-store demos, attracting new gamers, and converting those holdout gamers who can't let go of previous editions.

This presentation was recorded at the 2008 GAMA Trade Show. Hand-outs and show notes are avilable to members from the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA).

Pitching to the Pros

Game Manufacturer's Association — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:49:48 -0500

Gini Graham Scott tells us how to pitch our game from the prototype to the presentation. Several helpful hints are given for anyone with a game to sell to an established game company and what it takes to get a game ready for show.

This presentation was recorded at the 2007 GAMA Trade Show. Hand-outs and show notes are avilable to members from the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA).

How to Become a Small Publisher without Taking out a Second

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:19:05 -0500

Chris Clark and Aldo Ghiozzi team up to give you some insight on running a publishing company on a small budget. They start with the business plan and carry on through setting your MSRP and when you should expect to start making money.

This presentation was recorded at the 2007 GAMA Trade Show. Hand-outs and show notes are avilable to members from the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA).

Career Freelancing

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:20:09 -0500

Matt Forbeck gives us a look at the life of a freelancer in the gaming industry. He answers questions from the audience and really delivers some great advise on topics from getting started to maintaining income. Web sites he referred to include gamingreport.com and icv2.com.

This presentation was recorded at the 2007 GAMA Trade Show. Hand-outs and show notes are avilable to members from the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA).

The Production Process

Game Manufacturer's Association — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 11:04:48 -0500

Michele Nephew, PhD of Atlas Games does an excellent job narrating the journey a game takes from the introductory solicitation to getting stocked on the shelf. If you are an inspiring game designer, this is a great overview to start yourself with.

This presentation was recorded at the 2007 GAMA Trade Show. Hand-outs and show notes are avilable to members from the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA).

Building and Adventure Model Business

Game Manufacturer's Association — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 10:03:09 -0500

Joseph Goodman and Aldo Ghiozzi give some helpful tips to selling adventure modules in the store and some insight into the consumer's mind. Their experience, care, and attention to detail has rewarded them with great knowledge you can use to your advantage to compliment your role-playing books with these valuable gems.

This presentation was recorded at the 2007 GAMA Trade Show. Hand-outs and show notes are available to members from the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA).