My local GW Manager quit

[crazyfoxdemon]

Earlier today, the manager for my local GW resigned. He did this after having a visit from his boss to the store. Needless to say that said boss didn't like how he ran things even though his numbers were amazing. This manager took a dying store with barely a community and made it great. When I first started going there, there were barely any players, and he took that and made it packed consistently. He organized countless tournaments and paint contests. He basically revitalized the community. And from what he's said, his sales numbers were always great, consistently beating his quotas.

One of the things the boss had a problem with was a 'Game Room' that the manager had previously gotten the OK on. He took a back room of the store that wasn't needed and converted into a playing area with tables and everything. He then spent his own money and time to get it painted and looking great. With such great works of art like:

That's not to mention all of his own money he's put into the store getting terrain and such for people to play with. This is a massive blow to my local gaming community as he was a beloved member and leader of it. He will be missed and whoever comes after him better have a PhD in PR after this mess.

I'm (and the rest of the local community that shop there) rather pissed off at this.. Just needed to rant a bit about how stupid GW is.

 

[Ordo]

I do not see what this GW Boss had to be upset about. If everything you say is true, then this Local manager revitalized the community, got customers into his store and had them consistently buying more than his quota demanded. What was the issue?

 

[crazyfoxdemon]

I do not see what this GW Boss had to be upset about. If everything you say is true, then this Local manager revitalized the community, got customers into his store and had them consistently buying more than his quota demanded. What was the issue?

The issue was apparantly that he shouldn't have cultivated that kind of atmosphere. That GW is there to get you to buy models the second you walk into the store and then shoo you right back out once you pay for them.

 

[PCHeintz72]

Hmmm... abut the only issue I would have had would be that second image... that I would consider not really a good one for public consumption, even if it does look fine and good to me personally.

 

[Ordo]

I do not see what this GW Boss had to be upset about. If everything you say is true, then this Local manager revitalized the community, got customers into his store and had them consistently buying more than his quota demanded. What was the issue?

The issue was apparantly that he shouldn't have cultivated that kind of atmosphere. That GW is there to get you to buy models the second you walk into the store and then shoo you right back out once you pay for them.

But....the store manager was above quota at a location that'd been previously failing, so it was working. Are the business schools teaching some new Bull**** that implies you shouldn't engage with your customers?

 

[ThreadWeaver]

But....the store manager was above quota at a location that'd been previously failing, so it was working. Are the business schools teaching some new Bull**** that implies you shouldn't engage with your customers?

Yes, it's called the "Screw you, give me your money and get the hell out of my store, oh and come again!" self taught MBA school of management that seems prevalent lately. They greedily want your money but don't want to have to actually deal with you. Kind of a contradictory situation for a brick and mortar business model. There's only one Games Workshop in the entire 3+ million person metro area I live in and, not surprisingly, its located in the most affluent suburb.

That manager probably failed at selling things on e-bay for a living and now is a bitter man with delusions of adequacy.

Actually, I would write to the GW corporate public relations department and tell them the entire story, including what he did for the community and the store, and that the manager single handedly garroted the store.

Edit: On second thought and after a brief search, it appears that GW as a whole has worked pretty hard to alienate and piss off customers from the corporate level down, including suing a guy for using the phrase 'space marine' somewhere. They may not care to hear that another store is going down in flames. If the 30% profit loss in the beginning of the year is any indication, they've got a Hindenburg level problem. But you can certainly try. Maybe they'll be more receptive than I fear and choose to fix the problem.

 

[pacifist]

I can't remember where I read it but apparently a few years ago GW made a flat out statement that they are in the business of selling models everything else is secondary.

 

[GenocideHeart]

I can't remember where I read it but apparently a few years ago GW made a flat out statement that they are in the business of selling models everything else is secondary.

Good luck selling models if your potential clientele hates you.

 

[Juubi]

Every business I've ever worked for has been big on customer satisfaction. This means being friendly, getting to know your customers, and engaging them on a professional and personal level. Especially with something like gaming (no matter the medium), you must work with the community and be part of it.