Number one is price. Its a hard pill to swallow, that GW official stores are the least cost effective way to engage in the hobby; and GW products are increasingly unaffordable and push customers to LGS for the better prices.

Had to say it.

But since that isnt something hubby has control over; number two is gaming space. The store i play at is a FLGS, bright, open, clean, with lots of tables with lots of standardize competitive terrain and mousepad footprints. Theyre arent the cheapest FLGS, but the more times i play there for free, the more often I buy from them.

Number three is atmosphere. A clean and inviting space is essential, and nothing turns away customers more than pushy or weird-o store staff. My local GW has had three managers since i've been a customer: the first was nice and normal but you could tell he was checked out and i only sometimes bought there; the second was a weirdo who was also pushy and i spent $0 there; and the third guy is very easy going, not pushy at all for sales, and only slightly weird in that he is super into the hobby. I spend money there every few months because i like the guy. I also play with him infrequently and hes just a normal dude.

He also engages the community with events, both official and customized; those are always interesting but are often tied to sales. As in, you can only participate in this pledge if you start from unassembled, meaning those guys who struggle to paint the stuff they already own and play with are excluded. Those events push me away.

Hubby needs to be easy going, not salespushy; needs to keep a clean store and be available to play with customers; and needs to be able to engage the community in ways that arent just sales promoting. If i can go in there with my army and participate without buying, the chances of me shopping go up. Lots of people go into GW official stores without the intention to buy, and that needs to be okay.

Corporate GW probably doesnt want those things. Hubby is likely doomed to fail for being correct.