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store names

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STEAM! at 3 Sep 2008: 11:40

so... Ive been planning to open a new/used game store for some time now, seeing as how the only place to get games in my general area is online and walmart.

So... anyone have any good names for my store?

(in before fail miserably)

2Report
at 3 Sep 2008: 11:47

>>1
Call your store "Game Over" because it will be game over for you soon as you open. I really don't believe you when you say there is no stores in your area. What about Gamestop? They are everywhere.

The only way you could even succeed is if the closest used game store was like 50-100 miles away from you. So do some checking in the yellow pages online and do some distance searches to make sure you got no competition.

Furthermore, learn what kind of profit margins you need to make in order to pay for your store, taxes, etc etc because those are always beginner mistakes that kill a business.

3Report
at 3 Sep 2008: 11:59

>>2
Not everyone lives in America or some other country where Gamestop/EB/etc operates. And you aren't helping with the topic in any way whatsoever.

Anywat, something simple would suffice, if you are the only store around.

Even a lame name like "The Games Store" would probably work: short, informative, memoriable.

4Report
at 3 Sep 2008: 12:20

>>3
"Walmart" pretty much implies it's AMERICA so take your bullshit attitude right out of this thread. I gave helpful advice that many people overlook and I know this because i've spoken with many people who have started businesses and failed.

I'm writing a book on how to start a business so I don't need some know nothing loser like you telling me that i'm not helping with the topic. Just because someone says "I want to start a business" don't assume they know everything they need to know about doing so. In fact it's better to assume they know NOTHING until proven otherwise.

Many people romanticize and pretend like starting a business is easy and only after they lose thousands of dollars do they learn that they should have done a lot more research and planning into the 'boring' aspects of business.

5Report
at 3 Sep 2008: 12:37

>>4
Same goes for being an author. I hope you have a good editor.

6Report
at 3 Sep 2008: 12:38

>>4
AFAIK Walmart is an international company even if it's based in USA.

I'm assuming that they did research before asking here. And just because you're writing a book on how to start a business doesn't mean others don't know how to start one. This topic is about what name to use, not how to start a business; Go make another thread if you must, but you're intentionally derailing the topic.

7Report
STEAM! at 3 Sep 2008: 13:51

...I said in before fail miserably. but ok.

Anyways, the closest game store is about 45 min away from the edge of town, and the rental stores charge outrageous prices for rentals, enough so that if you rented 3 times you would have bought the game, and they only rent for 5 days.

Also
>>4
>>2
=
asshole.

8Report
at 4 Sep 2008: 00:25

>>1

I realized you just asked a name, but I thought I'd throw out a few issues that came to mind.  Mostly just that I'd be careful. Starting a business is an incredibly expensive endeavor and before you invest a lot of money I would think it through really carefully.

Selling something like used video games has a lot of potential downfalls. You need to somehow keep a lot of games in stock, especially the more popular games that people are likely to want.  This pretty much guarantees that you'll have to sell new retail games as well as buy and sell used ones.  People will get tired of looking at the same old 15 worthless games pretty quick.  Also, video rental stores can drop their rental prices really easy.  They have the infrastructure and merchandise in place and can probably cut their rental fees by 30-40% and still be fine.

Anyway, the first name that came to mind is "Replay".  Maybe you could use a stylized version of the classic recycle image, or the standard refresh icon found on web browsers.

9Report
at 4 Sep 2008: 00:33

>>7
Enjoy ur failed business. I'm not convinced you know what you are doing or you wouldn't HAVE to ask us for advice. Fchan of all people for business advice? Not bothering to help you anymore.

10Report
at 4 Sep 2008: 01:37

>>9
Significant difference between asking for advice and brainstorming for ideas.

11Report
klokwrkblu at 4 Sep 2008: 02:06

not only should you sell games but how about things you wont find in stores.

a few examples would be:

.the game slot for a game boy

.that 3 sided screw driver that opens up the nintendo's

.homebrew games and software for various systems
including video game consoles; yes they do exist.

.the tools needed to make you own computer hardware


It might sound a litte dumb but not far from where i live there's a dinky electronics shop that only sells parts for the Atari systems.

http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/

They actually have been in buisness for over 24 years, and ship out atari stuff worldwide.

If you specialize in non conventional electronics hardware you actually might do pretty well.

hope that helps

by the way if you ever make it that, call it "Non Conventional Electronics"



12Report
STEAM! at 4 Sep 2008: 11:03

>>11
I never thought of that, it would be pretty cool to have a section for Sega and Nintendo or the like.

But as far as names go, the "replay" idea is pretty good, and I'm liking the idea for the logo being a refresh button.

13Report
at 4 Sep 2008: 16:17

>>12
You NEED to do a trademark search(which I hope you know how to do) before you use any of the names suggested here or you could one day want to expand to a national business then oops, someone already owns the name. For instance, in a small town in Illinois there is a placed called "The Burger King" and it was made BEFORE Burger King but they still had to deal with a bullshit lawsuit over the name. In the end, The Burger King won and Burger King isn't allowed to be in that town but also The Burger King can't expand pass the town.

Finally, I have to agree with the rude anon even though he was being an asshole about what he said. I too started a business several years ago and made many beginner mistakes that I didn't even think twice about. The fact is you DO have competition in your area. Those rental stores can easily snuff you out of business if they feel threatened by you simply by lowering their prices which they can easily afford or by offering used games themselves. Once again...they can probably do this at a pricepoint meant to put you out of business then they will raise their prices again.

You need to think about offering some kind of niche product on top of your generalized business in order to avoid that very likely situation. The market is way too congested for you to simply focus on the used game market alone regardless of the fact there is no other store in the area that does it. You know why? Because they probably researched the idea and realize it had a low chance of success.

By all means, follow your dreams but be smart about it. You've already said several things that worry me and make it seem unlikely this business can survive in your climate.

14Report
STEAM! at 4 Sep 2008: 21:19

>>13
I do know how to do such a thing, as I said, im just looking for ideas and not a how-to on starting a business. I know what I'm doing here and I have a pretty good idea of what my chances of success are and how to go about maximizing that chance in my favor. I actually have some strings I'm pulling that will cut my initial costs drastically, the story behind this whole thing is actually pretty interesting and I wouldn't mind telling it on the IRC, but I really don't want to post too much on the subject here.

I'm not playing the blind man here, I have three close family members who have been running businesses for some time, they are all giving me advice and have corrected many mistakes that would have probably been disastrous if they would have went unnoticed. Ok, so I guess i am playing the blind man, but I have seeing-eye dogs, so its cool.

15Report
at 4 Sep 2008: 22:32

>>14
You should have said that with your opening post, people don't want to bother helping someone who comes along saying "hay guys, i'm starting a business soon and I need name ideas hurrr" they want to know that their time won't be wasted giving suggestions to some guy who will fail within months.

Call it RECYCLAN GAEMS.

16Report
at 5 Sep 2008: 00:04

>>13

Trademark law is incredibly complicated and subjective. Your example is a good one.  It is worth mentioning that usually you can use a name that's trademarked as long as it cannot possible be confused. For example, if the businesses are completely different and do not compete.

The name is just one of the many long steps involved in creating a business.

17Report
Draconis Khaan at 5 Sep 2008: 03:59

>>16
Emphasis here should be on "usually". There are some facets of trademark law that prevent the use of a trademark even when no confusion would exist. Like you said, it's incredibly complicated.

Steam, I highly recommend you consult a lawyer about that. When you do find a name and logo you can use, you should probably register it. I'm not a lawyer, but I know enough to know that having your trademarks registered makes things much simpler.

As for the name, "Replay" is indeed a good one -- it's short, easily-memorable, and describes your proposed business. If for some reason you can't use that, however, I thought of another possibility: "The Reset Button". I believe the potential logo for that one should be obvious.

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at 5 Sep 2008: 08:15

Call it the "blind pig", then you can have a mute bull working as your barman.

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klokwrkblu at 13 Sep 2008: 01:33

Hey STEAM! I have drew a few ideas of what the REPLAY logo could look like. You wanna see em? :)



Oh by the way,

you could also give the customer the option to sell and trade videogames, computer hardware, etc.

just a sudgestion  ^^

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