You would be an IDIOT to not take the place close to the Navy base. My old LGS was near a small Army base and they always had soldiers from there come in and buy everything in sight. Your sales will be great but your clientele will rotate away every few years since they get moved around the country so often. Keep this video series going Rudy. I'm vicariously living through you bro.
It is northern Florida, there are military bases everywhere. But I get you - my store is about 5 minutes from a military base and a few of them show up every day (usually don't stick around for long) and just buy a bunch of shit.
I lived on Fort Bragg for 2 years and my LGS was always flooded by service members every FNM and the weekends. Especially the pre-release and game day events. I agree that being next to the Navy base would be pretty good.
Came to say the same thing. I was never in the military, but grew up around it. Absolutely important for gamers in the service to have a place to go near the base so they can access it easier...and throw their money at you.
I have an artist/graphic designer/tattoo freehand artist who does any of my business ads/etc. I can easily have whatever u need made up for u Rudy (free of course) if u go this route or another
Rudy, this video is so full of great info for ANYONE who wants to open a brick and mortar store! Live in EU, but checked regulations here and a lot of the info can be transfered directly. Thank you so much for doing a video like this and the whole opening a business thing. It takes away a lot of the anxiety of being affraid to progress into one's dream. Had a former colleague quit his job 8 yrs ago as a DBA and open his own cafe. People facepalmed at him walking from a $80k job and he struggled through 2 yrs and had to take loans in his house to go on, but after 2012 his luck turned and now he has 3 cafees, 1 in prime location and has made more than he would have done, had he kept the DBA job for the 22 yrs he had left to retirement. And he is happy but tired :)
Some times I wish i could not be into magic and save my money. But I forget I usually don't spend a ton and with a guy like Rudy hooking up cheap magic I can keep collecting and building my stash of major magic. :) Its a card shop life the way i like it and should have been. Up with mini skirts down with cost of buying boxes
As a store owner myself, Rudy's 100% on point on the location choice. The only reason you'd want expensive curb appeal is to catch Moms and Timmy's buying Pokemon or people who have random MTG collections from their grown up kids/dead relatives who saw you from the street. If you're a MTG store do you really want bored randos (People who have zero interest in TCGs to begin with) coming in off the street asking you a million questions about a game THEY'LL NEVER FUCKING PLAY, interrupt your organized play (Often with rude/ignorant comments), or going "Humm dur dur, what's you most expensive card?" so they'll tell their methhead brother who'll smash and grab you later?
First, great idea for a series. Educating people about the issues related to opening a business is awesome. It is such a dry and 'boring' part of the process, but totally necessary and too often overlooked. I think the location of a store is something many people who want to open a card shop don't think about but should. I've seen a number of shops close because they weren't accessible to their customer base. Your situation is very different, and I think you should review the factors a 'traditional' card shop could consider; cub appeal, access to transit, working with the landlord about having a high volume of customers possibly late at night, advertising, etc. You should try setting up a deal with Jimmy John's and T-Bell. Fast food and cardboard just go together. - Terry Parker Class of 2000
I'm really loving this series. Not interested in opening a small business, but I find the process of doing this really interesting. Do keep the series going, Rudy.
an awesome start, lots of info most of us would have never thought about. didn't realize how big of a chunk CAM and related charges add to your monthly out-of-pocket.
You touched on part of the reason they won't lower rents with the other tenants. The other larger issue is that commercial real estate is valued on rents, even if they are not filled. Lowering the rent per sq ft to fill the units will increase revenue but it will lower the valuation of the building. Especially if it is owned by a REIT they care more about the valuation than the revenue. Love your vids and this series, Rudy!
Honestly, this is going to be one of the best magic serious on youtube... like up there with Forgotten Lore by Evan Erwin or ChannelFireballs top 8. Thanks Rudy, you earned yourself a subscription
As a Tim, I feel that Timmy's Emporium is a perfect name and that shirts should also be made. Not for my sake, but for all of us.....and in memory of all the little Timmy's who went to Hose Town and never came back.
I like this series. I wish it was out when I opened my shop. I am glad its closed because of stress, but I had to learn as i went and I made many mistakes. I am sure this will help many upstarts in the future. Also I would like an episode talking about game store drama. How do you limit it? Also how do you keep employees from starting drama or getting caught up in it? Keep up the good work!!!!!
Rudy tapped poor snappy out. I like this set, it gives the average Joe a good idea of what they would be getting into if they decide to do something like this.
great new series offers a different perspective. most kids don't understand what overhead and operating expenses are. they just want freebies and discounts. a business and customer/consumer need to understand one another to respect how and why things are.
Nice! there's a local shop in my area virtually same concept in a scraggy area... Enough space to hold all kinds of Tournaments (which they do). But when you shop they seem to have a lot of inventory, BUT their online website dwarfs the invetory being sold in store. It's just kind of funny seeing the backroom more lively than the front with all the packing, labeling, computing going on in the Background...
Rudy - I'm very interested in this series. Especially how you plan to manage the singles. Inventory costs, valuation, etc. A whole episode dedicated to singles would be great.
Rudy, great to see that you are talking about the locations, I was already wondering. What I am curious about, is your business plan. It is the first step when starting a new business and the way you are showing us everything, it sounds like you have one! :) How did you determine how much storage you need, you need a CZcams / filming area. Display area (What will be on display?) You want an unit which is at least 1500 square foot. That number is based on something... What will you be selling? Just TCG? What is your strategy on the booster boxes and more important: the singles! I would love to see you take it another step back (Or do a video later on in the series comparing the result with your business plan) and show us what your business plan is. What have you considered doing, things you decided to do and not to do. Setting goals and definitions what you want and where you want to build up to. Promotion and so on.... It is going to be a long wait untill the next episode... :(
I am ROCK-HARD for that upcoming lease review video! Show me them hot, hot renewal options. SNDA's? Option to purchase? I'm tellin' ya, folks just don't know how good it gets...
LOL I noticed several landmarks in the first couple minutes of this video looking out the back glass of your truck. I used to live over that way some 20 years ago. Went to school at FCCJ Kent, right down the street from where you were driving. Small world, and the interwebs keeps making it smaller and smaller.
You are bang on about foot traffic. In the long term, you will benefit more because you are a destination location. Word of mouth will spread like wildfire and your customers aren't everyday joes walking around in busy areas.
So I was once stationed in Alaska and there was a "Comic Shop" near the entrance area to the post and it was a decent shop but damn they were always so buys due to the volume of customers from the base, to include me. Once I found out they had MTG I was there a few times a week and I believe (even off the beaten path) you will do great. Can't wait to come see it.
RUDY: You are right next door to a "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu" place. I own my own Martial Arts School. Go in there and make sure they don't Blast Their Music during classes. BJJ usually is pretty good, but if they offer Cardio Kickboxing or some other type of Workout during the day they will rock your walls and potentially drive off customers! ;-)
Especially since you said you need "CZcams Filming Space." You might need to seriously consider some serious Sound proofing. Maybe a Soundproof wall, etc. When doing throws and falls we slap the ground really hard and it will rock your building. Trust me. I scare the neighbors every day
I learned it at TICAM, Taxes, Insurance and Common Area Maintenance... or rather a way we can charge you 14% more per square foot and give you nothing for it.
Most major retail developers negotiate triple net leases on occupancy cost (rent as a percent of sales) rather than SF. there's overhead involved in negotiating rents so the smaller companies will charge PSF and not negotiate Awesome series though keep it up
I opened up my own shop almost a year ago now. He's so right about property owners sitting on an empty units for years as apposed to working with tenants on price. So dumb.
RUDDYYY thanks for these vids man im getting out the military and always wanted a game sgop thanks for showing the process so im not totally in the dark!!!
Rudy there is actually a mall local to me who has 9 stores in it out of 30ish maybe more and these units there are super high on rent and 90% of commercial stores have backed out if this place now it's like the place that retail goes to die, the owners have changed hands at least 3 times since I got married 8 years ago it's insane !
who needs to be next to the main road - get a floppy taco mascot like outfit and either you or timmy can dress up as the floppy taco and stand next to that main road and direct them right to your store. easy as 1-2-3!
Another reason why conglomerates are reluctant to change the rental price is because they can show investors the average rental price per square foot of all units they own and they can choose to not discuss the vacancy rate if they like or explain it away and if the rental price is higher, they can sell the property for a higher price if rental price is higher
Being near the Navy Base is a godsend for this property though. If you can get decent promotion going on, plenty of single military folk play magic. Single military have a shitload of expendable income.
Thanks for responding to our comments on the last video, asking about these location questions! You were very informative about the location costs and I learned that commercial real estate apparently has a dilemma with (not) lowering their rents (i.e. always assuming an increase in costs and not having a mechanism for lowering rents to match the market). Question - is this new store going to have an Auggie Doggie (your stuffed animal puppy) of their own?
The reason commercial real estate won't lower rental rates is because the value of the property is based on what rents are going for unlike a residence. If they lower the rent the value of that property is lower if they would want to sell.
I remember these in the 90s used to call them the pack store camel Store and Shop owners were opening so many they stated to open up just a place that shovel all the damn cards and Warehouse their s*** store!
Honestly, I think 2 or even 3 videos a week would be awesome 1 just makes us want to beg for more and 4+ would be spammy like you said in your last video. Anyways keep up the good work can't wait to see this series unfold.
The first location had great car park space and it is was quiet which gives it a club/community vibe. That is something that can work in your favour. People may have to travel a little further to the other location but if you offset with a top venue that looks great people will probably enjoy going there a lot more than other places. Also will you discuss security systems of the building or is that going to be confidential?
Rudy, you should just give up on magic and open up a taco Bell.
I would love to see a Timmy Bell knockoff franchise.
Fuck it, I'd even move to FL to work at it.
Gilon Kravatsky hell he could even sell magic that way. free packs with every Timmy's meal!
At Timmy Bell you get two floppy tacos, a small soda, and a pack of whatever is in rotation for a low price of $15.
Katuhstrofik all drink tops double as a life counter don't forget the ingenuity
at 3 packs it would be a deal...
You would be an IDIOT to not take the place close to the Navy base. My old LGS was near a small Army base and they always had soldiers from there come in and buy everything in sight. Your sales will be great but your clientele will rotate away every few years since they get moved around the country so often.
Keep this video series going Rudy. I'm vicariously living through you bro.
It is northern Florida, there are military bases everywhere. But I get you - my store is about 5 minutes from a military base and a few of them show up every day (usually don't stick around for long) and just buy a bunch of shit.
Soldiers and Sailors need a place to play too guys...
I lived on Fort Bragg for 2 years and my LGS was always flooded by service members every FNM and the weekends. Especially the pre-release and game day events. I agree that being next to the Navy base would be pretty good.
Came to say the same thing. I was never in the military, but grew up around it. Absolutely important for gamers in the service to have a place to go near the base so they can access it easier...and throw their money at you.
my guess is they buy a lot of sealed product to open back in the base/abroad/ship to play with their mates cause it gets dumb boring in there
If you put a half naked Liliana poster in the window, nerds will call that curb appeal.
SparTadepT Liliana
of the egg
All Lilianas are half-naked Lilianas
All Liliana outfits half-off, huehuehue
I have an artist/graphic designer/tattoo freehand artist who does any of my business ads/etc. I can easily have whatever u need made up for u Rudy (free of course) if u go this route or another
Not just nerds, pretty much any straight guy (and gay/bi girl) would enjoy that view.
Florida Man arrested for being a floppy taco who doesn't wear pants, more at 11.
It's Florida, not wearing pants is nearly mandatory
Shawn Diaz
....and getting arrested.
i love you how you pick up the box fling it out of your hand and look at the car passing by like a disappointed dad
Rudy: "Been ridin around with mah boi snappy all day."
Snappy: *literally falls apart right afterwards*
Damn that was funny.
Rudy, this video is so full of great info for ANYONE who wants to open a brick and mortar store! Live in EU, but checked regulations here and a lot of the info can be transfered directly. Thank you so much for doing a video like this and the whole opening a business thing. It takes away a lot of the anxiety of being affraid to progress into one's dream.
Had a former colleague quit his job 8 yrs ago as a DBA and open his own cafe. People facepalmed at him walking from a $80k job and he struggled through 2 yrs and had to take loans in his house to go on, but after 2012 his luck turned and now he has 3 cafees, 1 in prime location and has made more than he would have done, had he kept the DBA job for the 22 yrs he had left to retirement. And he is happy but tired :)
Some times I wish i could not be into magic and save my money. But I forget I usually don't spend a ton and with a guy like Rudy hooking up cheap magic I can keep collecting and building my stash of major magic. :) Its a card shop life the way i like it and should have been. Up with mini skirts down with cost of buying boxes
As a store owner myself, Rudy's 100% on point on the location choice. The only reason you'd want expensive curb appeal is to catch Moms and Timmy's buying Pokemon or people who have random MTG collections from their grown up kids/dead relatives who saw you from the street. If you're a MTG store do you really want bored randos (People who have zero interest in TCGs to begin with) coming in off the street asking you a million questions about a game THEY'LL NEVER FUCKING PLAY, interrupt your organized play (Often with rude/ignorant comments), or going "Humm dur dur, what's you most expensive card?" so they'll tell their methhead brother who'll smash and grab you later?
I am already addicted to the new card shop life...love this guy.
First, great idea for a series. Educating people about the issues related to opening a business is awesome. It is such a dry and 'boring' part of the process, but totally necessary and too often overlooked.
I think the location of a store is something many people who want to open a card shop don't think about but should. I've seen a number of shops close because they weren't accessible to their customer base. Your situation is very different, and I think you should review the factors a 'traditional' card shop could consider; cub appeal, access to transit, working with the landlord about having a high volume of customers possibly late at night, advertising, etc.
You should try setting up a deal with Jimmy John's and T-Bell. Fast food and cardboard just go together.
- Terry Parker Class of 2000
I'm really loving this series. Not interested in opening a small business, but I find the process of doing this really interesting. Do keep the series going, Rudy.
an awesome start, lots of info most of us would have never thought about. didn't realize how big of a chunk CAM and related charges add to your monthly out-of-pocket.
this is an awesome idea rudy. thanks for taking us along on the trip. I'm learning a lot and so are a few of my friends. can't wait for more episodes.
Glad that you're excited for the shop! You're know what you're doings and what you want, can't wait to see the process evolve! Good luck!
You touched on part of the reason they won't lower rents with the other tenants. The other larger issue is that commercial real estate is valued on rents, even if they are not filled. Lowering the rent per sq ft to fill the units will increase revenue but it will lower the valuation of the building. Especially if it is owned by a REIT they care more about the valuation than the revenue. Love your vids and this series, Rudy!
Honestly, this is going to be one of the best magic serious on youtube... like up there with Forgotten Lore by Evan Erwin or ChannelFireballs top 8. Thanks Rudy, you earned yourself a subscription
Seeing that old intro really brings back some memories. This is a super interesting "reboot".
As a Tim, I feel that Timmy's Emporium is a perfect name and that shirts should also be made. Not for my sake, but for all of us.....and in memory of all the little Timmy's who went to Hose Town and never came back.
I like this series. I wish it was out when I opened my shop. I am glad its closed because of stress, but I had to learn as i went and I made many mistakes. I am sure this will help many upstarts in the future.
Also I would like an episode talking about game store drama. How do you limit it? Also how do you keep employees from starting drama or getting caught up in it?
Keep up the good work!!!!!
I'm rooting for you Rudy I hope this expansion of yours Is exactly everything you want it to be.
You're getting so diversified with your content! Keep evolving Rudy!
Spot on advice. The business geek and (former) retailer in me approves of this series.
Rudy tapped poor snappy out. I like this set, it gives the average Joe a good idea of what they would be getting into if they decide to do something like this.
@Rudy!!! Add to Playlist! Really excited for you and this series!!! didn't have cardshop life in my life, glad im getting it now!
great new series offers a different perspective. most kids don't understand what overhead and operating expenses are. they just want freebies and discounts. a business and customer/consumer need to understand one another to respect how and why things are.
This and primitivetechnology are the most captivating channels on youtube right now.
It's a card shop life for us, its a card shop life for us, instead of foils we get hit. Instead of fetches we get kicked. It's a card shop life!
great new segment for the channel. cant wait to see more!
Nice! there's a local shop in my area virtually same concept in a scraggy area... Enough space to hold all kinds of Tournaments (which they do). But when you shop they seem to have a lot of inventory, BUT their online website dwarfs the invetory being sold in store. It's just kind of funny seeing the backroom more lively than the front with all the packing, labeling, computing going on in the Background...
Rudy - I'm very interested in this series. Especially how you plan to manage the singles. Inventory costs, valuation, etc. A whole episode dedicated to singles would be great.
I absolutely love this series, I seriously wouldn't mind if we had 3+ of these a week. Thanks for the great content Rudy.
New favourite series for sure.
Rudy, great to see that you are talking about the locations, I was already wondering.
What I am curious about, is your business plan. It is the first step when starting a new business and the way you are showing us everything, it sounds like you have one! :)
How did you determine how much storage you need, you need a CZcams / filming area. Display area (What will be on display?)
You want an unit which is at least 1500 square foot. That number is based on something...
What will you be selling? Just TCG? What is your strategy on the booster boxes and more important: the singles!
I would love to see you take it another step back (Or do a video later on in the series comparing the result with your business plan) and show us what your business plan is.
What have you considered doing, things you decided to do and not to do. Setting goals and definitions what you want and where you want to build up to. Promotion and so on....
It is going to be a long wait untill the next episode... :(
Great series, Rudy. I've always been interested in the nitty gritty of opening a business. Keep it up!
5 minutes from the navy base is a great idea. Some of those kids love magic. This is super interesting.
Being next to the navy base is going to make you a killing, when I was visiting I had to take a 20$ taxi to the nearest place. Great location bro!
This video series is amazing! Keep it up Rudy. I am really enjoying these. Never thought I'd say that about commercial building shopping, but hey!
good luck Rudy, I can't wait to see the progression of your store.
I am ROCK-HARD for that upcoming lease review video! Show me them hot, hot renewal options. SNDA's? Option to purchase? I'm tellin' ya, folks just don't know how good it gets...
LOL I noticed several landmarks in the first couple minutes of this video looking out the back glass of your truck. I used to live over that way some 20 years ago. Went to school at FCCJ Kent, right down the street from where you were driving. Small world, and the interwebs keeps making it smaller and smaller.
Im already excited to drive to Florida to visit Rudy.
I love how you rolled past that stop sign near the end of the vid
Good show on the MM box. Also, no matter where you put your store, anywhere near a Military Base soldiers will come to it.
These card shop videos are very informative and we'll thought out. Great series!!!
I have been enjoying the revenge of the card shop life's please keep doing more rudy!
You are bang on about foot traffic. In the long term, you will benefit more because you are a destination location. Word of mouth will spread like wildfire and your customers aren't everyday joes walking around in busy areas.
So I was once stationed in Alaska and there was a "Comic Shop" near the entrance area to the post and it was a decent shop but damn they were always so buys due to the volume of customers from the base, to include me. Once I found out they had MTG I was there a few times a week and I believe (even off the beaten path) you will do great. Can't wait to come see it.
This is shaping up to be the best vlog thing ever
If you get the corner, ask to knock out the dumb wall to make the corner go away. It would look way better.
I hope you keep doing this series. plz keep it going. I'm begging you Rudy. PLZ
I hope the store opens sometime in the near future so I can go check it out! It's close by!
Thanks for the video.
that bag is where creepy rudy keeps the candy that he hands out.
Who else thinks Rudy will be at 100,000 subscribers by the end of this year?
MTG 420 well thought.
Wow. Even have the old intro from csl! Incredible work!
RUDY: You are right next door to a "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu" place. I own my own Martial Arts School. Go in there and make sure they don't Blast Their Music during classes. BJJ usually is pretty good, but if they offer Cardio Kickboxing or some other type of Workout during the day they will rock your walls and potentially drive off customers! ;-)
Especially since you said you need "CZcams Filming Space." You might need to seriously consider some serious Sound proofing. Maybe a Soundproof wall, etc. When doing throws and falls we slap the ground really hard and it will rock your building. Trust me. I scare the neighbors every day
Rudy... I never knew you were a pickup man. You can set my truck on fire, and roll it down a hill, but I still wouldn't trade it for a Coupe De Ville.
Dude, that passenger needs a seatbelt. Boxes lives matter!
??? Do not be like this
Pro: the location has free security! the unit next door is a Jui Jitsu gym.
OLE SammyOLE That's the unit he's eyeballing.
Rudy, these outside videos make me miss FL. If and when I return to the homeland, I'm surely going to drop by Timmy's Emporium and flash you.
Rudy you passed up Red Elephant and didn't even eat there, shame! Hahaha can't wait to see this shop go up! You've got a customer and a player here!
I really like Rudy in natural light =)
Man. I need to go back to Florida. This series makes me miss it. :/
You got me ... I subscribed based on this series ... if it becomes what I hope then I will also become a patron!
Booster boxes falling down... this is a real Rudy video
Great content , good information, awesome production quality, honesty, Handsome Rudy....Timmy loves full-art lands, but McDonalds doesnt care.
I learned it at TICAM, Taxes, Insurance and Common Area Maintenance... or rather a way we can charge you 14% more per square foot and give you nothing for it.
Most major retail developers negotiate triple net leases on occupancy cost (rent as a percent of sales) rather than SF. there's overhead involved in negotiating rents so the smaller companies will charge PSF and not negotiate
Awesome series though keep it up
I opened up my own shop almost a year ago now. He's so right about property owners sitting on an empty units for years as apposed to working with tenants on price. So dumb.
RUDDYYY thanks for these vids man im getting out the military and always wanted a game sgop thanks for showing the process so im not totally in the dark!!!
We got the ground ladies and gentlemen! It's CSL!
I love this series. Thank you Rudy.
I fucking love the sudle throw back to card shop life. Meme rudy is the best ,rudy, and I think that is the rudy that has been born from this.
This is already an awesome series, can't wait to see where this goes!
I love these videos so far, and it is helpful to LGS's
Rudy there is actually a mall local to me who has 9 stores in it out of 30ish maybe more and these units there are super high on rent and 90% of commercial stores have backed out if this place now it's like the place that retail goes to die, the owners have changed hands at least 3 times since I got married 8 years ago it's insane !
Love the TWoo shout outs, didnt realize you guys were mutual fans
who needs to be next to the main road - get a floppy taco mascot like outfit and either you or timmy can dress up as the floppy taco and stand next to that main road and direct them right to your store. easy as 1-2-3!
I like this series. LIKE A LOT.
Very interesting video series. Looking forward to see more!
Another reason why conglomerates are reluctant to change the rental price is because they can show investors the average rental price per square foot of all units they own and they can choose to not discuss the vacancy rate if they like or explain it away and if the rental price is higher, they can sell the property for a higher price if rental price is higher
Being near the Navy Base is a godsend for this property though. If you can get decent promotion going on, plenty of single military folk play magic. Single military have a shitload of expendable income.
Actually, everything he said in this video is 100% spot on.
Green screen skills on point in this vid.
Love this series, keeping CSL alive!
glad to see Timmy's is doing well!
wow congrats on making the moves with opening a brick and motor location good luck
The sounds of freedom... a P-3 Orion or P-8 Poseidon from NAS Jacksonville flying over the river.
Thanks for responding to our comments on the last video, asking about these location questions!
You were very informative about the location costs and I learned that commercial real estate apparently has a dilemma with (not) lowering their rents (i.e. always assuming an increase in costs and not having a mechanism for lowering rents to match the market).
Question - is this new store going to have an Auggie Doggie (your stuffed animal puppy) of their own?
The reason commercial real estate won't lower rental rates is because the value of the property is based on what rents are going for unlike a residence. If they lower the rent the value of that property is lower if they would want to sell.
RIP snappy
press F to pay respects
I remember these in the 90s used to call them the pack store camel Store and Shop owners were opening so many they stated to open up just a place that shovel all the damn cards and Warehouse their s*** store!
Super informative Rudy! Liking this new series.
Looks like a decent sized parking lot, which is something most game stores lack.
Wow another great video! Will be watching out for episode 3 :)
Honestly, I think 2 or even 3 videos a week would be awesome 1 just makes us want to beg for more and 4+ would be spammy like you said in your last video. Anyways keep up the good work can't wait to see this series unfold.
Really love this series
I don't think you have to worry too much about nerdities and the car rental place flooding, but it does hurt to be prepared.
The first location had great car park space and it is was quiet which gives it a club/community vibe. That is something that can work in your favour. People may have to travel a little further to the other location but if you offset with a top venue that looks great people will probably enjoy going there a lot more than other places. Also will you discuss security systems of the building or is that going to be confidential?
This is so insightful. Thanks for making these videos.