Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

What so you believe will be the future of board games as they compete with video games? Is there a market for unique board games ( no PARKERBROTHERSMILTONBRADLEY  conglomerates). My wife and I were wanting to do an educational/unique board game e-store. Is this a good idea? I am scared to death that my wife will kill me when we lose everything in a business that will have no customers. My mother-in-law will reiterate that I am a complete idiot. Are there any kind of statistics on the prognosis for this industry?

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"DARE GREATLY. IT IS NOT THE CRITIC WHO COUNTS, NOT THE MAN WHO POINTS OUT HOW THE STRONG MAN STUMBLED OR WHERE THE DOER OF DEEDS COULD HAVE DONE BETTER. THE CREDIT BELONGS TO THE MAN WHO IS ACTUALLY IN THE ARENA."                            THEODORE ROOSEVELT

This may not help, but among one of Robert Kiyosaki`s (of "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" fame) first ventures was a board game ("Cashflow") teaching folks how to get out of the "rat race".   I think he still charges upwards of $195 for the game, and he has been selling it for years.

Find the right niche, and you`ve got yourself a gold mine.

Kiyosaki has also written an electronic version of cashflow as well.  I am in my 30`s and I grew up on board games like Life, Trivial Pursuit, and STRATEGO! I also grew up on pong, Atari 2600, Defender, Nintendo 64... You get the idea.  As my daughter grows up we will be steering her towards board games because the entire family can enjoy them.  We will also let her play video games as well but when it is time for the family it will be breaking out the board games.

Good luck,

Kevin

I love Board Games and think they having staying power because kids love them and BIG kids, too.

Maybe we should have made a SuN Board Game a project of "Can We Create A Business Together" - build your business as you go around the Board. Maybe the next project.

To answer your question, David1, and I have not researched this, but maybe an online store of nothing but Board Games - from as far back as you can go to present. Need a Board Game, come to your site. Maybe this already exits. I don`t know. Worth a looksie! I like the idea.

R@

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Richard Arnold · Key Concept Writers · Business Communication: The "Key" To Success· Law of Attraction Blog · Life Ain`t Brain Surgery Blog

David1,

I have the solution for you and I believe you`ve been thinking it all along!
Lose the mother-in-law!

Aleem

P.S.
Seriously though, you don`t want that kind of negative energy trying to pull you down.

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Get Your Name in ".com" at the International Internet Authority

I`d have to say I think board games will be around a long time, but that`s based on my wish that families would actually spend time together, or friends spend time together in the physical world. I wonder if that`s just my old-fashioned view of things.

On a practical basis, board games don`t require batteries, can be played on a camping trip or at the beach, and don`t have screens that wash out. They`re interactive, directly face-to-face, and inspire actual talking with someone else at the time.

Additionally, most good games end up with an electronic version, be it PC-based or DVD or Playstation...whatever.

I agree with "yourNameinDotCom," and wonder can you stay married to your wife, but exchange your mother-in-law for a different one? :-)

Maybe don`t invest your total net worth in the venture, if you think you can give it a solid chance to make it on a lesser amount?

The other side of the coin is that these games are all over the place. What`s missing is the *new* games. What`s the one I see everywhere now, with the Asian name...where you find groups of letters or words? Starts with an "S" and I didn`t know it existed. The problem there is that  it doesn`t seem to be a game for more than a single player.

You may want to put your idea for consideration at the Eureka Ranch you`ve probably seen the guy in charge he used to be on the `American Inventor` show not too long ago. The service is not cheap but it may be less expensive than testing it out on the field on your own.


The Eureka! Ranch was founded in 1986 by Doug Hall, a 10-year Procter & Gamble vet who rose to...

My mother-in-law is actually a nice person, just not an entrepreneur. I wouldn`t trade her in. She is of the mindset that you work for a company for 40 years being a yesman for the bossman. That is not me. That being said, I just avoid discussing this subject with her. Not everyone is geared to look at potential business opportunities like we are. It is sad, but true. I am a free-roaming chicken, and I could never go back to the "farm" like most other poultry. Once I am the most successful bird on the block, she might agree with me then! Also, would it be best to have a webstore only, or do I need a brick and mortar as well.

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"DARE GREATLY. IT IS NOT THE CRITIC WHO COUNTS, NOT THE MAN WHO POINTS OUT HOW THE STRONG MAN STUMBLED OR WHERE THE DOER OF DEEDS COULD HAVE DONE BETTER. THE CREDIT BELONGS TO THE MAN WHO IS ACTUALLY IN THE ARENA."                            THEODORE ROOSEVELT

It sounds as if your budget would do better as a Web store. But remember, you`re going to have to invest in building that, just as you would a brick and mortar store. Not quite as much, but you`ll still have to have inventory.

I could see the site being tough to market effectively.  It seems like it would be hard to direct web traffic there.  How do you plan to market the site?  Who do you think you market is and where are they on the web that you`ll have access to them?

I grew up on board games and I still love to play them.  But I wouldn`t use a site like this.