Jimnymebob
Member
This pretty much.
It'd be a great thing to have here in the UK though, although if they have the same prices that they have on their online store I'd only go there to browse.
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Would Nintendo benefit from opening up their own retail stores?
- Thread starter RiggyRob
- Start date
This pretty much.
It'd be a great thing to have here in the UK though, although if they have the same prices that they have on their online store I'd only go there to browse.
Don't know if it would benefit them financially but I know I would be a regular customer lol. It would definitely be interesting to see something disney store esque. They certainly have the characters and products to make for a great toy store and it would also be a great way to showcase games as well with demo stations etc. They could have special events in store for game launches and even do tourney's. Lot's of potential for sure.
I honestly don't think Nintendo is very relevant to normal people these days. Kids grow up on Angry Birds and not Mario unless their parents are gamers and introduce their kids to Nintendo games.
Nintendo's lack of retail presence is directly tied to their Wii U fuck-up, not gamers not caring about Nintendo products anymore.
Nintendo's lack of retail presence is directly tied to their Wii U fuck-up, not gamers not caring about Nintendo products anymore.
Nintendo has done a few (mostly Pokemon ones), but there's no way they could make money outside very large urban areas or with specialized storefronts (Seattle's got a vending machine with some Pokemon merchandise)
I still remember 3 years ago thinking/hoping that Nintendo was going to expand after Wii/DS domination and open up a Nintendo Cafe in a few major cities, because of the code name for the Wii U being "cafe".
Sell coffee, games and merch, offer free wifi and a lounge sorta area for gamers to play (esp 3DS), and demo stalls to promote games.
Made sense to me at the time...
Sell coffee, games and merch, offer free wifi and a lounge sorta area for gamers to play (esp 3DS), and demo stalls to promote games.
Made sense to me at the time...
Waluigilicious
Member
There really should be one in London. There's even an "M&M" store for god sake!
I would definitely blow all my cash there. Would be amazing.
I would definitely blow all my cash there. Would be amazing.
How about a Nintendo Day Care Centre! lol
Hero of Legend
Member
Just ONE in Toronto would be fucking incredible, put it in downtown.
Hell I'd opt for the exact location the Toys R Us location just beside Queen Station was (now it's a Home Sense store).
Hell I'd opt for the exact location the Toys R Us location just beside Queen Station was (now it's a Home Sense store).
Mysterious
Banned
Oppo
Member
When did they close that TRU down?
a while ago. I know, sucks.
the temporary 'pop up' Kinect store was just up the street from there, maybe Nintendo could play with that concept?
frankly I think it would behoove Nintendo to just do a deal with TRU rather than Best Buy, similar to how Apple has the store-within-a-store thing
reminds me: they also missed out on touring malls/streets when the wiiu came out, nintendoland woulda gone down so well.
Doominated
Member
Absolutely not
Physical Retail is a struggling and crippled business model compared to what it used to be. Nintendo would be out of their mind to do it. Even if they opened up small mobile-style shops ("Cafes", like someone said), what is really going to separate it from a Gamestop?
It would just be a money sink. And nintendo tends to shy away from potential money sinks.
Physical Retail is a struggling and crippled business model compared to what it used to be. Nintendo would be out of their mind to do it. Even if they opened up small mobile-style shops ("Cafes", like someone said), what is really going to separate it from a Gamestop?
It would just be a money sink. And nintendo tends to shy away from potential money sinks.
Starwolf_UK
Member
I hear there is a vacant shipping container...
My thoughts are. Maybe elsewhere in Europe but not the UK. Store rent is expensive and it is no longer a strong market for the company. Having a small store in London will do little to help that I feel. Yeah London is way closer to the rest of the country than NYC is to other major American cities but it is still rather inconvenient.
The Pokemon center vending machines are interesting but I have to wonder how those get restocked; are there lots of machines in the same place which someone manages or does a Nintendo intern have to take a road trip to one with a briefcase to resupply it?
My thoughts are. Maybe elsewhere in Europe but not the UK. Store rent is expensive and it is no longer a strong market for the company. Having a small store in London will do little to help that I feel. Yeah London is way closer to the rest of the country than NYC is to other major American cities but it is still rather inconvenient.
The Pokemon center vending machines are interesting but I have to wonder how those get restocked; are there lots of machines in the same place which someone manages or does a Nintendo intern have to take a road trip to one with a briefcase to resupply it?
I find it hilarious that in my local HMV I can buy Nintendo merchandise (well Mario) but not the games (all the Nintendo stock vanished a few months ago to be replaced with books...now yellow stickered discounted books...who goes to HMV for games). Likewise GAME have a pitiful selection of merchandise (do you want small Chespin plushies?). It would be nice to have somewhere with a bigger selection though, perhaps a website?
Otakumegane
Member
Better make a better overall online store than a couple good retail ones.
Colonel Mustard
Banned
Would probably be smarter to setup smaller 'Nintendo Stores' within other retailers, that has a dedicated rep to answer questions and demo products, like Apple does in smaller markets with no dedicated Apple store.
They don't even have to open a bunch of stores. If they just open a couple in the US I will be happy
Very few would be the way to go. In line with The Disney Stores. People get ridiculously excited to go to them. I could see some mom being forced to take their kids through Manhatten to buy a pikachu enough times to make some profit.
Oppo
Member
I dunno. Apple Stores seem to do pretty fucking well.
http://www.ifoapplestore.com/apple-retail-financials/
Of course.. that's Apple. Nintendo doesn't have that level of diversification.
For kids of all ages!
I think that if even Sony can't maintain a retail store that provides other products other than games, I don't think Nintendo can do it either.
Unless of course half the store is Pokemon merchandise, then you may be on to something lol
Every one who works there wears a Waluigi costume.
Unless of course half the store is Pokemon merchandise, then you may be on to something lol
Every one who works there wears a Waluigi costume.
Neff
Member
High street gaming retail in the UK is russian roulette, unless you're selling one of a handful of frequently charting franchises. And even then, it's tough. So I can't see that happening.
Nintendo's dough is mainly coming through online retailers and eShop these days, opening stores seems a little backwards-thinking, but not improbable. Centers like the ones they already have in major cities could work.
It's true. But I think a one-off London games/merchandise shop might not be a bad idea. Nintendo definitely needs to ramp up its presence and credibility in the UK (they have very little), and centerpiece London stores often gain nationwide exposure in relevant circles. It would work particularly well if they held promotions, mini tournaments, and their usual HMV celebrity launches on their own location.
Nintendo's dough is mainly coming through online retailers and eShop these days, opening stores seems a little backwards-thinking, but not improbable. Centers like the ones they already have in major cities could work.
It's true. But I think a one-off London games/merchandise shop might not be a bad idea. Nintendo definitely needs to ramp up its presence and credibility in the UK (they have very little), and centerpiece London stores often gain nationwide exposure in relevant circles. It would work particularly well if they held promotions, mini tournaments, and their usual HMV celebrity launches on their own location.
LegendofLex
Member
If Nintendo were at the 1980s/late 2000s height of their popularity, then this would be a good idea. When they can't even get people to acknowledge that their products exist, however...
nephilimdj
Member
Nike opened up 2 stores in my state in last few years, still popular despite full rrp on everything.
stuminus3
Member
A single flagship store for the tourists like the one in New York is the only thing that would stand a chance.
But let's be honest, in the UK even an exclusive Nintendo-owned store would probably have shelves dominated by PS4 and XB1 games.
They'd benefit more from 'opening up' their eStore...
But let's be honest, in the UK even an exclusive Nintendo-owned store would probably have shelves dominated by PS4 and XB1 games.
They'd benefit more from 'opening up' their eStore...
JordanN
Banned
I once did an assignment on what it's like creating a store.
You had to design floorplans, purchase utility, get permission from the government for where you're opening etc. It's not easy.
Now why would Nintendo open their own stores when their current products, according to actual retailers who have already taken on these costs, don't think it's worth it to hold onto great stock? What would Nintendo do different?
Even before you factor in the price of creating retail, when you open a store, you expect to sell stuff. Nintendo would have to market these products to begin with, but they can already do this without sinking money into retail.
A Nintendo store might have made sense when the value for buying into their brand was high and if Nintendo was looking to sell other stuff (a store doesn't just contain 3DS/Wii U. If it's like Wal-Mart, someone going into the store could walk out with a 3DS and a Microwave).
You had to design floorplans, purchase utility, get permission from the government for where you're opening etc. It's not easy.
Now why would Nintendo open their own stores when their current products, according to actual retailers who have already taken on these costs, don't think it's worth it to hold onto great stock? What would Nintendo do different?
Even before you factor in the price of creating retail, when you open a store, you expect to sell stuff. Nintendo would have to market these products to begin with, but they can already do this without sinking money into retail.
A Nintendo store might have made sense when the value for buying into their brand was high and if Nintendo was looking to sell other stuff (a store doesn't just contain 3DS/Wii U. If it's like Wal-Mart, someone going into the store could walk out with a 3DS and a Microwave).
I think it could be a good idea but games would have to only be a part of it. Mostly it would have to be merchandise, clothing, costumes etc. They'd also be better spinning it off into a seperate company and operating a franchise model. I don't see why Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol etc couldn't handle a small store like this. Nintendo said they were going to start licensing out their properties so if you have more TV shows/Films and other Nintendo branded mainstream products, throw in retail stores as well and that gives them much more visibility and everything can feed into each other.
D
Deleted member 125677
Unconfirmed Member
I don't know if it would be profitable, but I would love for them to open stores a la the one in NYC here in Europe as well
qa_engineer
Member
Despite the mass appeal of video games and gaming, a physical store for such a niche product within gaming would require quite an investment from Nintendo to make it work. I for one think its a terrible idea and would fail miserably outside of Japan.
ChosenPredator
Banned
man the amount of Mario/yoshi shirts i see I would imagine so...I know my girl buys anything Mario/Yoshi
Ninja Scooter
Member
No. Nintendo are not a premium product like Apple. The type of audiences that Nintendo targets would rather just shop for them at Target or WalMart or Toys R Us.
I think you are talking about two different things. The TRU with the ferris wheel is in times square and the nintendo store is in Rockefeller plaza. The nintendo store is two floors and isn't exactly small and perhaps even a bit too large for the few people i have ever seen there. the other point about it being t-shirts and dumb stuff i would agree with, but that is subjective.
Dr. Black Jack
Member
TRU too. I was just in one and the Nintendo displays were 2x bigger and better than the Sony/MS sections combined. Tons of signage, clean demo units, official merch, etc. It looked impressive.
Toronto seems like an ideal location. Paris too, considering Nintendo is fairly popular over there.
No. Apple Stores work because of tech support and people want to play with high end products before they purchase them. I can try out a 3DS anywhere that sells games just about and you don't need a genius bar type deal for Nintendo products.
Nintendo World is cool but it's more of a tourist attraction than anything, not something that needs to be nationwide.
Nintendo World is cool but it's more of a tourist attraction than anything, not something that needs to be nationwide.
Considering how many GAF members have had trouble deleting/unlinking NNIDs, I'd say it's pretty suitable for that kind of thing.
The point of the demo game kiosks would be to show off the Wii U games mainly, since that's what isn't doing great so far.
I don't know what the benefit is supposed to be. It's better if they just control their own merchandise and sell it in more common stores. That increases the exposure of their products.
Or where the Sears in the Eaton Centre was. Prime real estate there. (Pipe dream)
Bad that the Wii U kiosk just outside closed down so soon.
Or where the Sears in the Eaton Centre was. Prime real estate there. (Pipe dream)
Bad that the Wii U kiosk just outside closed down so soon.
Why would you do that?
Member
I think it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a few of them, as some have said. Maybe 5-6 in the entire U.S. for instance, instead of just the one in NYC. (Though I do feel very special for living near the only one in the world...)
You're probably thinking of the Nintendo Zone in Toys R Us (which IIRC doesn't exist anymore). The Nintendo World Store is completely different, in a different location.
You're right in that it's nothing much special, though, which is why it's a great tourist place as opposed to a general store like GameStop. However, the one thing the store does very well are its events. The launch parties and other events they hold are something else.
You're probably thinking of the Nintendo Zone in Toys R Us (which IIRC doesn't exist anymore). The Nintendo World Store is completely different, in a different location.
You're right in that it's nothing much special, though, which is why it's a great tourist place as opposed to a general store like GameStop. However, the one thing the store does very well are its events. The launch parties and other events they hold are something else.
I do wish that The Pokemon Company Int. would expand theur business. The Pokemon Black and White Tours and Pokemon Worlds seem to sell out of merch quickly. The only online outlet to buy official Pokemon Center goods shut down almost a decade ago, and if you want to buy them in America, hopefully you live near Seattle, NYC, or Epcot, since they ONLY make the plush to sell there!
THAT I wish would expand, especially online. Buckets of money would be made!!
THAT I wish would expand, especially online. Buckets of money would be made!!
This makes sense if you have a cool brand. I am not sure Nintendo qualifies for that. During the early years of the Wii era they could have. Now they are back to their 'safe for kids' brand image.
That would be suicide. No company in the world could do that. Making people travel hundreds if not thousands of kilometers to your next store? (e.g. there is no Apple store in New Zealand, the nearest one is in Sydney, Australia).
That would be suicide. No company in the world could do that. Making people travel hundreds if not thousands of kilometers to your next store? (e.g. there is no Apple store in New Zealand, the nearest one is in Sydney, Australia).
DrForester
Kills Photobucket
I think Nintendo could probably do well to open up a few more stores like the Nintendo World Store, but nothing major. Maybe get one set up in California somewhere.
Astral/H3X
Member
While Nintendo would never be able to do it, I'd totally love to work at a Nintendo store.
Zeyphersan
Banned
If this were the height of the Wii craze (or the start of it) I would have said yes. But things have cooled off significantly, to put it mildly, so I don't think it's the best plan.
But if they ever do hire me Nintendo I'll be the best
But if they ever do hire me Nintendo I'll be the best
Goldenroad
Member
If by "benefit", you mean "Go bankrupt", then yes, Nintendo should focus on a brick and mortar retail establishments. The wave of the future.