INTRODUCING…The Board Game Biz podcast!

INTRODUCING…The Board Game Biz podcast!

We are massively excited to announce the launch of our new podcast all about the business of board games – Board Game Biz

EPISODE 1 – An Overview Of The Business Of Board Games 

Welcome to the first episode of The BOARD GAME BIZ podcast where we dive deep into the business of board games (also including Card Games, Tabletop Games and any other physical i.e. non-digital Game formats!). The host of the show is renowned Games industry veteran and expert on the commercial side of the world of Games, Steve Reece.

In this inaugural episode, we’re starting with a comprehensive overview of the Board Games business. We’ll explore the key components that drive the board game market,. Whether you’re an aspiring game creator, a Game entrepeneur, a seasoned professional, or simply a Board Game enthusiast, this episode will provide valuable insights into the commercial intricacies of the industry.

Stay tuned as we unpack the trends, challenges, and opportunities that define the dynamic business of Board Games. Let’s get started on this exciting journey together!

Click link below to listen to Episode 1: An Overview Of The Business Of Board Games

https://sites.libsyn.com/556277/an-overview-of-the-board-games-business

Episode 2 – Understanding How Board Games Retail Works

Welcome back to The BOARD GAME BIZ podcast where we delve into the intricacies of the board games industry. Host, and Board Games industry expert, Steve Reece, takes us through today’s episode – Understanding How Board Games Retail Works.

Navigating the retail landscape can be complex, but it’s essential for the success of any board game. From selecting the right distribution channels to understanding retail pricing strategies, we’ll cover it all. We’ll also discuss how to establish and maintain relationships with retailers, the importance of packaging and shelf appeal, and how to leverage retail data to boost your game’s performance.

Whether you’re a game developer looking to get your product on store shelves or a retailer wanting to enhance your board game offerings, this episode is packed with valuable insights to help you succeed. Let’s dive into the world of board games retail and uncover the strategies that can make your game a hit!

https://sites.libsyn.com/556277/episode-2-understanding-how-board-games-retail-works

Episode 3 – The Many Benefits Of Playing Board Games

Welcome back to The BOARD GAME BIZ Podcast, where we explore the fascinating business of (non-digital) Games. Our host is Board Games business expert Consultant, Steve Reece, and in today’s episode, we’re delving into The Many Benefits of Playing Board Games.

Board games are not just about fun and entertainment—they offer a multitude of benefits that can enrich people’s lives in various ways. From fostering social connections and improving cognitive skills to reducing stress and enhancing creativity, the impact of board games goes far beyond the gaming table. We’ll uncover how playing board games can strengthen family bonds, develop strategic thinking, and even boost mental health.

Whether you’re a casual player, a dedicated gamer, or someone interested in the positive effects of board games, this episode is packed with insights that will make you appreciate the true value of this timeless hobby. We feel it’s important to run through these very many benefits of Games so that you feel real motivation to sell more Games, the more Games you sell and the more Games people play, the more good we do for humanity!

https://sites.libsyn.com/556277/episode-3-the-many-benefits-of-playing-board-games

Episode 4 – 5 Common Reasons Why People Fail To Get Their Game To Market

Welcome back to The BOARD GAME BIZ Podcast where we delve into the fascinating intricacies of the board games industry. In this episode, host (and well known Board Games Industry Expert) Steve Reece, talks us through “5 Common Reasons Why People Fail To Get Their Game To Market.”

Bringing a board game to market can be an exciting yet challenging journey. Many aspiring game designers face obstacles that prevent their game from reaching store shelves. Today, we’ll explore the top five reasons why these efforts often fall short. From common pitfalls in game design and production issues to marketing mistakes and distribution challenges, we’ll provide valuable insights to help you avoid these traps and successfully launch your game.

https://sites.libsyn.com/556277/episode-4-5-common-reasons-why-people-fail-to-get-their-game-to-market

Episode 5 – How To Sell Board Games

Welcome back to The BOARD GAME BIZ Podcast your go-to source for insights into the board games industry. In this episode, renowned expert in the commercialisation of Board Games, Steve Reece, takes us through How To Sell Board Games.

Today, we’ll explore the essential steps to successfully market and sell your board game. From understanding your target audience and crafting compelling pitches to leveraging social media and maximizing retail opportunities, we’ll cover all the bases. We’ll also discuss common pitfalls and how to avoid them, ensuring that your game not only reaches the market but thrives.

Whether you’re a newcomer eager to launch your first game or a seasoned pro looking to boost your sales, this episode is packed with valuable tips and tactics to help you succeed. Let’s get started and unlock the secrets to selling board games!

https://sites.libsyn.com/556277/episode-5-how-to-sell-board-games

HOW TO SUCCEED IN THE BOARD GAMES BUSINESS

HOW TO SUCCEED IN THE BOARD GAMES BUSINESS

If you’ve ever wondered how to succeed in the Board Games business, then please read on, because we will address this directly in this article. The Global Board Games market value is measured in the $Billions. This is a large-scale opportunity for those companies who approach the Games market in the right way. There are a number of fundamentals you need to address for success:

1.      There are many, many Board Game publishers and creators out there. One of the best things about the business of Board Games is that the barriers to entry are comparatively low. You can design a game on a shoestring, outsource graphic design to Asia where the labour costs are much lower, and then manufacture in small quantities to give you a start. Asa result of the low barriers to entry though, competition is rife, so you always need to be striving for point of difference, and more importantly, point of advantage!

2.      You MUST Extensively Playtest And Tweak Your Gameplay Mechanisms. The Board Games industry is unusual in that the product is in effect an experience between people as opposed to simply a physical product. So you need to extensively test, retest and tweak the gameplay via playing over and over again with different groups of people.

3.      Sell, Sell, Sell. Because there is so much competition in this industry you need to excel at selling. You need to know the buyers, and you need them to really want to buy your products. You can get lost in the joy of creating an aesthetically perfect Game, but if you can’t sell it, it is more of a work of art than a product. If your Game is really good, then you need to get as many people playing as possible, and you do that via selling.

4.      Think About Game Marketing As Like Trying To Spread A Virus. Games grow and spread like a virus! A good game experience is shared with other people, and then shared with more people and so on. So if you make really compelling Games and get enough of them out there to start things off, a good Game should then grow organically of its own accord.

5.      Packaging Is The Primary Marketing Mechanism For New Games. With new Games, where you don’t have players yet the packaging has to do a lot of work for you. It needs to visually standout from all the other Games on the shelf/on the e-shop, and the consumer needs to be compelled to pick up the product or click on it. So make your packaging work really hard for you!

There are of course many other factors in winning in this marvellous business of Board Games, and maybe we can help you with that…for more info on our Consultancy services just click here: https://www.kidsbrandinsight.com/services

Europe Toy Market: Profile & Insights

The European Toy Market represents one of the largest Toy regions in the world.

The three biggest Toy markets in Europe are: Germany, France and the UK. Over the decades, these 3 big players in the Euro Toy trade have swapped positions in terms of the pecking order, but between them they represent a sizable chunk of the Toy & Game opportunity in Europe.

Germany has a very distinct, and in some ways, unusual Toy market. With several thousand independent Toy stores across Germany, with several major chain stores buying locally on a store by store basis and with a long-term trend of being quick to adopt the internet and other technologies (meaning that Amazon has a comparatively high market share), Germany offers a distinct opportunity. The caveat though is that you will need to be aware of German Toy culture, which is more focused on high quality products and materials, and more focused on facilitating child development with high levels of parental interaction.

The UK on the other hand has far fewer independent Toy stores, a few hundred stalwarts in fact, and market share is heavily biased in terms of Smyths Toys, Argos/Sainsburys and Amazon. Toy culture is far less high brow generally speaking - the UK usually has the highest percentage of Licensed Toys across developed economies. There are some local media and cultural sources, but entertainment content and culture from the USA is also eminent.

France is a strong, if a little quirky, Toy market. Whereas the mighty hypermarché Retailers like Carrefour, Leclerc and Auchan were once the major players in the market, their share has eroded somewhat over the years due to the rise of Amazon, but also due to the presence in the French Toy market of much revered Toy specialist chains including King Jouet and Jouet Club (incorporating La Grand Récre). France has her own entertainment content industry, but is also strongly influenced by Hollywood, just like the UK.

Before we end, we should also consider the fact that there are of course other countries in Europe. Bizarrely, there is some debate over how many countries can be counted in Europe, but most agree the number is at least 44. Not all of these represent large Toy markets, but there are a number of mid-sized Toy markets in Europe that you would likely not want to miss. Spain, Italy, the countries of Scandinavia, Benelux, Poland and more all offer significant Toy opportunities.

Our business is a Europe Toy Expert Consultancy. Do find out more about how to access the Toy business in Europe, check out our Consultancy services here: https://www.kidsbrandinsight.com/services

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