In honor of the first Game Store Week, ICv2 is introducing a new article type: Vibe Checks. These articles offer up a quick snapshot of the hottest games, growing playgroups, and customer buying mood at a specific games store. ICv2 will also launch Vibe Checks for comic book shops (during Comic Store Week), which will feature a format tailored comic book retailers.
The honor of the first Vibe Check goes to longtime retailer Robert Moses, who owns two Chimera Hobby Shops in Wisconsin. Chimera is also a convention retailer that attends shows like Gary Con, Gen Con, and more. This Vibe Check covers the ongoings at the Appleton location.
Chimera Hobby Shop’s Current Vibe
Location: 808 W. Wisconsin Ave. Suite C
Appleton, WI 54914
Store Specialities: RPGs, Used RPGs, TCGs, Board Games, and Miniatures.
The New Hotness in the Shop: Riftbound, Fate of the Fellowship, Arkham Horror LCG, Marvel Champions, Daggerheart, Lancer, Vaesen, Small Press RPGs (in general), Battletech, and Konflikt 47.
Games That Are Growing Playgroups: Riftbound TCG.
Buying Mood of Customer Base: Positive. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), retail therapy, and investments have been driving sales, but the number of product releases and increased prices have been putting a slight damper on things.
External Factors Influencing Game Sales: YouTube, TikTok, investment trends for games, WhatNot, and websites like MTGGoldfish and MTGRocks that hype up certain singles cards.
Chimera Hobby Shop’s Pick Hits for Q2 into Q3: Riftbound TCG: Unleashed, Warhammer 40,000 11E, Dragon Shield’s Magic Collaboration, and Cyberpunk TCG.
Additional Commentary: “While the games industry is doing very well right now, I am concerned that too much focus from companies and the customer base is the collector aspect and investment opportunities. The average customer is becoming less someone who enjoys gaming, and is becoming someone who sees games as a money making opportunity. I see fewer and fewer people looking to actually play in events or even casually in store or at home these days. Eventually investors will move on to something else, and I worry about how the game industry will look when that happens.” – Beth Pickart, General Manager
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