Retailers disagree on the best method of displaying board games. The two main methods are 1) arrange everything alphabetically, or 2) organize games by category.
Alphabetic Display
Sort games alphabetically. Include expansions with the core game. For example, include Seafarers of Catan after Catan.
Advantages
- Easy to sort. Any crew member can do it with minimal training
- Easy to find titles when directing customers to a game they can name
Disadvantages
- Less upsell potential
- Doesn’t accommodate differing sized games well
Organize by Theme
You might instead divide your board games by theme, grouping them together with similar titles.
Advantages
- Allows convenient signage
- Easier to find games when customers don’t know the exact name
Disadvantages
- Requires more detailed knowledge of the products to help customers
- Some games qualify for multiple categories, making it hard to identify the best place for them
Examples of Themes
Party Games: Codenames, Cards Against Humanity
Two-Player Games: Jaipur, Patchwork
Kid-Friendly Games: Nuts!, Happy Salmon
Social Deduction Games: Werewolf, Secret Hitler
Cooperative Games: Pandemic, Gloomhaven
Eurogames: Agricola, Wingspan
Boardgamegeek has a list of categories you can review when planning your displays here.
Bonus Categories
With either main method you can call out hot sellers on rotating displays.
Spotlight New Releases
Use endcaps or front-facing shelves for new arrivals to draw attention immediately. I suggest that you place this display near the front of the store (better) or near the front of the board game department (almost as good). I also recommend that you place the newest games at the top of the shelf and move the previous week’s deliveries down one row. When a product rotates away from the bottom, place it in its permanent location.
Crew Favorites
Have each crew member make several board game recommendations. Rotate games frequently to keep displays fresh.
Seasonal Displays
Spooky Halloween games, hot sellers from GenCon, or whatever you want to highlight here with any excuse to group games together. I wrote extensively about seasonal displays here.
Open Game Display
Open up several games and allow customers to browse components. Handling the components is one of the main selling tools, and it’s something you can offer that Amazon and other online sellers can’t. You can often find demo games at a lower price with your distributor. Search their website for the word “demo.” You can expect that most of them have a label on them indicating that they are not for sale.
Demo Table
Maintain a demo table. On the table place a game you want to sell. Offer demos to people who walk in—regulars, first-timers, everyone. You might have contests among the crew to see who can sell the most copies.
