Changes and getting to the new normal.

 

Well it's been a bit since my last blog post. But there have been some changes in my life that occurred and I've been rather busy with that. So let's get into a few details here.

I work for a FLGS (Friendly Local Game Shop) and have done so for almost four years. The name of the place is Aesop's Treasury Books and Games. It's a job I took because I could no longer do factory work due to how badly Covid affected my lungs. The owner had been my friend long before he owned the store, he even officiated my wedding, so when I needed work he helped me out. In turn I found a job that really worked for me. 

Well eventually his store had outgrown the space it was in. So last October he found a new location but it needed a lot of work. I began doing some more hours at the shop so he could be over there getting it done. When I had time I also dropped by the new space and helped move debris, give my opinion on things and help set up fixtures. 

January we closed the old shop and moved everything in six days. I never want to do that again. It was a nonstop run to get it all moved over, reset, adjusted and ready to go by opening. Even then we had things that hadn't got done. Also a new part time employee was hired to help out. We opened the doors on January 21st. 

We were hopeful for a good boost in business. We exceeded expectations. Our new employee got a trial by fire on a grand opening day that was extremely busy. It's been going very well ever since.

So now we were dealing with ordering and checking in a LOT more product than usual while dealing with a LOT more customers coming through the door. It's been quite a task that's for sure. Which meant extra hours and more mental exhaustion than I had been previously used to. 

With GAMA coming up the owner thought about skipping it this year because of how busy we were. I advised him not to as did several others. Every year he finds some great new stuff at the show and brings it into the store. So he went and we all worked a lot extra that week. But he came back with some great stuff, a lot of new things on order and some new, much needed, connections for our supply chain.

So I was offered a promotion. Given the title of 'General Manager' and, unlike most other places I worked for, I got good pay raise with that title. Also I'll be working full time now, have the ability to make orders, and we'll be getting another part time person or two coming in over the next month or so. This job is the first one I ever that I actually, honestly, enjoyed. I'm happy to see it has grown this much and the owner has taken me along with it. 

With all this going on I was just pretty mentally and physically taxed. Which is why I stopped blogging for a bit. But now that things are a bit more settled down, or at least I'm more used to the level they are at, I should be doing more once again. Starting with doing some more content for this blog and working on the next release for Truly Rural. 

Be A Better Player Updated

 

I updated 'Be A Better Player' just a bit. Added in some new pics and improved the layout a little. Put the 100% Human logo on the front as well as the copper medal the book has earned. It's over on DrivethruRPG and if you bought the original you can just download this version for free as I just added it to the original listing. 

I should have a few more blog posts starting to roll out in this next week as we're finally done moving the FLGS that I work at. Along with some amazingly busy first days there. The move has been nothing but an improvement for Aesop's Treasury that's for sure. 

Aesop's Treasury

Aesop's Treasury Books and Games. Located in Farmington, Missouri. 

This is my place of employment. While I'm not in the video my boss is. The location they are filming at will no longer be our stores home after January 14th. We'll be moving to a location with better optics for getting seen, larger retail and game areas and just an overall better building to be in.

Boasting the largest selection of new TTRPGs in the state of Missouri. A healthy Warhammer 40k community that is leaning more and more into hosting regional events. Very casual Magic the Gathering crowd. Large selection of new boardgames. And much more.

Vince is the owner and a long time friend. He even officiated my wedding when Katie and I tied the knot. After I mostly recovered from Covid and my stint on a ventilator I found myself unable to return to factory work which I had done for 18 years. Vince needed a new employee to replace one who was leaving on good terms. So he gave me a chance. After three years I'm still there, at the register and helping schedule and run the Magic the Gathering events. We really do try to put the friendly in friendly local game shop.

You can find the store on Facebook.

You can find information on the website as well.

If you're ever in the area just passing through, please stop by and say hello. 

Only War Tabletop Terrain

 

One of the great things about working at a game shop is meeting lots of other gamers. Thankfully for me, most of the time it's a good thing. Especially when you see some of them really moving into the hobby and becoming creators.

Bud and Terry are two such folks. They met each other playing Warhammer 40k and quickly became great friends. Now they are in business together making some high end 3D printed terrain for tabletop wargames. Most of it with a Warhammer theme and feel.  

You can find them at their website, on Instagram and Facebook.

I enjoy talking with these guys every time they come into the shop. Although I've only got to hang out and talk to them a little bit while not on the clock. Someday that will happen more often I hope. 

But check out their growing business. It's pretty awesome.