Advertise on podcast: The Manaverse Podcast

"For us, community is not a marketing strategy. It is literally part of our operating model." If you’ve ever wondered what it actually takes to turn a bookstore and game store into a place people never want to leave, this conversation is packed with answers. Dianna runs The Secret Lantern Books and Games in Cedar Park, Texas. She shares the real story behind finding the location, launching the business, learning brick-and-mortar ownership on the fly, and deciding to create more than a store - a community hub where misfits can feel welcome, curious, and brave enough to try something new. We talk about: Why “community” is part of the operating model, not just a sloganHow Dianna uses store vibes and customer experience to make newcomers feel safeThe scrappy, bootstrapped realities of running a bookstore, game store, and cafe at onceWhy special orders, recurring programming, and staff connection matter more than chasing every trendHow she supports everything from D&D and Warhammer to tarot, embroidery, improv, and friendship meetups We also get into the practical side of running events at scale, from ticket tiers and private games to room bookings, bundles, and the difference a flexible system can make when your calendar is packed. Dianna explains why reducing friction for staff and customers frees the team to focus on the real goal: creating experiences people actually want to repeat. If you care about indie retail, hobby spaces, customer loyalty, or building a business that feels human instead of transactional, this episode is for you. Dianna’s approach is thoughtful, honest, and refreshingly practical. Linkshttps://thesecretlantern.comhttps://solo.to/thesecretlanternhttps://eventforge.online/

Opening a game store is easy to romanticize. Running one is where the real lessons begin. In this episode, I talk with Trey MacCampbell, owner of Brass Dragon Games, about what he’s learned in the first seven months of running a tabletop game store. We cover why rent can’t be your biggest expense, how customers tell you what they want with their wallets, why going wide instead of deep matters early on, and what to do when inventory doesn’t move. Trey also shares how Brass Dragon Games has built a welcoming culture around learn-to-play events, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic, Warhammer, Gundam, and a simple but powerful idea: focus on the customers, not just the stuff. Links https://brassdragongames.com/ https://eventforge.online/

In this revealing episode, Lynn Potyen from The Game Board and Price Johnson of Cephalofair Games discuss the hidden crisis of tariffs impacting the tabletop games industry. Discover how sudden trade policies and tariff chaos are causing layoffs, delaying products, and threatening the future of the tabletop industry across America. Lynn and Price share practical steps for store owners, game publishers, and businesses at every tier of the industry, as well as consumers to push for transparency and reform. They highlight the importance of grassroots advocacy and collective action through campaigns like We Pay the Tariffs. Linkshttps://www.wepaythetariffs.com/

"Google Business Profile is where your store's introduction is made"What would the impact of having 100 extra potential customers walk into your store each month be? People who are interested in the games and products you have to sell. How would that affect your cash flow and bottom line? What about 500? 1000? Unless you live in an extremely isolated community, it's possible. I have yet to talk to a game store owner that doesn't want more customers coming into their store every month. But accomplishing that goal isn't always easy. There are so many ways to reach out and spread the word within your local community, but in today's episode Bill Hibbler and I explore one of the most effective ways to get your store in front of more people. Google search has been the default way most people use the internet to find what they're looking for. We go online and search for things like "Magic cards" or "warhammer store" or "sports card store" and we see what pops up. Sometimes we see places like Amazon and Target near the top of the search results, sometimes it's the local hobby store. We end up clicking on the website to get more info. The results aren't random. The reason the #1 result on Google is there is because they put in the work to rank that high. That's SEO (search engine optimization) and it has a big time commitment in order to pay off and start generating the traffic you're looking for. That's not what we're talking about in this episode. SEO is great. It's effective, powerful, and can change your business, so I recommend putting some effort into it. But if you want to see results in weeks instead of months, listen closely to how Bill breaks down a simple strategy for leveraging something you've probably set up once and forgotten about: your store's Google Business Profile. By optimizing your Google Business Profile and making a single page on your website, your Google Map rankings can see huge improvements in a very short amount of time. Instead of people in your surrounding local area finding big box stores when they search for the products you sell, your store can show up at the top of the Map Pack and grab that traffic for your business instead. We talk about:Setting up your Google Business Profile correctly so you get the most out of itHow Google tells you what it's looking for in terms of informationThe one webpage you need to get the most from your GBPHow to calculate the lifetime value of a customer so you can measure the effectiveness of your marketing strategiesThe simple strategy that reframes your store into a local destination There is a ton of great info in this episode, and to quote Bill one more time "When they pay more attention to your site, it's gonna get more people to pay attention to your store." Useful Linkslocation.gamestoremarketing.comgamestoremarketing.comGoogle Business ProfileCanvaGAMA Expo

Google calls Q5 a ‘distinct, high-value shopping season,’ and their data is fascinating which is why I wanted to talk about it. But the magic here goes way beyond Google ads. Game stores can use this Q5 behavior across their entire business — events, email, merchandising, community building, all of it. So this episode is all about how the psychology of Q5 works… and how you can tap into it in ways your competitors probably won’t. Check out the Game Store Mastermind https://www.skool.com/lgs-success-mastermind-6743/about Book a strategy call for your game store https://manaversesaga.com/mma

Today we're tackling one of the biggest weekends of the year, black Friday, small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. It is three days, four days technically of pure intensity. Everyone is running promos, customers are hunting for deals, and the whole retail ecosystem usually kicks into overdrive. If you don't have a plan, it is going to feel like chaos. But if you do it right, if you go in with a strategy this weekend. Can generate a massive surge of momentum for the rest of the holiday season, along with a ton of sales and revenue for your store. Of course. So in this episode, we're gonna talk about how to build your BFCM strategy. We're gonna go over how to design smart promotions that drive sales without gutting your margins. How to build anticipation leading up to Black Friday. So customers think of you first instead of your competitors. How to leverage small business Saturday to deepen community ties, how to gamify your store. And make the weekend fun for your customers. How to use this weekend for content creation. And finally, what to do Tuesday morning to lock in those long term gains. Want to knock Q4 out of the park but not sure where to start? Book a consultation call and we'll create a custom marketing plan for your game store that you can use immediately. Head to https://manaversesaga.com/mma to get on the schedule today!

Q4 is make-or-break for local game stores — but without a plan, the holiday rush can feel like chaos. In this episode of the Manaverse Podcast, I walk you through a simple Holiday Game Plan to help your store maximize sales, get in front of more customers, and stay sane this season. You’ll learn: Why Q4 is the most important quarter for your storeA quick “holiday audit” to focus your effortsThe 3 pillars every successful game store holiday plan needs

In this episode of the Manaverse Podcast, we delve into the significant changes in shipping to the US from the rest of the world due to the removal of the de minimis exemption. David Finn, the owner of Giga-Bites Tabletop Gaming Cafe and Bridge Distribution breaks down why this change might actually be good for US and global businesses and strategies for adapting to the new rules. Discover how this policy shift is reshaping global trade in the games business and how you can shift your operation to thrive in the new environment. Get in touch with David Finn [email protected] Sign up for SortSwift and use code MANAVERSE at checkout get your TCG singles business online while saving 5%! https://www.sortswift.com/?ref=manaverse Ready to take your store's visibility and growth to the next level? Visit manaversesaga.com/mma for a free 30-minute strategy session where we'll review your current marketing approach and show you exactly what's possible with some expert guidance.

Cardmill—a compact, cost-effective card sorting device designed for everyday players and collectors of trading card games. Get a behind the scenes look at the CardMill and how Jonathan Domanus is working to make professional and efficient card sorters affordable and accessible to TCG collectors and stores around the world. Meet CardMillDesigned for Players The CardMill is the only automated trading card game scanner and sorter on the market, priced for the everyday collector and player. Automated Scanning The CardMill can scan and sort batches of 300 cards at a time, hands-free! It moves, scans, and sorts all on its own. Fast Sorting Settings to sort cards alphabetically, by set/type/color and more! The CardMill auto-sorts your collection so you can find what you need when you need it. Intelligent Identification This AI-model learns and grows with your collection. The CardMill scanner identifies cards by name, set, foil, you name it! Digital Dashboard Scanning is just the beginning. Use CardMill's digital library to organize, filter, track price trends and add your inventory to your favorite collection tracker! Track Collection Value Integrated with up-to-date TCGPlayer pricing, you'll always have the latest prices of your inventory at-a-glance. Find out more about CardMill by going to https://cardmill.com/manaversesaga and sign up to get notified when the Kickstarter campaign goes live on July 22nd.

Mikah, the founder of SortSwift and MTech Cave, comes onto the Manaverse Podcast to talk about his journey from running a phone repair shop to building cutting-edge tools for the collectible card game industry. Mikah shares how his business evolved from selling Magic: The Gathering singles to creating a Kickstarter for card drawers that raised over $150K, eventually leading to the development of his own card sorting machine—one of the first new production machines in over 20 years. Get started with SortSwift today - https://manaversesaga.com/sortswift But hardware is just part of the picture. SortSwift also offers an integrated software suite for game stores and at-home sellers that includes: Inventory managementAuto-pricing via TCGPlayerBuylist managementShopify and marketplace integrationsChaos-style organization (bin-level card tracking)POS and customer kiosk systemsCSV tools and fuzzy match importsPlans for a vetted seller marketplace and fulfillment network If you're tired of dealing with legacy systems like BinderPOS that aren't performing as promised and want something more responsive, modular, and affordable, you should take a look at SortSwift. Many game stores are already switching, and growth is accelerating. Sign up for SortSwift today! https://manaversesaga.com/sortswift SortSwift quick hits: Over 2.2 million cards scannedNearly $750K in customer sales processed90+ active subscriptions and growing21 sorting machines ordered, with more in production

In this episode of the Manaverse Podcast, Douglas Johnson (DJ) and I discuss the recent turmoil surrounding TCG Player and eBay. TCG Player recently announced the closure of it's Syracuse authentication center and the firing of 220 employees, right as the union was within weeks of finalizing a collective agreement. We talk about TCG Player's history in dealing with its employees, what this means for sellers and buyers on the platform, and the ethics (or lack thereof) in running a multibillion dollar corporation. Here's a short summary of the situation In early 2023, the graders and authenticators at TCGplayer’s Syracuse Authentication Center voted to unionize under the Communications Workers of America (CWA). On May 22, 2025, eBay announced it would close that Syracuse facility, affecting about 220 employees, and shift all authentication work to one of its logistics centers in Kentucky. The closure came just days after union leadership and eBay management wrapped up their first contract negotiations—CWA says the timing is suspicious. eBay’s official line is that consolidating in Kentucky “streamlines operations” and keeps costs down. Minimum wage and overhead in Kentucky are much lower than in upstate New York. Workers and the union claim this move is a union-busting tactic—there are new unfair-labor-practice charges filed with the NLRB arguing eBay shut down a unionized site to avoid bargaining. The Syracuse center was TCGplayer’s original headquarters and a key local employer—many of those 220 workers were specialized in grading card condition and verifying authenticity. With the Syracuse center gone, sellers and collectors in the short term will likely face longer turnaround times for grading and authentication. The CWA and local labor leaders have already staged rallies outside the shuttered building, started petitions, and enlisted state politicians to pressure eBay. eBay acquired TCGplayer in 2022 for $295 million, aiming to double down on the booming trading-card market—this shutdown is the first major union battle under their umbrella. Helpful links and alternative platformshttps://cardgarden.com/ https://www.cardkingdom.com/ https://manapool.com/ https://www.cardtrader.com/ https://theroccoalition.com/ https://x.com/amandalws

In this episode of the Manaverse podcast, we explore a variety of low-cost yet highly effective marketing strategies to help you increase the visibility and customer base of your friendly local game store. Inspired by a question from the Opening a Table Game Store Facebook group, we dive into 23 actionable tips, from optimizing your Google Business profile to running new player game nights and using attention grabbers to pull people into your store for the first time. Most of these strategies won't cost you more than the time you put in, so if you're looking for ways to boost your reach and bring in new customers, emphasis on new, give this episode a listen and deploy them in your game store. Several of them you can accomplish in under 30 minutes! Ready to take your store's visibility and growth to the next level? Visit manaversesaga.com/mma for a free 30-minute strategy session where we'll review your current marketing approach and show you exactly what's possible with some expert guidance.

In this episode of the Manaverse Podcast, we sit down with Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases and expert in small business PR, to dive deep into how local game stores can harness the power of press releases and media outreach to grow their customer base and boost their reputation. Mickie shares why small businesses have exactly the kind of human stories that local journalists love, and how easy (and inexpensive!) it can be to start getting media attention. Whether you're brand new to PR or just looking for simple ways to build stronger community ties, this episode is packed with actionable strategies you can use right away. What You'll Learn:What a press release really is — and why most small stores don't need a fancy oneHow a simple email or phone call can open the door to local media coverageWhy human interest stories are your secret PR weaponTips for building your own “local journalist Rolodex”Easy, creative ideas to make your store’s events and customer stories media-friendlyWhy consistency in outreach pays off (even if it feels slow at first!)How PR can beat a $10,000 ad campaign for a fraction of the costReal examples of how small businesses used PR to move the needle in a big way Resources Mentioned:eReleases WebsiteFree PR Masterclass by Mickie Kennedy: ereleases.com/plan Connect with Mickie Kennedy:LinkedIneReleases

In this episode of the Manaverse Podcast, I’m joined once again by Kylie Prymus, the owner of Games Unlimited in Pittsburgh — one of the oldest game stores in the U.S. We dig into the current state of the board game industry, the tension between CCGs and board games, the role of retail, and the long-term viability of friendly local game stores. We talk about: Why board games might feel like they’re in trouble — but aren’t. How Games Unlimited succeeds without Magic, Pokémon, or miniatures. The downsides of Kickstarter exclusives and FOMO-driven content. The difference between stocking games and selling games. Why community and inclusion mean more than just packed event tables. How to structure your store (physically and culturally) to appeal to casual customers, not just diehard hobbyists. Let's talk about the future of local game stores, what it means to be board game-focused, and how to win without following the traditional FLGS model.

In this episode of the Manaverse Podcast, I sit down with Dustin Staats from BGE Tabeltop and Dae from Fire & Dice to talk about their journey as local game store owners and their ambitious plans for their first-ever convention, LFG Con. We dive into their backgrounds, the challenges of organizing a convention from the ground up, and the budgeting hurdles they've had to navigate. They also share what makes LFG Con unique and how they’re working to create an event that stands out. Throughout our conversation, we explore the power of community, the value of collaboration, and the excitement building around the convention. Check out LFG Con everywherehttps://www.lfg-con.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lfgconvention/ https://www.youtube.com/@LFGCon https://www.tiktok.com/@lfgconvention