Games Workshop has some changes coming for their retail partners. Change is coming for the shopping experience!

For many, many years Games Workshop has barred retail partners from having an online cart. Well starting May 3rd 2017, that’s all changing. In section C “Minimum Online Requirements for all Retailers” of their updated “Games Workshop 2017 North American Retailer Policy” (which you can read in full HERE) it lists the following:

I’m no lawyer, but even I can see that this is a basic outline for allowing retailers to setup online carts and sell Games Workshop Products over the internet.

On top of that, Games Workshop is also placing a cap on ADVERTISED Price Discounts of 15% below Manufacturer’s Recommended Price (MRP). This Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) is designed to help even the playing field for retailers. It’s something that other manufacturers have done as well. Fantasy Flight Games did a similar move back in 2015.

Read the Full Trade Account Minimum Advertised Price Policy HERE.

Again, I’m not a legal expert but even I can see that this is to prevent stores publicly advertising a discount of greater than 15% for Games Workshop Products. Now, at least in the US, they cannot force a retailer to sell a product at as specific price – this just applies to advertising. So partner stores can still sell Games Workshop Products at a steeper discount in-store, they just can’t openly advertise it.

What does this mean for Retailers? I hope you are ready to fire-up an online cart for Games Workshop Products! Just watch those ADVERTISED discount prices…

For more information for Retailers contact your trade sales rep or go check out their trade policy updates online HERE.

These go into effect May 3rd, 2017 – Are you ready for the new digital sales era!? It’s been a long time coming…