Hi
I've self published a game that has been selling since the beginning of the year. I've sold direct to gamers via the internet and several stores have also taken some stock. I'm now going to approach a distributor and my dilemna is over what to tell them as regards the stores as the game stores that have taken stock also use the distributor I'm going to approach. Ideally, I'm not interested in dealing direct with stores and would want to deal via the distributor from now on. I see the fact that stores have taken the game as a bargaining chip but will the distributor look at this at all in a negative vein? - i.e. I've been dealing direct so am in competition with the distributor!
Anyone had any experience with this?
Neither of your assumptions are correct. I'm making steady sales but not more than I can manage - sales haven't dropped off. I'm just wanting to expand and one way of doing this is via distributors. I'm completely willing to deal direct with stores but the majority I've contacted would prefer to deal just with their distributors. This hasn't stopped them ordering direct but they do keep telling me the same thing - prefer going through distributors.
So back to the original question. Should I use the fact that stores have been dealing direct with me as a bargaining chip when I approach the distributor?