Looking Back On An Adventurous Year
Wow, been a while since I have updated this blog. Well,
better late than never. Our blog on the Dungeon Crate website is now fully
dedicated to the Adventure Poll, so this blog will be the one we feature with
news, info, commentary, and other game-related stories.
Back in the winter of 2015, I was ready for a change. I
decided to stop drinking, lose weight, and start a new business in 2016. It was
my “Year of Transformation.” And I did just that.
2016 started off with a bang. With the help of my partner
Bill and my wife Laurie, we launched Dungeon Crate and started the Lords of
Adventure and Wargames company. I remember being at Bill’s house when we
launched, watching the orders come in and ending the night with so much more
than expected. It was scary, exciting, and we knew we had a lot of work ahead
of us.
Looking back, it truly has been an adventure. Bill has
since moved to other aspects of involvement with Dungeon Crate, and Laurie is
busy with our other business Big Ink Writing Services. I took over all operations
of Dungeon Crate and wow, it’s been a ride. Here are a few highlights:
·
Our first packing day we had camera crews, the
newspaper, and a group of volunteers to help out. So glad we are not using that
damn excelsior anymore.
·
Those first few negative reviews were painful.
The positive ones were delightful. Video reviews were awesome to watch. We had
a lot of learning to do about what people like and don’t like. Customer
suggestions helped us immensely.
·
Dungeon club was a fun way to get in touch with
local gamers and share the fun of our little business.
·
We started blogs, video channels, an online store, the DC Adventure Vault, podcasts, and
all the social medias. It’s a lot to keep up with.
·
We moved out of the downtown office and back
home as our fulfillment center is doing an incredible job. So no more packing
for us here in Omaha. I do kind of miss it. Though a couple of my Dungeoneers don't...heh.
·
It’s been a game figuring out items and themes
as well as balancing out the contents with retail value, my cost, and box
appearance.
·
The conventions were a blast! Dressing up,
rolling the dice on the giant dice tower, so much fun.
·
New box designs, more subscribers, new vendors,
it’s all coming together at the end of the year.
I’m looking forward to the new year. I think with
everything I’ve learned in the past year, along with all the things I have in
the works for 2017, it’s going to be a great year. This is what I am calling my
“Year of Growth,” so that is exactly what I plan to do with my life and
business.
