Dope Black Dads

An old workplace game brand went bust—not because people stopped gaming, but because retail changed: downloads replaced discs and the UK high street kept shrinking. The fix isn’t “sell more games.” The fix is rebuilding the purpose.In this episode I lay out the full turnaround blueprint:Accept traditional retail is over.Redesign stores around play: arcades, competitive setups, racing simulators, mini-arenas. Experience, not product.Build a national grassroots league through every location: after-school and after-work tournaments, city championships, national finals streamed online.Wrap it in a membership model: monthly access to play/compete/status, points and perks, predictable recurring revenue.Keep retail only where digital can’t compete: controllers, headsets, chairs, collectibles—physical identity, higher margin, real demand.Turn flagship locations into creator studios + live event spaces where UK talent is discovered and broadcast.Outcome: footfall returns for belonging, not shopping. Membersh