Meet Jason Garvin | Small Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jason Garvin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jason, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
When I first stepped into the role of business owner, I was dealing with all the paperwork and logistics involved in the acquisition of the business. My work-life balance was pretty poor. Instead of having time to relax, I was focusing exclusively on getting through those initial few months of setup to make sure we could continue running the store as smoothly as possible, get everything set up, and be in good standing with the state and in line with all the laws.

That was probably the most stressful part of being a business owner so far.

Since then, it’s eased up a bit. I started getting back into the flow of tasks and delegation, trained the team so they could each work semi-autonomously, set up a regular meeting cadence, and moved more into a support role.

The transition from working in the business to working on the business, in that way, has been profoundly healthy. I do miss the days of being in the store all the time, seeing all our customers, getting to have conversations with our regulars, and being more involved in the hustle and bustle. But being able to step back and work on all the delicate background tasks that keep the business running, and knowing I can trust the in-store team to handle the day-to-day operations, has opened up my life to a better balance than I’ve felt in years.

I think I have the best work-life balance right now that I’ve ever had. I’m still busy with the store, but I’m also able to make time to go out, see friends, and travel. All the things I’d often put off in the past to make sure I was available to work.

That’s the tricky thing about work-life balance, and why I think it’s so important: when you don’t have it, it’s easy to get consumed by work (or by leisure). Only in having the balance of both, the productive and the relaxing, can you flourish as a well-rounded person. Personally, I need the breaks afforded by time away from the business to recharge and come up with new ideas, and staying busy with work keeps me focused in life and so I’m making better decisions.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I own Total Escape Games, a tabletop gaming store based in Broomfield, Colorado. We sell all sorts of fun tabletop games and supplies, including board games, card games, miniatures, paint, roleplaying games, game mats, toys, and more. We also run events almost every day, bringing together like-minded gamers to play their favorite games.

What sets us apart is our care and attention, and our dedication to creating the best possible shopping and gaming experience. We pour our effort into making sure our customers feel heard, that we’re carrying the games and supplies our community wants, and pushing the boundaries of excellence.

It hasn’t been easy–we’ve been in business for 16 years and have faced countless challenges. But we have an incredible team, without which none of this would’ve been possible. I was originally hired as an hourly employee sorting cards in a tiny back office. I know what it’s like to work every role in the store, and because of that I have a deep appreciation for everyone that works with us to help make the store as amazing as it is today. We couldn’t do it without our team, or without the support of our community.

In particular, I remember some of the hard times when the business was younger. Times we couldn’t stock all the products we wanted because our margin of error was so small. Times when we couldn’t afford to hire all the help we needed because the budget flat-out didn’t exist. Back when I was pulling double or triple duty working multiple roles, still part-time, trying to fit it all into 25 hours a week.

I truly believe the way we got to where we are now is because of the support of our team and our customers. Even when money was tight and we were constantly making sacrifices, our team stood behind us and worked hard to help grow the store. And our customers are the best. Some of them have been with us for all 16 years. I’m constantly blown away by how highly our customers think of us and how much they care about our success. Without that loyalty, we might not’ve made it through the tough times and to the point we’re at now, where we can finally carry and support all the games and events we’d hoped to someday have.

That’s really what I want the world to know about us: my focus, and the store’s focus, has always been to provide a good quality of life for the people we employ, and to create a meaningful and caring community of gamers. We want to be a 3rd space for everyone around us, a place you can go to unwind, meet new people, and feel like a part of something.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
That’s a great question–there are so many places to visit in Colorado. If my friend was visiting during summertime I’d be sure to get us out to the Great Sand Dunes for at least one of the days, and/or spend some time hiking in the mountains. We’d probably visit Nederland and Estes Park, too. Plus a mandatory afternoon of wandering the Denver Botanic Gardens.

Besides that, I’d take them to all my favorite local spots. We’d go on a coffee tour from all the local coffee shops, and browse through bookstores. I’m particularly fond of the Read Queen Bookstore & Cafe in Lafayette, or the Trident Bookstore in Boulder.

While in Boulder, we’d stop for food. There are so many good restaurants in Boulder, too many to mention. We’d stop at one of the many great cocktail bars in the area, or stop by for trivia night at Boulder Social or Jungle. I’m big into dancing, so I’d probably try to talk my friend into taking a beginner dance class with me at the Avalon Ballroom, too.

It’d be great to catch a live theater show at the Denver Performing Arts complex. Maybe go to some live music at one of the venues in Denver, as well. We have so many amazing local bands here that I’d try to find a local show for the real authentic experience. If Gestalt had a show, for example, that’s where we’d be.

Finally, I’d probably round out the experience with the major Denver attractions: the Denver Zoo, the Denver Art Museum, and depending on what exhibits they had, probably the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shout out GAMA, The Tabletop Game Association. When I was new to the gaming industry, attending GAMA conferences was such a valuable resource. Each year, GAMA hosts GAMA Expo, which is an industry-facing trade show full of the best, funniest, most amazing people from every branch of the industry. We all get together to talk business, share stories, connect, and grow together.

Taking classes at my first GAMA Expo was like compressing an entire college semester on business into a single week, and it was incredible. I learned so much. Since then I’ve been back almost every year–I met some of my absolute favorite people at GAMA Expo. Expo has also given me the opportunity to meet with and get advice from people who run stores I admire, people who have been in the industry far longer than I have and who have incredible wisdom.

Without GAMA, the industry wouldn’t be as close, or as successful, as it is. So I want to thank everyone involved in GAMA, from the board of directors to the employees who help make it all possible, for creating amazing experiences for me and my peers in the industry to enjoy.

Website: https://jasongarvin.com

Other: Store website: totalescapegames.com