Launching 2026

An operating system
for game stores.

Stop juggling four logins, three inventory counts, and a spreadsheet that’s never right. One platform, built for game stores.

// no spam — one email when we ship

The stack you’re running today

BinderPOS/ singlesCrystal Commerce/ POSTCGplayer/ marketplaceeBay/ clearanceManapool/ Magic singlesSquare/ counterLightspeed/ inventoryClover/ counterShopify/ webSquarespace/ webEventbrite/ prereleasesDiscord/ communityMailchimp/ emailStripe/ paymentsPayPal/ paymentsShipStation/ labelsPirate Ship/ labelsQuickBooks/ booksSlack/ staffGoogle Sheets/ inventory+ a spreadsheet

All these tools, and none of them talk. We’re building one platform that does.

What’s coming

Front of house. Back of house.
One platform.

Eight capabilities, designed to work together — not stitched on as plugins.

01—04 Front of housewhat your players see

Storefront

A website builder designed for game stores from day one — not a Shopify theme with a card-shop skin.

Commerce

Sell online and in store with one inventory. Restocks, kit reservations, and pickup share the same shelf.

Events

Leagues, tournaments, prereleases, ticketed nights. RSVPs, brackets, and prize support — built in.

Singles Market

List singles inventory and sell to your local players — without losing margin to a national marketplace.

05—08 Back of housewhat runs your shop

Marketing

Email and SMS campaigns tuned to game-store rhythms — release weeks, restock alerts, lapsed-player win-backs.

Inventory

Real-time counts across web, POS, and singles. Bulk imports from supplier feeds and low-stock alerts.

Payments

Card processing built for high-ticket singles and event entry. No bolt-on Stripe setup required.

Shipping

Carrier rates, batch label printing, and pickup-vs-ship logic for breakers and online orders.

Why we’re building this

Hi, I’m John Turner.

I’ve been a technologist for two decades — backend, infrastructure, and security — and along the way I’ve run both a TCG/hobby shop and a gaming bar in Savannah, GA. So I’ve sat on both sides of this counter: the technical one, and the one where you’re trying to keep the lights on while a Friday Night Magic crowd argues about prize support.

I’m in that crowd too — I play Magic, Lorcana, and Warhammer 40k.

That’s the angle Smart Squid OS comes from. One platform that knows what a prerelease is. That understands a buylist. That treats a singles SKU and a sealed product the same way the counter treats them — as the same shop.

If that resonates, get on the waitlist. If you run a game store and want to shape what we build, become a launch partner below.

— John, CEO/CTO and Co-founder of Smart Squid OS

For game store owners

Become a launch partner.

A small group of stores will help shape Smart Squid OS before public launch. Monthly product calls, hands-on migration help, and discounted pricing.

Apply for early access →

FAQ

Questions you’re probably asking.

Launch partners onboard first in 2026. Public access opens after that, and waitlist members hear before anyone else.

A flat monthly platform fee scaled to shop size, plus standard payment processing rates. We're aiming for no per-feature upsells. Waitlist members will get founder pricing — final terms confirmed before launch.

Yes. Onboarding includes a guided import of inventory, customer history, and store credit balances from the most common systems. Launch partners get hands-on migration; later stores get the tested import flow we build from those engagements.

Yours. Customer list, transaction history, store credit ledger, singles inventory — all exportable any time, no lock-in. We don’t sell your data, and we don’t use your customer list to market to anyone.

Smart Squid OS is a new company building software for the people behind the counter at game stores. See the founder note above — more team at launch.

Two ways to stay close

↑ Get early accessApply to be a launch partner →

An operating systemfor game stores.