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| GAMESTOP |
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W ith over 6,000 stores located throughout the US, Austria,
Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Ireland,
New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
and the UK, GameStop is the ultimate retail destination for
gamers around the world; its GameStop, EB Games and Electronics
Boutique retail locations set the company apart in the industry.
Everything that it offers – from an expansive selection
of new products, to knowledgeable associates and value-added
pre-owned products – is geared to deliver customer satisfaction.
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GameStop complements
its store network with GameStop.com and EBgames.com, and publishes
Game Informer, one of the industry’s largest circulation
video game magazines.
The company has been extremely successful and recently purchased
France’s MicroMania, with over 300 stores, making it the
largest game retailer in Europe with over 1,100 stores. Worldwide,
the company has over 6,000 stores.
Worldwide, GameStop opened over 550 stores in 2008 alone and
is currently averaging around 20-30 new stores openings a week.
Says Vice President and Managing Director Europe, James Kirk:
“We are a rapid growth company and grow where we have
the opportunity; outside the US, we are hugely successful in
Australia, which was the first international market for our
EB brand and is a territory in which we are well established.
“There are still a number of territories in Europe in
which we have no presence and we are not particularly well established
in the UK yet, but it is the largest computer games market in
Europe, so we have big plans. The UK has a large number of fantastic
shopping centres and that is where we plan to start, with around
10-15 malls in six months.
“We are also looking closely at a number of Eastern European
countries, such as Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary,”
says Kirk.
The company is also eying the Middle East and India, with a
view to new openings in 2010. “We have a pretty full agenda
for the next year,” continues Kirk with a smile.
Presumably the markets that Kirk operates within differ in many
respects? |
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“Yes.
In general, the UK aside, Europe lags a year or two behind the
US in terms of acceptance and visibility of computer games;
it is the consoles – the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii –
that are really driving business in the US, whereas it is PC
games that dominate in Europe – though this is changing.”
Looking forward, says Kirk, the company is placing an emphasis
on improving its existing businesses, building upon its current
market share and developing growth into new markets.
“That is our 2-3 year horizon,” he says, “In
the meantime, we will continue to look at the Middle East and
there has been some talk of China and the Far East.” |
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| Of course,
as a Fortune 500 company, GameStop is in a solid position as
it moves forward. The company is anticipating $8bn sales, which,
says Kirk, is particularly important given the imminent shake-up
that is expected in retail over the coming year. |
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“Our
plan for 2009 is to open 200-300 stores worldwide. It is important
to us to continue to grow our market share and continue to make
good decisions – every real estate deal has to stand on
its own and be profitable,” he continues.
Finally, what is the challenge facing GameStop moving forward
and how will the company tackle the tough trading year that
has been predicted?
For the full article please see the RLI
December 08 issue
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Paramount
Publications Ltd Suite 15, Hardmans Business Centre, New
Hall Hey Road, Rawtenstall BB4 6HH UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1706 212200 Fax: +44 (0) 1706 211782 Email:
info@rli.uk.com
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