THE FINALISTS 2012 Exclusive Retail Category Partner YOUR TEAM • YOUR GAMES • YOUR AWARDS
AWARD CRITERIA: Sales performance, Product knowledge, Customer service, Merchandising and compliance, Marketing activity
Previous Winners
2008: Zavvi, Oxford Street 2009: Gamestation, Birmingham New Street 2010: HMV, 360 Oxford Street 2011: HMV, 360 Oxford Street
RETAIL STAR STORE
This award is given to stores that have not only achieved an impressive sales performance and shown great service, but also gone beyond what other branches offer to customers
LOADING CAFÉ, FALMOUTH Games café Loading has been trading since March 2010 in Falmouth, Cornwall. It produces a range of games-related drinks, shots and coffees, including several tie-in cocktails and launch drinks for publishers such as Capcom, EA and Square Enix. These include the ʻAlice Madness Returns: Tweedle Rumʼ for EA and the ʻDeus Ex on the Beachʼ for Square Enix. Loading had a presence at GameCity in Nottingham last year and helped out with cocktails at Capcomʼs community day in December. The unique outfit even launched its own blend of coffee which is available online.
GAME, STRATFORD
This new High Street GAME concept store opened in September to acclaim from both new and loyal customers. It features a variety of experimental sections designed to showcase the future of games retail. These include the Ovei Pod to play games in, a ʻchallenge arenaʼ where consumers can compete against each other for a spot on the leaderboards, as well as several video screens scattered creatively throughout the store, including some in the window displays. The store also offers free Wi-Fi, a ʻsmall devices tableʼ trial area for kids and other gaming demo pods.
GAMESTATION, NEW STREET Gamestation in Birminghamʼs popular New Street has become a shrine for the hardcore customer. It has been home to some of the best video game launches of 2011, including special one-off promotions surrounding big titles such as The Elder Scroll V: Skyrim, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary and Gears of War 3 to name but a few. It also scored extremely well with The Guardian in December 2011. The store remains a top-performing and flagship outlet within the Gamestation family.
GAME ON, SAFFRON WALDEN Game On is an independent retailer based in Saffron Walden that has been running for 15 years. The High Street store also sells stock through its website, expanding its customer base to include gamers overseas. As well as games, it has been stocking toys and models for ten years, with LEGO proving to be successful for the company. Game On says it offers excellent customer service. It has its own loyalty card scheme which was set up nine years ago and sees a broad range of customers come in through its doors, from children to families and older gamers.
JOHN LEWIS NINTENDO SHOP, OXFORD STREET
This special Nintendo store in the busy London High Street is part of John Lewisʼ £4m revamp of its Childrenʼs department. It opened last October and stocks a wide range of Nintendo video games and hardware for platforms such as the DS, Wii and 3DS. Distributor and retail services provider Gem handles category management. The Nintendo shop has already outperformed the retailerʼs other video gaming departments. The retailer also stocks several big Nintendo releases on the John Lewis website.