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INDIE RETAIL FOCUS


in association with


Coolspot


More than half of this Doncaster-based retailer’s sales are now made online. MCV asks store staff member Roxanne Skinner about its popular web stores on eBay


IT MAY be tougher than ever to run an independent business, but there’s plenty of opportunities online. And Coolspot is proof that you don’t have to be an internet-only retailer to prosper in the digital world. The indie was set up in 1993 and previously ran two chains – Coolspot and Gamesters. Although the latter has now closed, this has allowed Coolspot in Doncaster to spend time selling more new and used games using internet trading services. “We’re doing a lot online now,”


says Coolspot’s Roxanne Skinner. “Around 60 per cent of our sales are made online compared to in-store. We use eBay to sell stock. We’re


Around 60 per cent of our sales are made online compared to in-store.


“ Roxanne Skinner, Coolspot


also currently having a website made so we can sell products ourselves. We use Amazon and Play.com, too. “We’re actually power sellers on


Play.com at the moment. We’ve had no complaints at all among our


customer reviews. And our plans for this year are to continue working on the website.


“I think a lot of people prefer to shop online these days as it’s so much easier for them.”


Not only has it focused its efforts online, but Coolspot has upped its range of products over the past year. As well as offering console repairs, Coolspot sells electronic products including mobile phones. It’s a strategy it believes other retailers will adopt.


“Games retailers will become more


like CeX stores in the future, where a range of entertainment goods are stocked,” adds Skinner.


[FACTFILE]


ESTABLISHED: 1993 STORES: 1 BASED: Doncaster CONTACT: 01302 761656 WEB:


www.coolspotcomputergames.co.uk, CoolSpotDoncaster (www.play.com), coolspot4444 (www.eBay.co.uk)


22


May 18th 2012


www.mcvuk.com


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