GameStop

Two experienced retail executives have joined the management team of the parent company of such brands as Men's Wearhouse and Jos.A. Bank.   

It's only July, but GameStop has jumped into the ongoing debate about whether stores should be open on Thanksgiving Day.    After keeping its stores closed on Thanksgiving for the past three years, the retailer has told its employees that stores will be open for this year's holiday. The change was first reported by gaming website Kotaku.   

Online gaming is taking its toll on GameStop in a big way.   The retailer said that its video game category was weak, particularly in the second half of the year. This challenge, combined with shoppers’ attraction to online gaming, contributed to a total global sales decrease of 13.6% to $3.05 billion for the fourth quarter ended January 28, 2017.   The company earned $208.7 million, in the fourth quarter, compared with profits of $247.8 million for the same period a year ago.  

In an era when gamers want new releases in their hands as quickly as possible, GameStop is changing the rules.   The gaming retailer calls its updated strategy a “new moment of truth.” Described as the gap between when a consumer purchases merchandise and actually receives it, this timing can truly make or break the chain’s reputation going forward — especially as digital retailing increases customer expectations.  

GameStop Corp.’s revenue fell short of expectations in the second quarter as a lack of new game titles cut into its core business.   Sales fell 7.4% to $1.63 billion in the quarter ended July 30. Same-store sales fell 10.6 %.    Net income rose 10% to $27.9 million, in line with Wall Street projections.  

GameStop Corp. has acquired three AT&T mobility banners, which will add 507 wireless units to its global base of stores. The purchase price wasn’t disclosed.  

Even geeks appreciate the convenience and hands-on experience of visiting a physical store.   Recognizing the continuing popularity of brick-and-mortar, specialty video game retailer GameStop Corp. has been extending its pure-play ThinkGeek banner into physical stores. GameStop purchased ThinkGeek parent company GeekNet Inc. in 2015. ThinkGeek specializes in selling “loot,” or collectible items and memorabilia, rather than video games.  

At first glance, hardware cooperative Ace Hardware Corp. and video game chain GameStop Corp. are two retailers with little in common. However, both are leveraging their physical stores as fulfillment points for omnichannel purchases.

Ace is the place with in-store pickup

Oak Brook, Illinois-based Ace Hardware Corp. operates more than 4,400 stores and a distribution network of 14 retail support centers (RSCs) across the U.S. The company leverages this physical footprint to help meet the needs of online shoppers.