News
Briefly
Calendar of Events
Commentary
Opinions
Sports
Diversions
World News
Login
Letter Submission
Search
Archive
Publishing Policy
Classifieds
Mail Subscriptions
St. Cloud State University
College Publisher
Home
>
Diversions
Movies ETC. provides unchained service
By Adam Johnson
Published:
Thursday, October 23, 2003
Media Credit: Kim Bucholz
Steve Pickard, proud owner of Movies ETC. stands in front of his store located on Sixth Ave South. The video rental store opened in March 2002, and is one of the few non-chain owned video stores in St. Cloud. Movies ETC. has recently opened a second store located in St. Joseph.
Walk a few doors down from the local Movies ETC and you'll find Steve Pickard standing behind the desk of Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts. The quiet, unassuming look that emanates from behind his wire-framed glasses along with the faded navy-colored work shirt he dons each day makes him appear decidedly blue-collar. However, these traits mask the fact that he's doing what many have found to be nearly impossible.
Pickard co-owns Movies ETC. -an independent video store that has been in business for almost two years - and despite its lack of franchise backing, the business has been increasingly successful.
"We started our own store, but it was pretty much from scratch," Pickard said. "We're starting to get more name recognition now ... and we're definitely holding our own."
Movies ETC. occupies the building that used to house Video Update, but after the corporation's bankruptcy in 2001 the building was vacated. Without a solid video store in the campus area, Pickard saw the need to fill the void.
"I started researching it and discovered that there was a business opportunity there," Pickard said.
After hiring Video Update's former manager, as well as a number of former employees, Pickard set to work on creating a business that would improve upon Update's chain store operation. It was decided that in order to be successful, the new Movies ETC. would have to diversify and offer a greater selection to students.
"Video Update was not serving the game market at all," Pickard said. "Game rental is very big right now. We expanded that and we've got a pretty extensive library on VHS and DVD too."
When asked how this independent business can survive amidst the Hollywoods and Blockbusters, Pickard explained that location was the key ingredient.
With its proximity to downtown and the campus area, Movies ETC. can thrive in a way that would be impossible next door to a chain store store. Holding up in a market dominated by franchise corporations can be daunting, but Movies ETC. has been doing consistent business since its opening.
In fact, chain stores such as Blockbuster and Hollywood Video are often forced to recommend Movies ETC. to customers frustrated by their lack of selection.
"They send a lot of people over because we have a lot of older movies they don't have," long-time employee Tina Czech said. "Blockbuster nationally has gotten rid of a lot of their VHS so they can focus on DVDs," Pickard said. "That's why they have to send people down to us. We even have Blockbuster employees coming here to rent."
The business has found a niche with college students who desire more than is found at a typical store. The new release racks boast DVDs in both full and widescreen versions, as well as obscure low-budget releases, such as the hard-to-find cult films released by the independent studio Troma. Store employees also compile lists of films requested by customers in an attempt to satisfy the need for rare films.
If a business's success can be gauged by looking at its growth, Movies ETC. is doing well, as this past August saw the opening of a second store in St. Joseph, which has thus far met with decent success. The new store offers tanning in addition to its video and gaming options. Customers can enjoy the new tanning service for free this Saturday at the store's grand opening.
Though he has no current plans to expand his business on any major scale, Pickard is pleased with the success he's had thus far in this difficult market, and his employees would seem to agree.
"It's run a lot better than Video Update was," Czech said. "It's just easier for everyone when you don't have to go through a corporation."
Forum:
No comments have been posted for this story.
Post a comment
Privacy Policy
Network Advertising
Article Syndication
