Some Independent Video Stores Are Thriving

The Salt Lake Tribune has the story of 4 independent video stores that are thriving, despite competition from Blockbuster and Netflix. I knew a few video store owners in the 80's that faced Blockbuster and lost, but the article explains how one store owner fought back:

Pam Major of Cosmo Video wasn't so lucky. She was forced to go head-to-head with Blockbuster in a battle for territory.

Major said that in the late 1990s Blockbuster representatives tried to trick her into selling off her inventory by promising to buy her out at a later date. When she refused, they called her for months promising to open a store across the street and threatening to put her out of business. She made a deal with her landlord to forego paying rent if necessary and told Blockbuster that she was ready to enter a price war with them.

"I threatened to rent movies for 50 cents a piece, so they backed off. Next they tried to purchase the building from the owner, but he's independent, too, and supports other independents," she said.

Next, Major went on the offensive. She placed a giant jug on her counter and offered a free rental to anyone who would cut up their Blockbuster membership card into the jug.

"We filled two jars," she said. "It didn't really destroy their membership with Blockbuster, it was just an 'in-your-face' sort of thing."

Comments

[David]

I still visit my local independent video store, they have about 2000 VHS movies, and there are a surprising number of movies not available on DVD. Their DVD selection is lacking, but I don't even look at them, and head for the VHS in the center, 5 movies for 5 days for $5 is hard to beat.

[macdude22]

Is family video considered independent? At any rate they aren't a public corporation I'll call them sudo-indie. They rock. They offer a ton of 2 for a dollar dvds (and some VHS). They offer rent 3 get one free on new releases. They have some deal thats 2 new releases a bucket of popcorn (yay chemicals) and a box of candy for 6.99 (thats less than it costs me for one movie ticket to the sticky theater with 3 dozen texting tweens). They even have a 10 buck 30day half off everything deal. I roll that because we do impulse rentals every so often and we rent a smattering of games that makes it a deal for us. The first time I went into one they gave me a tour of the whole place. I pray that Family Video never goes public, then it's all about the shareholders and not about the customer.

Back home there is a dark, dank video store called Video Connection. Good prices, great selection, crazy knows all movies proprietor. Corpobuster can't beat that.

[eviltimes]

Mom and Pop stores have that little advantage called the "back room".