GameStop

GameStop Corporation

Company type	Public (NYSE: GME)
Industry	Electronics stores
Founded	1984 (as Babbage's) in Dallas, TX
Headquarters	Grapevine, TX, U.S.
Key people	Dick Fontaine (Executive Chairman), Daniel DeMatteo (CEO), J. Paul Raines (COO), Cathy Smith (CFO)
Revenue	$8.8 billion USD (2008)[1]
Operating income	−311,600,000 United States dollar (2023)
Net income	6,700,000 United States dollar (2024)
Total assets	2,709,000,000 United States dollar (2024)
Number of employees	48,000
Website	gamestop.com

GameStop Corporation (NYSE: GME) is an American video game and entertainment software retailer. The company, whose headquarters are in Grapevine, Texas (a suburb of Fort Worth), United States, operates 6,200 retail stores throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Austria, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, Portugal, and in Sweden. GameStop opened around 400 new stores for the 2009 business year.

The company operates retail stores under the name GameStop, EB Games, Babbages, Micromania, MovieStop, and Funcoland. In addition, the company runs two e-commerce websites, GameStop.com and EBgames.com, and also Game Informer magazine, GameStop's proprietary video and computer game publication. In addition to video and computer games, GameStop sells magazines, strategy guides, and other related merchandise. A major source of the company's profit is also buying used games from its customers and selling them back at a profit.

History

Logo of retailer Software, Etc. on a 5.25" floppy disk branded by the company

GameStop traces its roots to Babbage's, a small software retailer that started in Dallas, Texas in 1984. The movements that made Babbage's into GameStop started in 1994 with a series of mergers between Babbage's and several other software retailers. The first was with Software Etc. in 1994, the second was with Funcoland stores in 2000, and the third was with the Gamesworld franchise in Ireland and in the United Kingdom and in 2008, the merger of Electronics Boutique in 2005, and the merger of French-based Micromania, taking six competing, major software retailers and placing them under a single corporate umbrella.

When Babbages merged with another stalling software retailer, Software Etc., in 1994 the combined company was named NeoStar Retail, but the two halves continued to operate as if they were separate entities.

The combined management of the newly formed entity developed a classic case of the right hand not knowing what the left was doing. This ultimately caused NeoStar to go into Chapter 11 reorganization in early fall of 1996. At this point the company had approximately 800 stores in the United States. Several potential buyers of NeoStar's assets emerged.

History of stock during the late-2000s recession

Like Hot Topic, GameStop's stock had its first bottoming out in November 2008 during the Late-2000s recession and while the major US averages began to finally turn around during spring 2009, both stocks surged but lost much of their value during the next several months. GameStop hit its recession high of $32.42 on April 9, 2009. Like Hot Topic, GameStop's stock plunged during the next 3 months. By July 10, 2009 GameStop's stock had plummeted to $20.44 a loss of about 37% from the April 9th's close. Unlike Hot Topic, whose stock stayed rather flat during the next several months, GameStop's stock surged again. By October 19, 2009 GameStop's stock had risen to $28.16 a surge of about 38%. Things seemed to be looking up for the company but the worst was yet to come. Between October 19, 2009 and November 4, 2009, GameStop's stock had dropped to $23.74, a drop of about 16%. During the rest of the month of November the stock remained rather flat. Black Monday sales reports came in slightly below estimates. Many retail stocks plunged after the major shopping weekend. GameStop's stock closed at $25.60 on November 25, 2009. During the next month and a half GameStop's stock would drop 20% to a 13 month low. During the next 14 days after November 25 GameStop's stock fell 19% to $20.82. During the next month GameStop's stock seemed to be turning around. Between December 9 and January 6 GameStop's stock rose by 15% to $24.03. After releasing a drop in profit from last year's holiday season. During the January 7th session GameStop's stock plunged 15% to the lowest close since December 8, 2008 a 13 month low at $20.46. Stocks did not turn around during the January 8th session either, GameStop ended down 0.83% to end at $20.29. The week of January 18 through 22 was horrible for stocks in general after concerns about China's inflation and President Obama's proposal to limit size of banks pushed most stock spiraling downward. GameStop's stock lost 2.29% of its value during this volatile week. By the end of the week, GameStop's stock had fallen to $20.03, 26 cents below its previous recent low. It ended at a new, near 14 month low, with the lowest close since December 1, 2008. On February 25, 2010, Game Stop's stock dropped more than 7% to $17.51 after a worse than expected profit report. That is 1 cent above its 2 year low of $17.50 which occurred on November 20, 2008. The stock hit a new 4 year low the very next day, when the stock fell 31 cents or 1.77% to end at $17.20. The stock ended the day down nearly 70% from its 2 year high of $57.04. It was the lowest close since January 4, 2006. robert sucks stuff hah

Company history

On the last day of the manager's conference there was a special guest during the meeting. Leonard Riggio, the head of Barnes & Noble, announced that he and a group of investors were going to put in place the financing to keep the company afloat, and get new merchandise into the stores in time for Christmas (at this point, the company's creditors were owed so much back revenue that they were no longer shipping anything to NeoStar).

In a personal comment during the address, Riggio stated that he "hated" the name NeoStar Retail, and thought that the merged Babbage's/Software Etc. should have been called Babbage's Etc. He said should his buyout bid be successful that the company would be renamed.

From the potential buyers, the judge desired to accept the offer from the one that would keep the most people working, preserve the most competition and consumer choice, and be the most stable. Ultimately, Riggio's offer was accepted on the day before Thanksgiving. Barnes & Noble, through B. Dalton, was the original owner of Software Etc. A new management team largely composed of former Software Etc. executives and long time associates of Len Riggio was put in place to run Babbage's.

On November 12, 2004, GameStop spun off from Barnes & Noble. Due to Riggio's involvement, GameStop and Barnes & Noble employees still receive employee discounts at each other's stores, despite the companies being completely separate. At this point the company had approximately 800 stores in the United States.

In October 2009 Leonard Riggio, chairman of the board at Barnes & Noble and director at GameStop sold 2.3 million shares of GameStop for $60.2 million. According to a report from Barron's, via Gamasutra, that sale could be a sign of impending bad financial news for GameStop. The original report draws comparisons to a previous stock sell off by Riggio, prior to a hefty drop in the company's value. Riggio still retains 9.1 million shares in the game retailer.

1996 closures

The day after Thanksgiving 1996 approximately 100 Babbage's and Software Etc. stores closed their doors. The remaining merchandise from these stores was shipped to 100 of the remaining stores that would participate in a massive "going out of business" sale throughout December. These 100 stores would close for the last time on Christmas Eve, and all merchandise left would be shipped back to corporate headquarters by New Year's Eve. The company would be pared back to about 600 of its best performing stores.

Merger with EB Games

On April 18, 2005, GameStop and EB Games announced that they had entered into a "definitive agreement and plan of merger". After shareholders and US regulatory agencies approved the merger, it closed on October 10 of that year with the agreement that the companies would be run separately, but not as they had been in the past. To ease the transition process of the two companies being run as one, it was agreed upon that the two separate entities would not merge operating activities until the new fiscal year which starts February 1; this also included maintaining two separate distribution centers. At the beginning of the following year, operating activities of the two companies was integrated, starting with the realignment of districts and the closure of EB's West Chester, PA corporate office.

Acquisition of Rhino Video Games

On January 4, 2007, GameStop Corp. officially purchased Rhino Video Games from Blockbuster and the stores were renamed GameStop during a remodel period lasting through late Spring 2007.

Competition

After acquiring EB Games, GameStop helped to solidify its position with "hardcore gamers". Remaining competition comes from Amazon.com, Best Buy, eBay's Half.com, Toys "R" Us and other retailers of video games such as the lesser known game franchise, Play N Trade. In 2009, Amazon.com began a trade-in program for used games, where customers can trade in games for credits for other games. This is in direct competition with GameStop's existing trade-in program.

Acquisitions in other countries

Norway

On April 6, 2008, GameStop Corp. officially purchased 51 stores from the Dutch entertainment company Free Record Shop. Throughout the summer of 2008, most of the stores were rebranded to GameStop.

France

In October 2008, GameStop announced it would purchase France’s leading video-game retailer, Micromania, from the L Capital equity fund for $700 million, including debt. The purchase of Micromania will add 332 locations (boosting locations in Europe to 1,077 total) and expand GameStop into France for the first time. Micromania President Directeur General Pierre Cuilleret will keep his current post. GameStop financed the purchase with cash on hand, credit, and $150 million loan from Bank of America.

This acquisition took place in November 2008.

UK

As of the end of the 2009-2010 fiscal year, rumours have started that GameStop will attempt a buyout of GAME group, due to GAME's profit losses over that year.

Other brands and concepts

Game Informer

Main article: Game Informer

Game Informer is a magazine owned by GameStop, Inc. and primarily sold through subscriptions sold at GameStop locations. It is the most-subscribed video game magazine, and one of the top fifteen highest-circulation magazines overall, in the United States. Purchasing a subscription to the magazine also nets the subscriber the Edge card, GameStop's customer appreciation card, which increases all store-credit trade values by 10%, and discounts all used accessories and games by 10%, and gains them access to special content on the Game Informer Website.

Criticism has come in the from many sources that the magazine subscription numbers have been over inflated by use of retail sales tactics to drive customers to subscribe in order to receive discounts on in store products (force feeding the subscriptions) and thus do not directly represent a subscriber base that has actually desired the magazine. Other criticism has come from sources stating that the magazine is heavily biased based on product promotion for their retail locations and is nothing more than a glorified advertising catalog.

Trade-ins

GameStop has a significant offering of used games that it currently buys back from customers.

MovieStop

MovieStop stores focus on selling movies rather than games, with a structure similar to that of a GameStop. They buy, sell, and trade movies. MovieStop offers an array of movies, both used and new, in DVD, Blu-ray Disc, and Universal Media Disc formats. As of July 2009, there are 46 MovieStop stores across the United States, including those in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Virginia, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, and Florida. Also, similar to GameStop's policy with games, customers do not need a case to trade movies. However, at MovieStop, an item traded without its original case yields less store credit or cash than an item with its original case.

MovieStop contracted E-Play to produce kiosks that buy, sell, and rent movies. These are normally found in GameStops in the midwest and southeast of the United States . They exchange your DVDs or Blu-Rays for GameStop store credit. The kiosk pricing follows GameStop rules, however the kiosk itself does not sell disks in cases. If you wish to have the case you must ask a GameStop employee to fetch it. You may also rent movies from the kiosk.

MovieStop machines found outside of GameStop stores will only accept disks in return for the credit of the store they are found.

GameStop TV

GameStop TV is the in-store television network run by GameStop in partnership with CBS Outernet. CBS has upgraded 3300 stores (as of November 2009) to a digital network. Each digital store has a High Definition Monitor (40") run by a PC with a speaker system designed to provide audio throughout the store. The PC checks in a regular intervals during the day back to a server looking for new content.

GameStop TV features programming designed to speak to the consumers shopping in GameStop stores. Each week brings content segments about upcoming video game releases, interviews, tips and tricks as well as lifestyle content provided by CBS. CBS Outernet also manages advertising sales for the network as a division of CBS Outdoor.

Pre-order bonuses

GameStop has recently attempted to raise its amount of pre-orders by including exclusive in-game bonuses, available only if the player pre-ordered the game.

Criticism

GameStop is often criticized by consumers and the general public for its store policies and wares.

The company has a policy where new games upon release are "checked-out." This means that while sealed copies of the new release are kept behind the counter, one copy is opened and put on display to be advertised. Consumers may reach for the opened copy and purchase at the counter whereupon the consumer will receive a factory-sealed copy from behind the counter, and the opened copy is the last copy of the new game sold at regular price. This has drawn criticism as the opened copy is not considered new due to the removal of the factory seal.

GameStop employees are paid minimum wage and are given 15% discounts on store merchandise in order for the corporation to generate greater profit at a faster rate.

GameStop's trade-in policy has been criticized by consumers receiving low store credit value for their games, systems, and accessories, and being turned for near 100% mark-up. A notable case includes, but is not limited to, the Playstation 2 version of Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 which was worth $35 dollars in store credit and sold in-store for $80 dollars. Consumers may trade their games and hardware for cash but at a 20% decrease of the original store credit value.

The Game Informer magazine is subscribed for and owned by GameStop. Reluctantly, the articles contained within are often written in a biased manor in favor of the corporation.

The company has also been criticized for its refusal to carry past-generation hardware and software such as NES, SNES, Sega Genesis , and Nintendo 64. However, this is unavoidable as many of the store locations do not possess the needed space to carry non-current products.

As of 2009, GameStop employees have been discovered to have been vandalizing the wikipedia article in an effort of keeping a "clean image" for the company.

See also

• Play N Trade
• GameCrazy

External links

• Official website