Dinosaurs.

You can make the mundane remarkable by making it fun. If you had the money to invest, how about having Video Night at the Video Store? Show old movies in HD on a 60 in flat screen and sell cheap refreshments, making it a party? Kids parties on the weekends in a similar mode, rather than at the house. Video games on the 60 in as well- how about the Wii?

All of this would make the movie store a destination and not a drive through. It would provide something beyond the "pick up a movie" and library mash up most video stores are, and turn it into a place that would be fun, even if it was to check out what else was happening.

Hi Chris,

Nice post. My parents retired last year, rather than selling the family business, a local independent video store, they just sold off all the stock - the goods were worth more than the business, video stores are definately not a business to get into.

However their are some great video stores that defy the trend, and they tend to be in the independent sector - not Blockbuster.

Here in Perth, Western Australia there is a legendary video store called Planet, they have everything! I know people who choose to live in the suburb of Mount Lawley just so they can be close to that video store.

For most video store owners it was a simple business, buy the monthly stock, hire a 17 year old to sit at the counter and rake in the money - not the most complex business in the world.

Those which will remain - and I think they will be around for along time - will be the ones that are owned and staff by people who love film.

DVD has also been great for prolonging the life of the video store, they take up less space (great for retail based business), they don't melt in your car, or get chewed in a VHS player.

The key to success;
Film knowledge, clever buying, diverse range and ultamitely customer service.