Small video stores are thriving
Service, choice, price attract customers despite Netflix, cable and streaming
At a time when big chain video stores such as Rogers and Blockbusters are becoming as rare as a Tom Cruise blockbuster, Peter Thompson, manager of Moves ’N Stuff, finds his shelves of new releases picked clean on Friday and Saturday nights.
“We’re entrenched in the community,” says Thompson, whose shop has been on Kilborn Avenue since 1988.
“We have a tremendous selection, with over 7,000 titles, and staff who know what they’re talking about. This is one of the many things that keep people coming in.”
Even as the old chain shops sit empty or have been converted to other stores, business is booming for small video rental shops such as Thompson’s, Elgin Video and Invisible Cinema on Lisgar Street near Bank.
Thompson says that they have not seen a slowdown in business with the rise of Netflix, Rogers On Demand and Internet streaming sites.
“We charge $4.99 for a new release,” said Thompson.
“On demand comes with a much higher price for the same movie.
“People like to come in. It’s a nice outing to take the time to come in and see us and talk movies.”
“We treat DVDs like an event,” said Jack Webb, patron of Elgin Street Video and avid movie watcher.
“You put the DVD in, make popcorn and sit down to watch it. It’s different watching it on your computer or Netflix. And Netflix is behind the times. You don’t get new releases on Netflix.”
With the fall of the big video stores, many expected small community stores to close, too. But that hasn’t happened.
“There’s an easy answer to why they didn’t work,” said Thompson. “They had poor selection. You couldn’t get good films there. They didn’t have any foreign films.
“Also, with those stores being about 10 times the size of our store, you have 10 times the overhead, 10 times the rent and 10 times the employees to pay. You can’t run a successful video rental place in a 10,000-square-foot place.”
“We offer a varied selection with hard-to-find movies mixed in with mainstream titles,” said Michael Varty, an employee at Elgin Street Video.
“If people don’t find the title they’re looking for, they’ll wander to another section and find something else.”
Thompson also said the majority of their clientele is not elderly, as many people believe. The average age is 25 to 40 years old.
“A lot of these people who come in used to come in as kids,” Thompson said.
“It’s cool. It’s been like a passing of the torch from their parents coming in, to now them.”
Dan Valin, another customer of Elgin Street Video, said he goes there because of the community feel and a sense of social responsibility.
“It’s close to home,” said Valin. “They allow our dogs to come in with us. They have a great assortment of classics and the new stuff.”