At Rosedale, Games N Go Expects Uptick in Business For 2011 Holiday Season

Åt Rosedale Center in Roseville, Games N Go general manager Gene Richtsmeier is hoping for a brisk holiday retail season  to end the year on a strong note.

The small, independent retailer of video gaming aystems, games and accessories expects its holiday sales could be up as much as 20 percent from a year ago.

Buoyed by store remodeling and a deeper variety of merchandise, Richtsmeier said, "I think this will be a better holiday season."

As Black Friday today kicked off the official start of the holiday retail season, Games N Go opened its doors by 5 a.m. with half price off on some accessories such as Play Station 3 controllers and HDMI cords. Richtsmeier said that he has been sensing consumers want to spend more this this year.

"I think people are sick of hearing about the rough economy," he said. "I think they want the holiday sason to take their minds of it."

How Games N Go fares for the holiday season is important because it is the period that generates roughly a quarter of its annual sales. "We wait for this (the holiday season) all year," Richtsmeier said. "We rely on a good holiday seaon to get us through the rest of the year or the slow times."

(Richtsmeier said his Rosedale store is projected to post about $200,000 in sales this year).

Now in its fifth year at Rosedale, Games N Go is competing in an industry dominated by such merchants as Wal-Mart, Target and Best Buy.  Games N Go's niche is selling specialty items and novelties, including original Nintendo games, and offering a repair service for video game systems and discs, Richtsmeier said. 

"We do extra things that a lot of other places don't do," he said. "We try to create a fun atmosphere (for shoppers).

Among Games N Go's loyal customers is Damon Chrun, of Falcon Heights. Chrun said he brought his game system in for reparis and found that Games N Go could do the job for about half the price of having the manufacturer or dealer do the work.

"They (Games N Go) have a good variety (of merchandise) and they are friendly," Chrun added.

Richtsmeier also noted that Games N Go is very price competitive, typically selling new video games for $3 apiece less than many other retaliers. His company is able to do that through its  ties  with local distributors, he said.

Games N Go, whlich also has stores in Brooklyn Park and Maplewood, caters to primarily consumers ages 10 to late 20s. "But we have something fun for everyone," Richtsmeier added.