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GAMESTOP: BUILDING A BRAND THROUGH MERCHANDISING
SITUATION
GameStop (also branded as EB Games) is the nation's leading gaming retailer with more than 4,000 locations across the country. With a focus on buying and absorbing its largest specialty competitors, GameStop had not used traditional branding tactics for over two years, and it was struggling to differentiate itself from a new kind of competitor (big-box retailers like Best Buy and Wal-Mart) during its most crucial selling season of the year. Existing communication was fragmented, with no brand idea and dependent on vendor assets to appeal to their target. Media and signage were focused on "one-off" activities with no thematic umbrellas, no higher-level concept or gripping creative execution.
FOUNDATION
The holiday season was GameStop's best opportunity to communicate a brand idea that would extend to their core target (avid and casual gamers) as well as the highly sought-after gift-giving parent. By leveraging their existing co-op assets (and creating some new ones) into a consistent theme and delivering it at each point of contact, GameStop could turn a modest marketing budget into a multi-channel branding effort.
BLUEPRINT
RAZOR's in-depth research on what was important to each target led us to the development of a strategic theme that supported the brand while driving sales. "The Perfect Score" marketing materials, POP and external communication all carried a simple yet bold claim to make dreams come true during the holidays. Featuring gamers sharing their deepest holiday wishes along with insightful gift tags, each element made it easy for gift-givers to understand what's hot this holiday season and how to bring it home. The theme not only gave GameStop a platform for reaching the elusive (and confused) gift-giver, it also communicated everything that a gamer cared about. TPS delivered a more effective strategic approach, simplicity in creative communication, and innovative uses of new media and in-store pieces that compelled supplier partners to buy into GameStop promotions. Not only did the vendors have a reason to participate in co-op when they had previously declined it, but RAZOR was now helping them deliver a consistent message that was relevant to the consumer.
RESULTS
RAZOR's theme positioned GameStop as THE place to get "the perfect score" in a time when there were no second chances. This clearly communicated their position and established them as experts in gaming for both targets. GameStop saw year over year sales increases of 36%. The positive momentum has continued with record Q1 earnings with profits up 111%.
GameStop
CUSTOM BUILT MARKETING SOLUTIONS
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