Press releases
GAME seek new stores in France for scoregame
21/11/2003
GAME, Europe’s leading video games retailer, is starting the hunt for a significant number of new retail sites in France to expand its French business ScoreGAME.
During 2003 the chain has focused on building a platform for growth in France with a major recruitment drive for senior management positions; and an extensive modernisation programme in the stores which is now nearing completion.
Moves to expand the chain will now be accelerated, and the 58th ScoreGAME store will open in Boulogne Sur Mer this week (21 November).
The French management team has been strengthened with senior appointments in Buying and IT, and the arrival of Philippe Wehmeyer as ScoreGAME Managing Director from French retailer Morgan.
In addition GAME Group plc has bolstered its Board with the expertise of Jean-Paul Giraud, formerly Chairman and Chief Executive of FNAC, who has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director. M.Jiraud is a notable European businessman with 30 years experience of international retailing on a large scale.
Over the next two years ScoreGAME plan to open a significant number of new stores in France as the market develops.
Cutting edge ADSL technology and IT equipment has been installed throughout the chain to link the stores and support services; and the majority of stores have now been rebranded with the new fascia incorporating a redesigned ScoreGAME logo, and refitted to GAME’s European specifications to make them lighter and more accessible.
In addition the popular Reward card scheme has been introduced for customers in all stores with instant redemption, following the major upgrade of the chain’s IT and online capability. In the UK there are already 4.2 million members, and over £30 million of Reward vouchers have been sent back to customers since its introduction in 1997.
Marc Spence, European Development Director said “With an experienced senior team now in place, we are in a strong position to start looking for new sites and opening new stores. We believe that there is plenty of opportunity in France to grow a specialist video games chain with excellent customer service, so we want to make sure that more people have access to a ScoreGAME.”
“We’ve made good progress in France giving customers what they want from ScoreGAME. As well as introducing a Reward Card we’ve carried out a rebrand programme and modernised the stores, and installed new technology to help us serve customers better.
Background:
The Group acquired ScoreGAME in October 2001. ScoreGAME is France’s second largest specialist retailer of computer software and video games, and we now have over 55 stores, including the flagship in Gare St. Lazare, Paris. This is against the 37 when we bought the chain, and is in market which is now Europe’s third largest, after the UK and Germany.
About GAME:
GAME is Europe's leading specialist retailer of computer software and video games. The Group currently operates from over 350 stores in the UK and Eire, over 30 GAME stores in Sweden, over 90 CentroMAIL stores in Spain and over 55 ScoreGAME stores in France. It also offers on-line shopping and game play services.
For further corporate information log onto www.gamegroup.plc.uk, and for the new look on-line store log onto www.game.uk.com.
For further details please contact:
Simon Soffe / Lisa Artemis – GAME PR Dept
01344 464442 / 464512
