Los Angeles Gamer Doc store opens green
By Wendy Wilson -- Video Business, 10/1/2008
OCT. 1 | Videogame retailer Gamer Doc has opened its first location in California, an eco-friendly store created from 80% recycled materials.
The retailer is encouraging franchisees to go green.
Jim Belanger, president of Gamer Doc, said the motivation to develop the green location came from the franchisee and owner, Jason Renfro. Renfro and his family have lived in Los Angeles’ Highland Park neighborhood for 10 years and wanted to incorporate their concern for the environment into the business they wanted to open there: a Gamer Doc store.
“The location is not one that most people would choose, but Jason wanted to invest in the community, from eliminating the use of plastic bags to solar panels on the roof to using 80% recycled, reused building materials,” Belanger said. “Even the backs of some of the smaller displays are made from flooring from an old building.”
The store also plans to introduce a recycling program for used electronics, including TVs and telephones. The Highland Park Gamer Doc is working to secure its license as a recycling center.
“Each store owner will make their own decision about how environmentally friendly or green they want their store to be as far as the build-out and construction are concerned, but we are encouraging the use of recycled cardboard boxes for merchandise, rather than plastic bags in all of our stores,” Belanger said.
Customers at the first California Gamer Doc location can take advantage of the “Pro Player” room, which features wall-mounted, high-def flat-panel monitors. The Pro Player room is open for up to eight players across platforms—Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo or PC games.
In addition to selling videogames, the store offers monitors, cables and accessories. Gamer Doc also provides customers with support to learn how to connect their systems.
Going forward, Gamer Doc president Belanger said the broader company strategy will be to color its business as green as it can, where it can.
The Los Angeles store “is our first, and our corporate plan is to include as many features as we can in other stores,” he said. “Each franchisee owns their store, and since it is their business, it is their decision, but the corporate strategy is to be as green and environmentally friendly as possible.”
