Blockbuster is certainly having its issues. With competition from cable's on demand platform, Netflix, Redbox, and other online sources, consumers feel less compelled to go to a big box store to rent movies. And so the financial news released from them should come at no surprise. "Blockbuster said today that its third-quarter loss widened from a year earlier, as the largest U.S. movie-rental chain closed stores, saw a 14% drop in same-store sales and conserved cash by cutting advertising costs in preparation to refinance debt." And while cost cutting can slow down the bleeding, the bigger issue will be how to get more consumers back into their stores to rent from them.
Among the ideas, kiosks similar to Redbox, that bring the movies to other retail outlets in an easier to touch strategy. Another is to emulate Netflix and its online approach to extend the value of the relationship with the consumer. All me too, follower strategies, that show little of Blockbusters leadership potential. Lastly, they will expand their inventory by renting and selling video games as well. Per the report, video games represents their next big opportunity.
So if I were Game Stop, it is time for a preemptive stop. Currently they offer used games in addition to new ones. How about expanding that model with rentals. Consumers already see Game Stop as the destination for video games; this new venture would add revenue to their coffers while taking more wind out of Blockbuster's sails (sales, too).
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