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| Type | Division of GameStop |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 (as Electronics Boutique) in King of Prussia, PA |
| Headquarters | Grapevine, TX |
| Key people | Dick Fontaine (Chairman, CEO), Daniel A. Dematteo (Vice-Chairman, COO), David W. Carlson (CFO), Steve Morgan (Former President) |
| Industry | Electronics Stores |
| Products | Games, DVD, PCs, Consoles |
| Employees | 33,000+ |
| Website | EBGames.com |
EB Games (formerly known as Electronics Boutique) is an international computer and video games retailer. First established as an American company in 1977 by James Kim with a single electronics-focused kiosk located in the King of Prussia Mall near Philadelphia, the company has grown into an international corporation.
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History
Originally, the operation mainly sold calculators and digital watches. Between 1977 and the mid-1990s, the company expanded to (and later stopped) selling computers and other related items (according to the Eb Games employee handbook). In the mid-1990s, the company's focus switched to TV-based video games and consoles, though many stores still maintain PC game sections.
In May 2000, in order to unify their company, Electronics Boutique changed its current EB and EB Gameworld stores to the name EB Games. They also announced that they would be either closing or selling all of their EB Kids and Brandywine Sports Collectible Stores. [1]
For years EBGames’ primary distribution center was in Louisville, KY, with two smaller distribution centers and a World Headquarters all located in West Chester, PA. With video games getting more popular every day EB Games decided it was time for a new distribution center. In October 2004, EB Games opened its doors to its new 314,000 square foot distribution center in Sadsbury Township, PA. The world headquarter office in West Chester remained open, however anyone working at the old distribution centers were transferred to the new location.[2]
As of July 30, 2001, the company operated 2,280 stores in the United States, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Austria and Spain, primarily under the names EB Games and Electronics Boutique. The company operates an e-commerce and international website at http://www.ebgames.com . There is also an Australian EB Games website at http://www.ebgames.com.au and a New Zealand EB Games website at http://www.ebgames.co.nz , while neither support full online shopping like the international website does, they both have many games available for purchase and download at EB Games Australia - Digital Downloads for Australia and EB Games New Zealand - Digital Downloads for New Zealand.
EB Games and GameStop Merger
On Thursday, October 6, 2008 shareholders from EB Games and Gamestop agreed to a $1.44 billion takeover deal. The deal offered $38.15 in cash as well as approximately ¾ of a share of Gamestop stock for every 1 share of EB games stock. This offer was a 34.2% premium on the $41.12 per share closing price of EB Games stock. Gamestop decided to close both EB Games newly constructed distribution center in Sadsbury, PA, as well as their International Headquarters in West Chester, PA, therefore putting more than 800 people out of jobs. Only 65 former EB Games employees were offered jobs at Gamestop’s headquarters in Grapevine, TX.[3]
International
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This article's factual accuracy is disputed. Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page. (May 2009) |
EB began its international expansion with the opening of three stores in the Toronto, Ontario area in 1993. The Canadian division is the largest of the international divisions with 300+ stores as of May 2008.
In 1995 the company expanded to the UK with the purchase of financially troubled British game retailer Rhino Group The name of the chain was changed from Future Zone to "Electronics Boutique" to match the new owner. Store remodels, product mix changes and used video games combined to restore the chain's finances.
In April 1999 Electronics Boutique's UK entity bought out its main rival, GAME following GAME's near failure after a dreadful Christmas period. Electronics Boutique UK folded Game, Plc into its own structure, keeping Game stores open under their Game branding, and all new stores following the release of Playstation 2 in 2000 used the Game branding, as EB UK wanted to sever its ties with its American parent.
Electronics Boutique commenced operations in Australia in 1997 and rapidly became the number one video game specialty retailer in the country and the only one with a nationwide footprint.
Although the EB-GAME "merger" created a company separate from the US parent, EB retained a 24% ownership stake in the merged chain for a period of time and, under the merger agreement, collected substantial management fees from it until 2004, when the companies agreed to sever the remainder of their ties with a one time settlement. The GAME brand replaced the EB name at all former EB stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland. The new company was the biggest video game retailer in the United Kingdom. However, GameStop Corp. is once again operating in the UK and Ireland under the GameStop brand.
On May 23, 2005, EB Games announced a definitive agreement to acquire Jump, a retailer based in Valencia, Spain that sells PCs and other consumer electronics. EB Games plans to begin introducing video game hardware and software into Jump's 141 stores over the next several months. The acquisition provides EB Games entry into the Spanish marketplace and continues EB Games's aggressive international expansion.
EB Games once had a retail presence in South Jersey.
On June 22, 2008, reports surfaced that EB Games in New Zealand would acquire The Gamesman - New Zealand's largest independently owned and operated specialised gaming store.[4] All Gamesman stores are to be rebranded as EB Games stores, leaving no multi-centre specialist gaming stores in New Zealand.
EB Games Australia and EB Games New Zealand both offer customers the ability to price match competitors' prices, thereby remaining competitive in the market place. They also offers a full refund to customers returning purchases made within certain time frames, such as 7 days and with retention of the receipt.
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External links
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