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Has anyone out there thought of putting in an actual lobby store? A place where patrons can by movie related items like posters, action figures,mugs,shirts,ect. Just an idea I've been thinking about since I removed about six video games from my lobby and have some space to work with.

If I had the extra space I would expand my concessions offering, Cafe, Hot Dog Stand, Pizza?, anything to get customers to purchase more, I've always figured if customers were going out to dinner and a movie, what can I do to get them to spend the dinner dollars at the theatre.

If you have a historic landmark type theatre with a good local following you may be able to sell theatre shirts, sweatshirts, etc. as well as some related movie items, old posters etc.

A "store" implies you will have sales clerks to help the customers, ring up the sale, and watch for shoplifting. For small volumes of merchandise, all you might need are perhaps some display cases at the concession stand, with your concession staff selling items people want.

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services
Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: 585-477-5325 Cell: 585-781-4036 Fax: 585-722-7243
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Website: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Your video games probably would have generated more money than this "store"
Remember, you have to buy all this merchandise. You will take a loss on the merchandise that is left over after the "hot movie" is gone, yet its hats,posters, etc. are still on your shelves. You will need to pay an employee to watch this store. You will need to watch out for employee/customer theft. You will need to compete against mass retailers who can buy this stuff cheaper and sell cheaper than you.
just some thoughts

I have thought of this idea as well, but working for a national chain (sorry, one of the multiplexes you all seem to abhore) it would never fly at my place. As I was told when I brought up the idea, the inventory control would be almost impossible. Yes having the captive audience, excited about the movie they just saw, it seems quite plauseable. (sp?)

Here is another idea. A video store. With the recent advent of "preselling" movie tickets, and "preselling" VHS Or DVD, within the next few years, I see Hollywood selling you the movie just after you leave. Just an idea.

Here is another idea, (silly maybe) but patrons may actually come to your theatre to rent movies. heck, sell them "real movie theatre popcorn" to go with their take home movie. just an idea.

I do agree that the video games will bring in more money than your "store".

Swapman

Small-town single did just that near me. He made his auditorium a bit smaller and ran a video/record store for the past few years. Kind of made the snack bar a little odd, you line up along the sloped floor that used to be the back of the aud, but it was properly done other than that. Guess it did okay, though they closed it recently after about 5 years. Then again, I heard that he built the video store out of spite, being a town councillor, he was very angry and actually tried to block the local grocer from adding a video rental outlet, so he built one himself! The lesson? Always go by the numbers, NOT emotion!

We had this idea back 8 years ago or so to exit every one through the shop a la disney rides. But we thought better of it after we thought of how much stuff would be lifted as patrons exited. So we decided against a shop.