US games specialist targets UK

North America’s fastest-growing specialist is ready to take on GAME and Gamestation – as it launches its first stores in the UK later this year.

GamerDoc, a franchise concept that offers the opportunity to own, develop and operate a retail video games store, was launched in December 2007.

President of GamerDoc Jim Belanger (pictured) told MCV that the firm was looking to recruit existing UK indies – and use their market knowledge to take on the big boys.

We feel very confident that we can take what we have and bring it to your market,” Belanger revealed.

We have two major competitors in GAME there and Gamestop here in the US.

In the UK in particular, GAME has some fine stores – but that can only make us better. Gaming in Europe is only going to outgrow the United States and we want to be part of that.”

Belanger told MCV that the company was talking to interested parties in the UK and Germany – and expected to launch its first store in 2009 or the start of 2010.

He added: We’re looking for the right people to partner with or to franchise. Once we’ve built one store, we’d look to build five or ten more pretty quickly.

The biggest difference between us and GAME and Gamestop is what happens to the gamer when they walk into a store. We see a very clear distinction between the hardcore gamer and the casual gamer and we cater to each differently. Sometimes their knowledge is not as high.”