CHIPS Dudley
CHIPS Dudley franchisee Gav Pearson
DIARY DATES
STORE NEWS
CHIPS GAMERS HAVE HOTTEST NEWS AT FINGERTIPS
CHIPS Dudley customers now the hottest news from the world of video games at their fingertips.
The store, which is part of the UK’s largest independent games chain, has been testing the very latest interactive information system – the Xplace Games Advisor – with great results.
Visitors to the store in the Trident Shopping Centre, Dudley, can now access comprehensive information about the latest releases, Top Ten charts, recommendations and the complete games product range of the store, including pre-owned.
Gamers will have access to product descriptions, product images, trailers and screenshots on each.
Additionally, the interactive terminals inform about the age ratings and the different consoles on which games are available. Customers are able to search for their favourite product directly or are given advice via different category searches, for example children’s software.
CHIPS staff pride themselves on offering excellent customer service and product knowledge, but this kiosk terminal, supplied by German manufacturer Xplace GmbH, allows them check information themselves when stores are busy.
Gav Pearson, franchisee of CHIPS Dudley, said: “After a one-month trial we are very happy with the Xplace games advisor. Our customers really love to hunt for their favourite games on the games terminal.
“It’s also become extremely useful for our customers looking at the pre-owned games we sell in-store”, said Gav.
Ian Laycock, UK Sales Manager for Xplace GmbH, said: “Our terminals have been very well accepted by CHIPS customers.
“Some stores are recording more than 2,000 clicks a week, which is excellent for independent games stores.”
Currently CHIPS has almost 30 stores in the UK, both owned and franchised. Each store buys, sells and trades new and secondhand consoles, games and accessories.
CHIPS DUDLEY IN RUNNING FOR TOP UK AWARD
CHIPS Dudley is riding high after being shortlisted for a national industry award.
The video games store in the Trident Shopping Centre is one of five stores across the country to have reached the finals of the prestigious MCV Star Store Award.
The MCV Excellence Awards event is the highlight of the UK’s video games calendar when all the big players gather to honour excellence within the industry. The ceremony will take place on April 23.
Gav Pearson, who lives in Worcester, opened CHIPS Dudley in 2006 and is now up against some biggest video games stores in the UK for the title.
“To be nominated for this award was terrific and we are now delighted we have made it to the finals,” said Gav, who runs the store with the help of Lindsey Richards and Phil Lowe.
“When you see the other finalists you can see what a great achievement this is for CHIPS Dudley.”
The award winners will be announced at a huge ceremony in London on April 23.
CHIPS Dudley scooped the CHIPS Store of the Year Award last October and the MCV judges have been impressed by the store’s excellent customer service, choice of stock and presentation. The store arranges lots of promotion days, raises money for charity and Gav and his staff have made a great success of the store.
Other finalists in this category are: GAME Oxford Street; HMV; GameStation and Asda.
Gav’s success in making it to the shortlist is not the only one for CHIPS, the UK’s biggest independent video games retailer. It has also made the finals of three other awards.
CHIPS is also a finalist in the following categories:
High Street Retailer – CHIPS is one of five finalists and will be battling for the title against HMV, Game Gamestation & Asda.
Retail Innovation - Judges have been impressed by CHIPS very own branded accessories range which they have selected for the shortlist.
Store Manager – CHIPS Hereford’s manager Richard Pascoe.
“To be chosen as a finalist in four out of the five retail categories is a huge honour,” said Don McCabe, Joint Managing Director of Chipsworld Ltd and CHIPS Franchise Ltd.
“We are the only independent retailer in the High Street Retail section and we are delighted our own CHIPS accessories range has been chosen as a retail innovation.”
Fellow Joint MD Nik Agar, who masterminded the CHIPS accessories range, said: “To have two of our individual stores and staff as finalists – CHIPS Dudley and Hereford – is also a great achievement and we are delighted Gav Pearson and Richard Pascoe’s great efforts have been recognised.”
The winners will be chosen by a 100-strong panel of video games retail experts.
CHIPS has more than 30 stores across the country from Glasgow to the south coast and all buy, sell and trade consoles, video games and accessories.
MARCH 2009
TWO IN A ROW FOR GAV
SCOOPING a top title has rounded off an eventful year for CHIPS Dudley store owner Gav Pearson.
Gav, who opened his CHIPS video games store in Dudley’s Trident Shopping Centre in August 2006, has just scooped the chain’s Store of the Year Award at its seventh annual conference.This is the second year running he has walked off with a top trophy.
The last six months have been quite a rollercoaster ride for the 31-year-old. In July, Gav narrowly escaped death with his fiancée Sharon and fellow CHIPS franchisee Ant Meehan, who runs CHIPS Ormskirk, when his car overturned on the A1M and was run over by a lorry.
STORE OF THE YEAR 2008: Gav Pearson, right, with his team at CHIPS Dudley
Miraculously, all three escaped with their lives and just two months later Gav and Sharon became man and wife, and the wedding was attended by fellow CHIPS franchisees Ant and James Tildesley, who runs the CHIPS Consett and Chester-Le-Street stores.
Winning the Store of the Year award from CHIPS, the biggest independent video games specialist in the UK, has delighted Gav, who lives in Worcester with wife Sharon.
“This is the second year running I have won one of the top three CHIPS awards,” said Gav. “Last year I scooped the Newcomer of the Year Award which was surprising as I had only been open a year.
“For CHIPS Dudley to be named top shop out of the 30 CHIPS stores nationwide is great, as it recognises all the hard work my staff have put in over the last two years.”
“Lindsey Richards and Phil Lowe work very hard to give great customer service and the trophy will take pride of place alongside the one we won last year.”
Gavin, who is originally from Hartlepool, opened his store after spending eight years working as a systems and software consultant for the MOD.
The award, sponsored by publisher Faragher Jones, was presented at the CHIPS Annual Conference held at Ramside Hall, Co Durham. Gav received a store plaque, an engraved trophy and £250 from Steve Faragher, of Faragher Jones.
The award was presented to the team which, in the judges’ opinion, gives the very best customer service. The store, choice of stock and presentation must be first class.
CHIPS Joint Managing Director Nik Agar said: “CHIPS Dudley arranges lots of promotion days, raises money for charity and gives fantastic customer service. Gav is a very good franchisee and he and his staff have made a great success of the store.”
CHIPS Dudley buys, sells and trades new and second-hand consoles, games, DVDs and accessories for all major platforms and retro.
It is open Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 5.30pm, and sells all the latest Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo consoles, games and accessories plus a host of PC, retro and second-hand products.
CHIPS, which is based in the North-east, has more than 30 stores across the country from Glasgow to the south coast and an award-winning e-commerce site, www.chipsworld.co.uk.
NOVEMBER 2008
