Last month while driving though Mustang, Oklahoma, Susan and I spotted a big flat chunk of dirt where trees formerly stood. A day or two later, a new sign was sticking out of the dirt: “Future home of Family Video.”
Over the weekend, next to Domino’s Pizza in Yukon, Susan and I noticed another new building: Family Video. A big banner blew in the air, announcing the store’s grand opening. A total of four cars sat in the parking lot.
Maybe I missed the memo or have been watching the wrong news programs. Just this week, Blockbuster struck a deal with CinemaNow to offer online movie distribution to its customers. Why? (Besides the fact that Blockbuster sucks?) Because the business has evolved, along with people’s needs. The Blockbuster in Idaho Falls closed last month. From the story:
“We use to have a video rental department, but we closed that up because everything is going to the high-tech Red Boxes and since then we have increased sales in the video department,” Bruce Herbst, Manager at (the local) Smith’s Grocery Store. Smith’s added another box just to keep up with demand and to handle the rush. “All you have to do is bring it in and drop it off real quick and you don’t have to deal with anyone like cashiers,” said Misty Elliot and Megan Harker, buying Red Box DVDs.
I thought everyone agreed that the video rental store as we knew it was dead, or at least dying. For those unable or unwilling to download or stream movies legally or otherwise from the Internet, you’ve got Netflix, who mails movies to your house. (Netflix up 45% 4th Quarter) And if you’re too impatient for that, as Bruce Herbst mentioned above, you’ve got Red Box, those rental units standing outside practically every McDonald’s in the metro area. $1, per movie, per day. No late fees; keep a movie two days, pay two dollars. And, you can return them to any Red Box location, anywhere. On our last road trip, we rented movies in Oklahoma to watch on the road, and returned them in Texas.
If none of those methods work for you … there’s still Blockbuster! Both Yukon and Mustang already have Blockbusters! Yukon has Hastings, too; I’m not sure if there are any movie rental places left in Mustang. All the independent ones, last I checked, closed their doors.
I really don’t know what Family Video’s business plan looks like, but I wish them the best. Actually, no I don’t.
Looks like family video is like the drug stores if there is a corner we will build.or in the case of family video if there is a lousy piece of property we will build
Yeah, but does Netflix or Blockbuster have shirts and jackets? I think not!
http://www.arrowuniform.com/directsales/FamilyVideo/items.aspx
Rob,
Perception is not always reality. Things are going great for our company and our new stores in Oklahoma. And yes there still is an independent in Mustang. Visit us and let me know what you think.
Tim Reynolds
VP Personnel
Obviously it’s a front to launder drug or mob money.
:D
Can’t you just mail them to me?
We have a new Family Video in Edmond. I never heard of them before, but the name just strikes me as something I would expect from the 80s. “Family Video”? That sounds like a mom & pop store where you’d see rows and rows of beat up VHS tapes. It doesn’t lure me. It doesn’t interest me. It’s just plain dull. Why the need for another brick and mortar video store … no idea. Downloadable, streaming and via mail is the best way to go these days.