Share this Story: Business buzz: April 29
Business buzz: April 29
Hank Daniszewski
Apr 28, 2013 • April 28, 2013 • 3 minute read
Let's see your game face
If you love classic video games and movies, Game Cycle may have a deal for you.
Game Cycle (www.gamecycle.ca) sells, buy and trade video games, game systems and DVD movies.
The shop opened on Wharncliffe Rd. near Springbank Dr. on April 1 and is owned and operated by Allen and Virginia Hembree. The also own two Game Cycle outlets in Windsor and one in Esquimault, B.C.
Originally from Alberta, Allen Hembree opened his first shop in Red Deer 27 years ago and has been in the video game/movie business ever since.
Hembree knows he is up against the big retail chains and the growing trend to download movies and games directly from the Internet.
But he has carved out a market for classic and hard-to-find games and systems going back the '70s era Atari, as well as early versions of Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Gameboy, Xbox and PlayStation.
"There's a big nostalgia factor. There's a lot of collectors that come in," Hembree said.
His customers tend be in the late 20s and early 30s but kids come in as well, marvelling at old systems that now have antique status, he said.
"They usually say 'Wow' I've never seen this stuff before.' "
Game Cycle also sells new accessories, such as controllers, for old game systems.
Hembree also offers deals on used but relatively new DVD movies and video games.
"It's a good way for a family to save a few bucks."
Tricar a finalist
London-based Tricar Group was recently named one of five finalists in the Tarion Warranty Corp Awards of Excellence in the high-rise builders category.
The award recognizes superior customer service and is based on the results of Tarion's homeowner surveys.
Though Tricar didn't win the award, it was the first time a London builder has been named a finalist in this category.
Tricar is completing the second tower in its downtown Renaissance project.
Art sale for sisters
Residents of My Sister's Place have been busy painting pictures that are being exhibited at the Framing and Art Centre at 188 Kent St.
All sales go to support the Art Program at My Sister's Place, a women's shelter located in London. The show runs till May 11.
bigger proves better
An oversized art display earned Downtown London a sales and marketing Award at the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association Conference.
Last April, under the cover of darkness, Downtown London partnered with urban expressionist artist Ryan Mahy of Artfusion and painted three blocks of Dundas St. (in the graffiti roller style) one Sunday night with the message "Experience Downtown London."
It took nine artists 12 hours to do the job with 208 litres of paint.
The innovative approach let the public know that downtown merchants would be open for business during the upcoming street construction. The same project also earned Downtown London the International Downtown Association (IDA) Merit Award
To see a video of the project on YouTube visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH6vvvAqnK8
Digital echidna expands
London-based digital marketing agency Digital Echidna is expanding its natural habitat downtown.
Named for the spiny anteater native to Australia, the company is in a 3,500-square-foot space on the second floor of the Burridge Block building on the corner of Talbot and King streets (365 Talbot St.).
Digital Echidna (www.echidna.ca) has doubled its space by expanding into the ground floor location formerly occupied by Cello Restaurant.
Owner Andrew McClenaghan started Digital Echidna in 1999 in his basement and moved downtown core in 2008. The company needs more space because it landed new contracts, he said.
The expansion will make room for employees the company plans to add over the next two years.
Voices.com in final 9
London-based Voices.com is one of nine Canadian companies named as finalists for the new Canadian Digital Media Moonshot Awards (CDMN).
Voices.com is a web-based business that allows broadcasters advertising agencies and companies to search for, audition and hire voice actors.
The awards recognize Canadian companies that create jobs and wealth for Canada through innovation in digital media.
The winners will be announced at a conference May 14 in Toronto.
Hank Daniszewski is a Free Press business reporter.
E-mail him at hank.daniszewski@sunmedia.ca
twitter.com/HankatLFPress
Business buzz: April 29 Back to video