Langford video retailer last on the West Shore after chain stores close

First, Blockbuster B次元官网网址 closed its doors, then Rogers B次元官网网址 sold off its stock of DVDs. In the dog-eat-dog world of retail video rentals, 2 Thumbs Up B次元官网网址 has suddenly found itself as the sole survivor on the West Shore.

Besides a few corner stores offering DVD rentals, the independent Langford retailer B次元官网网址渋s the last man standing,B次元官网网址� quipped 2 Thumbs Up co-owner Simon Moylan. Unlike their corporate competition, the owners say business is steady and plenty of people still rent DVDs.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 would be a shame to see the death of the video store,B次元官网网址� Moylan says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 close, believe me, but we plan to stick around.B次元官网网址�

In the past 25 years, video retailers weathered the format shift from Betamax to VHS, then to DVD and Blu-Ray. But legal and illegal downloading of movies on the Internet and immediate access to films through cable TV has helped shutter dozens of video outlets across the city.

Amber Sorenson, 2 Thumbs Up manager and eight-year employee, said Internet companies such as Netflix arenB次元官网网址檛 taking a big bite out of the retail video rentals, but pirated movies do cut into the bottom line B次元官网网址� as does the increasingly popular video-on-demand (VOD).

VOD is practically a dirty word among the 2 Thumbs Up owners, but they compete by renting new release videos at a lower prices than what is piped through Shaw or Telus. As a point of pride, they also give clients plenty of slack when it comes to late fees.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e flexible. We want to be a neighbourhood video store people want to come to,B次元官网网址� says Ross Young the other owner of 2 Thumbs Up. B次元官网网址淲e understand people are our bread and butter. If they are good to us, we are good to them.B次元官网网址�

With more options to access movie content at home, fewer people are venturing out to rent DVDs, a trend that shows no sign of reversing. Sorenson says rapid residential growth in Langford and Colwood helps balance out that trend.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of clients have been steady for 17 years,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淓ven before Rogers and Blockbuster closed, we had lots of loyal customers. A lot of people I have personally seen grow up, theyB次元官网网址檝e come here since they were kids.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭here are a lot of older customers not plugged into the Internet, and they donB次元官网网址檛 want to be,B次元官网网址� Young pointed out. B次元官网网址淪ome people have bought expensive home entertainment systems and worry there wonB次元官网网址檛 be DVDs anymore.B次元官网网址�

High speed, high bandwidth Internet and online distribution services have helped hollow out the retail video industry, but Royal Roads University communications professor David Black says the corporate economic model was pretty poor to begin with.

Big chains focused on pushing new Hollywood releases, which is only viable with a significant time lag between a video release to retailers and other players in the film distribution food chain. When that gap disappeared and customers didnB次元官网网址檛 have to suffer often rigid and unsympathetic policies on late fees, the big chains quickly unravelled.

And where most people wouldnB次元官网网址檛 shoplift a DVD, Black says the online digitization of movies and music B次元官网网址� the lack of a physical product B次元官网网址� has created expectations of free and easily accessible content, and a tolerance for illegal downloading.

B次元官网网址淥nce something is digitized, itB次元官网网址檚 not seen as attached to an economic transaction,B次元官网网址� Black says. B次元官网网址淲hen people no longer see a material form, they say B次元官网网址榳hy should we pay for it?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

He expects small video retailers to survive if they can carve out a niche for film buffs and can offer better quality selection than the latest Hollywood rom-com.

B次元官网网址淲hen video stores disappear, people see the new media economy manifested directly. But peoplesB次元官网网址� appetite for video content is very strong. They will find ways to get it, Blockbuster or not.

B次元官网网址漈he independents that survive have the advantage of being a place people want to go to,B次元官网网址� Black adds. B次元官网网址淏rowsing DVDs and talking to staff, you get an informal film education, which you lose if everything is piped directly to us.B次元官网网址�

The owners of 2 Thumbs Up say they donB次元官网网址檛 revel in the competition closing their doors, but it has helped bring in more customers.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 never good to see anyone close. The people losing their jobs are young guys,B次元官网网址� Young says. B次元官网网址淎s long as people keep coming, we arenB次元官网网址檛 shutting down. WeB次元官网网址檝e got six people working here. This is their livelihood.B次元官网网址�

editor@goldstreamgazette.com