Crossover Video & Games OPENING In Marathon
Owner/Operator Tyler Davis stocks the shelves at Crossover Video & Games in preparation for the Grand Opening Wednesday, December 1st. Submitted Photo
MARATHON, ON – Months of preparation will culminate tomorrow in the Grand Opening of a store it seems Tyler Davis has been preparing to open for several years. Davis has a long list of those he credits with having supported his efforts in past months which includes Lisa Sek and Cosimo Commisso his advisors from Superior North Community Futures Development Corporation (SNCFDC), the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund’s (NOHFC) Northern Ontario Young Entrepreneur Program and Jackie Clance at Northwest Employment Works who has assisted Davis in finding employees, his family including an Aunt and his Grandfather who came all the way from Peterborough helping give the old ‘Movie Gallery’ a much needed facelift, cleaning and painting.
It was the announcement that Canadian Movie Gallery stores were closing, including the one in Marathon where Davis was employed from his final year of high school in 2004 until their close this summer, which originally inspired Davis to become an entrepreneur. Immediately following the stores close this August, with encouragement and support from his family and the help of a friend, he completed a business plan and started calling some suppliers. A month later Davis’ business plan was completed and submitted to the Young Entrepreneur program (though NOHFC) and to the SNCFDC. “When I got word that my loan request had been approved by the CFDC, I knew I had to kick it into high-gear” says Davis. He finalized a lease agreement with the landlord of Superior Place Mall, began ordering inventory and started taking resumes. Computer software and hardware was purchased through a local business, part of Davis’ clear commitment to ensuring Crossover Video & Games contributes locally whenever possible.
Though this is admitedly Tyler Davis’ first venture into the business world, 6 years with the Movie Gallery has provided him with invaluable insight as to what people want and need from a video and gaming store. There are many things that are being done differently from the start, including sending out a welcome for Northshore neighbours to visit his store where, says Davis “Exceptional Customer Service will be a top priority, having the ‘corporate structure’ removed will allow us be receptive of customer feedback” adding that among his goals is that “Crossover Video & Games will be a shopping destination for all Northshore communities where staff will get to know customers by name providing a more personal service”. Crossover Video & Games is well positioned to fufill all these goals as Davis is proud to say it is the only business between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie to offer movie rentals and sales, game rentals and sales as well as game accessories and hardware sales all under one roof.
Grand Opening day tomorrow has not come without much effort, sleepless nights of planning and collaborations from many sources since August when he dove into the process wholeheartedly and never looked back; this week Davis finalized inputing of the inventory into the POS system, stocking the shelves and training for his 6 employees. Response from people in Marathon and surrounding communities has been overwhelmingly positive says Davis, who will officially open the doors of Crossover Video & Games in Marathon tomorrow, Wednesday, December 1st at 11am.
MORE INFO
- Visit Crossover Video & Games on Facebook
- Tyler and his employees look forward to hearing from you in regards to any questions you have, contact Crossover Video & Games at (807) 230-9093
