Knowledge of movies helps business

Press, 15 May 1985, Page 32

Knowledge of movies helps business

A thorough knowledge of movies and videos has helped the owners of the Mr Movie Video library in Stanmore Road to establish a flourishing business in just six months.

Opened in November last year, the video library has doubled its stock of tapes available, and membership has climbed dramatically. One of the partners running the shop, Mr Ross Griffiths (known to his customers as Mr Movie), attributes the success of the

business to the wide range of good quality tapes available for hire.

A lifetime interest in movies, including a spell as a projectionist, has helped Mr Movie build up an impressive knowledge of films.

This enables him to not only select tapes for the library which he knows will appeal, but also to be able to recommend particular titles for customers who need help choosing from a rather bewildering array of

tapes. Involved in the video industry in Australia since it arrived in that country, Mr Movie knows exactly what sort of tapes customers expect to find, and he will

always offer to help customers with advice on the suitability of videos for hire. The library in Stanmore Road, which is close to Henry Africa’s restaurant, is Mr Movie’s second video business. He operated a similar business in Australia for two years before coming back to New Zealand and opening the library in partnership with Graham Heazlewood in November.

Together, the partners designed the decor.

Mr Movie chose the colour scheme of red and blue, to help make the shop look warm in winter and cool in summer. Mr Heazlewood designed the central counter.

Placed in the centre of the shop, the counter leaves plenty of room for browsing through titles which are arranged around the walls. Customers needing to be served or even simply returning tapes find the two access parts of the counter give fast and efficient service.

The titles are systematically displayed around the walls in clearly marked categories, and the tapes themselves are stored for safety in the counter area.

The administration side of the business is fully computerised, making processing of lending data quick and efficient.

As well as tapes for hire, Mr Movie sells video recorders and blank tapes. Bright flashing lights which have been installed around the shop exterior are clearly visible at night, and with the soundtracks piped outside there is little chance of customers not being able to find the shop.