A former Grainger Games worker who launched his own business for gamers is expanding less than a year after launching.
James Gee was among the hundreds of employees who were made redundant when video games business Grainger Games collapsed last year, having been with the firm from the very start at its first shop in the Grainger Market.
Mr Gee had run the firm’s merchandise offshoot Be More Geek, selling movie, video game and other collectable merchandise until its collapse.
Registering the company name, he brought the company to the high street last October, opening a shop on Clayton Street that is now packed with popular culture goodies from the latest games, Pop Vinyls, props and replicas to action figures, collectable accessories and clothing.
Now Mr Gee is expanding – and reveals he is doing it with the backing of his former boss, Grainger Games founder Stephen Bowyer.
A second shop has opened in Middlesbrough with a third set to open soon at the intu Metrocentre in Gateshead, opposite Primark in the Blue Mall - and he has unveiled plans for further openings.
As well as working with Mr Bowyer, a number of former colleagues have also been brought into the business.
Former finance director Tim Banks, head of HR Suzanne Fox and operations manager Lee Taylor – who now runs the Middlesbrough store – have all been appointed, which Mr Gee says puts a strong, experienced team in place to help the business grow.
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He said: “It’s been quite a year for the business as we head towards out first anniversary on October 12. I am exceptionally proud of how much we’ve achieved in such a short time, with the support from customers, suppliers and local businesses and we’re very excited with our plans for the years ahead.
“As the business has developed it has the backing of Stephen Bowyer, who founded and grew Grainger Games into a 70-store chain and is someone I worked with for over 16 years. We both see potential in the business for a wider roll out and have ambitious plans for the coming years.
“In August we were extremely proud to open our second store in Middlesbrough town centre. Our experience in Newcastle gave us confidence to open a much larger unit, in a great location and the feedback from customers has been superb.
“We’re currently putting the finishing touches on our third store, which will be in the Metrocentre and is due to open very soon.
“For me, the Metrocentre has a lot of prestige to it and we’re delighted to open a shop in the centre during our first year of trading.”
Looking ahead to 2020, he said the firm has big plans to grow sales through its website and other stores are also in the pipeline. Their locations have yet to be revealed, but a raft of jobs will be created.
Former Grainger Games chairman Jonathan Fellows added: “In almost 25 years in retail, James, Lee, Suz, Tim, Stephen and the rest of the Grainger Games senior management were the best retail team I worked with. Grainger Games was a fantastic business, but suffered from the very rapid rate of decline in high street video gaming sales.
“To be successfully opening Be More Geek stores and growing sales, especially in the current challenging retail environment, demonstrates the teams talent and ability and I’m delighted to see them succeed. I’m sure there is loads more growth and success ahead.”