It’s June of 1998. For the longest time, video game shopping in the Greater Springfield, MA area was about the “usual suspects”: big box stores (like Sears or JCPenney), toy stores (like Toys ‘R Us or Kay-Bee Toys), or local independent game stores (like Fantasy Realms or Video Game Castle). I personally wasn’t doing a lot of video game buying at that time, as life is kicking my tail then between a failed relationship and money troubles that came out of that. I was also working a job that I wasn’t enjoying much. That said, window shopping and checking out what was new give me a bit of solace– and I was occasionally trading in some games if something came out that I really wanted.
When stopping at a Toys ‘R Us which I didn’t visit often one evening after work, I noticed something new– something I’d only seen in magazines up to that point: a FuncoLand store, open in the same plaza.
Upon entering the store for the first time, it was exciting from the jump. Video games both classic and current, used and new, caught every glance. No fewer than a half-dozen demo units were available for visitors to play, from NES to Genesis to PlayStation and Nintendo 64. In terms of volume, it felt more like an Electronics Boutique or Babbage’s… but there was something different here. The whole store felt very player-friendly.
Moreover, copies of printed price list available to customers showed how much every single used game, console, and accessory cost. Visitors could use these price lists to mark games they owned for their collections. Or they could be used as wish lists to keep track of wanted games for future visits. The manager of the store mentioned that the lists were updated every month, and that prices could change from list to list. (Note that anyone who kept these lists over the years can now sell them at decent prices.)
Having a new video game shopping destination was exciting enough, but the “Now Hiring” sign was that much more exciting. This seemed like a dream job, being surrounded by and selling video games for a living. But… what kind of job was it, and could I make enough to switch entirely? The store manager noted that the positions were for a second store that was set to open in a nearby city and told me that I should talk to the District Manager about them. I found out when he was scheduled to visit and made a plan to meet and chat with him.
I brought games to trade for that visit, and I made room in my budget to have some spending money. I wanted to make a good first impression by going through the “process”– trade-ins helped stores with inventory, and then trade credit plus spending money to buy a game or two. I didn’t want to come out of the gate talking about the job; instead, I wanted to be a customer first and then discuss the job second. The District Manager was covering for the store manager that day. Between the trade-ins and cash I had, there was enough for Hot Shots Golf. When the District Manager asked if I wanted to try it first before buying, I quickly agreed. We played a round together, and that was my in. We started talking about video games in general during the round, and then I asked about the openings.
The job was for a full-time assistant manager position for a location that was slated to open in a few weeks. Up to this point in my working life, I only had experience in call centers– so things like cash handling, employee scheduling, item inventory, and other retail responsibilities were new things to me. After the round ended and I bought my game, the District Manager asked me to come back in a week with a resume. “I can’t make any promises, but I think you’re worth an interview.”
That was all I needed. I worked up a resume, printed off a few copies, and nervously waited for the next week. I didn’t know if enthusiasm alone would be enough, but this felt like the opportunity I needed for a fresh start. I would work hard, learn what I could, and reward that opportunity if it was given to me. I knew the lack of retail experience was going to be a weakness, though.
When the interview happened, it was largely positive. It felt like an extension of the conversation we had when we first met. I pled my case for why I thought I would be a good fit, given my experience with and enthusiasm for video games and the products being sold. I mentioned that my availability was wide open. I recall him asking, “I get that you like video games, but what else can you bring to the store?” Before I could answer, he mentioned that store management was more than playing and talking about video games all day. Management was responsible for sales, inventory, payroll, store appearance, hiring, and having store meet company objectives.
“How do I know that you can do all of these things?” It was the question that, in my mind, would make or break this interview. I shot straight, thinking that I had nothing to lose. I told him that he couldn’t know that in an interview. The only way to find out was to give me a chance and let me prove myself, and to show that I can learn the retail side of things. After a firm handshake, the District Manager said that he would contact references and be in touch.
Days became weeks of waiting. I usually seemed to miss the District Manager when I would stop by the store after work shifts. When I did see him, he would mention that he was still interviewing and would make a decision soon. I couldn’t help but to wonder if I had blown the interview, or that not having retail background wound up hurting my chances. As August rolled around, I had all but given up hope and instead worked on trying to make the best of my current call center job.
That is… until I stopped by the store on the way home one afternoon in mid-August. The District Manager was there, grinning. “I’ve been trying to call you,” he said. “You’re in. Things got delayed at the new location, but you’re in.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. We talked about paperwork I needed. I had to give notice at my current job. My life was about to change, and a new set of memories would be etched over the course of the next 18 months– some good, some bad.
FuncoLand Flashback will be my account of those 18 months, with some fun stories about and recollections of my time working for the company. Next time, I’ll share some things about the first couple of months in a newly-opened store, as a new retail employee.
Pete's Perspective 
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