Gimme Anime goes Internet & Conventions Only

[GimmeAnime]

After 8 years of serving the Denver Metro area, Gimme Anime will be closing its doors as a retail shop for the last time on Saturday, January 30th, 2010. After that, its location will be the office of Gimme Anime.com, which the focus of Gimme Anime will be on its webstore and conventions locally and across the country. This office will only be open until 5pm Monday through Friday, closed on the weekends, and subject to closure due to conventions and other related events. By the end of April, Gimme Anime will be moved to a new location to be determined. Watch the website at http://www.gimmeanime.com for details.

As noted, we are not going out of business, but simply changing how we do business. There will be no going-out-of-business sale. We will still have a business location in the Denver Metro area. We will still be seen at Animeland Wasabi, Starfest, the Colorado Cherry Blossom Festival, and Nan Desu Kan, plus other events locally. There will be, of course, changes in how we do things. So if you have hold boxes, consignments, special orders, or other questions, hit the link.

[toadstoolssecretluvchild]

!!Whaaaaaat!! 

so youre just gonna be a .com office now like some other places around the web?! is it the econimic turn thats starting to get closer to home, or just wanting to try something new. well this absolutely sucks for me, where will we go to be a peace in the anime world. just walking into GA made one feel like a king or somethin 

well i hope it works out.

[DJ Bullock]

Most B&M anime specific stores are going the way of the dinosaur.   Sad.

[GimmeAnime]

so youre just gonna be a .com office now like some other places around the web?! is it the econimic turn thats starting to get closer to home, or just wanting to try something new.

Economic realities. The last 2 years have been really painful for us. Going to all those conventions were the only reason that we're still around. But we are still going to be around. Just not quite the friendly neighborhood shop anymore, but a familiar face at local conventions and events, just the same.

Most B&M anime specific stores are going the way of the dinosaur.   Sad.

It's the truth. We've talked to a lot of vendors when we're on the road and all of them that have brick-n-mortar stores are having it rough. Several vendors originally had B&M stores and quit.

[Buffalostyle]

I have always wondered if and when it would come to this.

We have had several conversations about how the cons keep specialty shops (like GA) alive. And to think that just 8 years ago we had two B&M anime shops in the Denver-metro area. At least you are still going to be around...pimpin' out anime at the local cons and keeping hold slots and all...

[pandpmillinery]

Well, sad to see you internet only, because I love unique shops like yours that I can just wander through, but I fully understand.  I closed my own store (different type) in May and have gone intenet only as well.

So, I will look forward to seeing you at the cons - are you considering spreading out more, going out of state? Because I know a few cons that could really use your wares!

Hopefully see you this month, and hopefully in March as well!  Nest wishes!

[GimmeAnime]

So, I will look forward to seeing you at the cons - are you considering spreading out more, going out of state? Because I know a few cons that could really use your wares!

Yeah, over the next few months we'll be going to South Dakota, Arkansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Texas and more. We were in at least 6 states last year and we'll definitely be heading to more this year. But we'll also be around for some local cons as well. Not all, mind you. Our experience at few made us realize that not all local cons contain anime fans, or at least not enough to make a pure anime booth profitable.

And to think that just 8 years ago we had two B&M anime shops in the Denver-metro area.

We've had more if you count the bootleg shops.  A couple of times, we'd have 3 shops around (2 legit & 1 bootleg, then this past year 1 legit & 2 bootleg). In the early days, I had this mental image of our three mascots towering over the Denver landscape like kaiju, looking to do battle with each other.  

[toadstoolssecretluvchild]

thats highly unlikely and impossible sir.

anywho so how is this gonna work. im scared of the internet busy battle looming ahead. rightstuf seems to have a huge chunk of it. i dont wanna see this go away. 

[GimmeAnime]

anywho so how is this gonna work. im scared of the internet busy battle looming ahead. rightstuf seems to have a huge chunk of it. i dont wanna see this go away. 

Oh, there's some definite internet heavyweights, though even Right Stuf cringes in the shadow of Amazon. And I'm not expecting to get that big, I'm not even thinking we can support ourselves solely by internet sales, because we're planning on conventions being a big factor of our business model. But I'm expecting stake out our own niche and, and once we've cut down on our overhead that running a retail shop entails, we'll be able to be at least a little more competitive with other internet sellers.

[pandpmillinery]

Let me suggest Demi Con in Des Moines, Iowa - their dealer room rates are decent, and new stuff is always welcome.

Or Anime Iowa in Coralville, Iowa - rates are higher, but as always, the kids come prepared to spend.

[toadstoolssecretluvchild]

and sakura-con is supposedly like the ndk of the western slope

[GimmeAnime]

Let me suggest Demi Con in Des Moines, Iowa - their dealer room rates are decent, and new stuff is always welcome.

Or Anime Iowa in Coralville, Iowa - rates are higher, but as always, the kids come prepared to spend.

Went to Anime Iowa last year and it was a lot of fun. There was a plethera of hotels in the area and the con had a couple of school buses circuit the area to pick-up and drop of attendees. Also a nice sushi place across the parking lot from the hotel.

[Buffalostyle]

We've had more if you count the bootleg shops.  A couple of times, we'd have 3 shops around (2 legit & 1 bootleg, then this past year 1 legit & 2 bootleg). In the early days, I had this mental image of our three mascots towering over the Denver landscape like kaiju, looking to do battle with each other. 

Ah, yeah...I refuse to mention the bootleg shops however, the Kaiju battle sounds like fun...

I do plan on getting in to see ya'll before you close shop...gotta pick up the 'ol hold slot, dontcha know...

[GimmeAnime]

Ah, yeah...I refuse to mention the bootleg shops however, the Kaiju battle sounds like fun...

Well, part of the fun was that it would have made a three-way battle and that they used their ferret as a mascot. So having their kaiju be essentially part of the weasel family was just too symbolic.

I do plan on getting in to see ya'll before you close shop...gotta pick up the 'ol hold slot, dontcha know...

Yeah, it's quite a pile at the moment. And like we said, we'll be happy to continue the hold box service after the retail side closes and either ship it to you or make arrangements for pick-up.

[Rippy The Nekomatta]

GimmeAnime, that's what I was PMed you about, I am wondering about something, because mailing it to me would be a pain and also, mail gets stolen where I am at. I will see if I can get over to your store to pick up the said item that I am looking for. And if you have any other Vampire Princess Miyu or Yui item, I would like to take a look at it, thanks!

[GimmeAnime]

GimmeAnime, that's what I was PMed you about, I am wondering about something, because mailing it to me would be a pain and also, mail gets stolen where I am at. I will see if I can get over to your store to pick up the said item that I am looking for. And if you have any other Vampire Princess Miyu or Yui item, I would like to take a look at it, thanks!

We'll be open retail-wise until January 30th (though the weekend before, we'll be gone to a convention). Even after that, you'll still have the option of purchasing something via our webstore and picking it up at our location during business hours.

[Amadis]

oh man I can't believe it! we were planning a trip up to see you guys but I needed to get paid again...which doesn't happen 'til the 31st TT_TT 
maybe..I can come up for your last retail shop day...if I can find someone to take me...

[RaeWolfDemon]

Im not sure of the economics but the orlando area in FL has a few big cons a year :/

[karashewolf]

You will be missed. Just when I move down to Denver and get a job that gives me money, you leave. That's ok though. I can still go to your site and find things.

[GimmeAnime]

You will be missed. Just when I move down to Denver and get a job that gives me money, you leave. That's ok though. I can still go to your site and find things.

Unfortunately, that's the problem is that it's NEVER the right time or place. No mattter where we moved in Denver, we'd be too far for some people, and even last day we were open as a retail shop, we had people coming in going "Yeah, I drove by this place all the time. Finally decided to stop in."