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To make a profit in Retro Rewind – Video Store Simulator, you need to start your business strong. As you progress, running the store becomes more efficient, and you’ll eventually hire staff to handle most tasks—if they’re capable, of course.
Being a manager is never easy, and you’ll have to do everything possible to increase profits while meeting customer needs. Here’s what you need to know when starting out.
Whatever the Weather
Before opening each day, check the calendar. It shows the date, weather conditions, and upcoming events. Rainy days tend to bring in more customers eager to rent movies for a cozy night, while special events or themed days promote specific genres.
Weekends and Fridays are the busiest days. If the forecast calls for a rainy Friday, prepare accordingly with plenty of VHS tapes, snack shelves fully stocked, and a good staff member to help out.
Flying High
On slow days when fewer customers visit and there are no returns to process, assign a staff member to the cash register while you focus on passing out flyers. Consistent promotion can significantly boost income during quiet times.
Currently, you must handle flyer distribution yourself, as staff aren’t automated for this. Keep handing out flyers outside the store or near the movie theater across the street, especially to people who are outside looking in, as they are more likely to respond positively.
By Genre
Organizing your inventory by genre is the best approach. Instead of randomly stacking tapes, create labeled sections for genres like “Old Action Movies” so you can quickly find what a customer requests. This neat setup improves the store’s appearance and makes reorganization easier when expanding or remodeling.
Decorate shelves with themed lighting, balloons, or props to attract attention and encourage rentals. You can also replace shelves with larger models when upgrading your store.
Trashy Titles Matter Too
Customers love poorly-rated movies that are fun to watch, even if critics dismiss them. These “so-bad-it’s-good” movies are cheap and often in demand.
While highly-rated films can command higher rental prices, don’t overlook the value of cheap, bad movies—many customers specifically seek them out and they are guaranteed to turn a profit eventually.
Remember to regularly check in with the Video Guy outside the back door on Tuesdays and Thursdays for interesting new titles.
Cherry-Pick Charges
Some customers might try to avoid late fees by sneaking in a late return and posting it through the slot at night. When they come back, you’ll see the late fee on their account—usually $2.
You can choose to charge the fee or waive it as a gesture of good customer service. Most customers accept paying the fee, but some may threaten to never come back. Decide what’s best for your store—either enforce the fee or waive it to keep a loyal customer base.
It’s recommended not to waive damage fees, as $20 typically covers replacing a lost VHS tape.
Movie Munchies
Snacks are a great way to increase profit. Set up a few snack shelves once you unlock them at level 4. Snacks cost a few cents, but you can sell them for over a dollar, making for a high margin.
Since customers don’t come to rent movies for snacks, these are impulse buys. Place snack shelves near the checkout or in high-traffic areas to encourage more sales, especially as customers walk past them frequently.
Logical Layout
Your store layout impacts profits. Customers dislike spending too long searching for movies or feeling cramped. Design your store to promote easy movement for shoppers, with wide aisles and clear labels for each genre.
Expanding your store gives more space to arrange larger displays and promotional boards for new releases, helping persuade passersby to rent certain titles.
Use the Decor button (B) to change the wall and shelf colors freely, customizing your store’s look.
High Staff Turnover
At level 6, you can hire your first employee, with a second available at level 20. Each staff member costs a fixed daily fee, so ensure your budget allows before hiring. The staff hire sheet is located in the stockroom.
Initially, assign employees roles like handling returns and operating the register. Avoid hiring slow workers; look for those with “Average,” “Good,” or “Fast” ratings.
Check their smaller details, like customer service skills or health, to prevent frequent sick days. During busy times, you can ask staff to speed up, but overdoing it may lead to quitting. If you notice slacking or poor performance, you can fire staff immediately. Keep in mind, firing and hiring staff within the same day will cost double wages.
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