Rhino Video Games was a video game retailer headquartered in Gainesville, Florida before being sold to GameStop in 2007. Rhino operated more than 90 games stores that carried classic games as well as newer products in fifteen states throughout the U.S. From 1989 to 2007, Rhino Video Games allowed customers to trade in their unwanted video games and systems toward other video game merchandise.
History
Origins
The first Rhino store was opened in 1989 in Ocala, Florida. Mike Vorce, with the help of Bruce Ruckle, created a specialty video game store focused on buying, selling, trading, and renting video game software, systems, and accessories. By 1992, a second location was opened in Gainesville, which would become a flagship store and eventually the site for the company's corporate headquarters and distribution center. Vorce recruited Kelly Sharp that year and together they oversaw all aspects of the company's growth, including operations, finance, HR, marketing, supply chain management, real estate, etc. By 1996, Vorce and Sharp had expanded Rhino to five locations in Florida and enlisted Tully McQueen to assist in overseeing day to day store operations as they prepared for further expansion. This established the executive management trio that would continue to lead Rhino through future expansion, success, and acquisition by Blockbuster, Inc. In 1997, Rhino opened its first location outside of Florida, in Brunswick, GA. By 2004, Rhino Video Games had approximately 40 locations across six states in the southeast, employing over 300 people at its stores, corporate office, and distribution center, and attracted the interest of several potential buyers, including GameStop, EB Games, and Blockbuster.
Employee incentives
In terms of employee incentives, Rhino provided several methods of rewarding its employees for their hard work. Employees were allowed to borrow out games, providing the game was used and had been released for more than 30 days. This was beneficial to both the employee and the store, as it allowed employees to gain knowledge about a wide selection of titles. "Rhino Points" were distributed when an employee would go above and beyond normal expectations. From the first voucher they received, an employee could redeem their points for store merchandise. Other redemption items included game systems, movie tickets, food, or even having their District Leader work a paid shift for them. Rhino also held many internal contests each year with prizes ranging from game-related items to brand new gaming system packages. "Product Night" was another employee favorite. Once a quarter, each store would host an employee-only event where the company would provide food and drinks. The employees would be able to challenge each other to games, as well as try out games that were not yet able to be "borrowed out".
Sale to GameStop
On January 4, 2007, Rhino Video Games was acquired by GameStop.
