| Type | Independent |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (1996) |
| Headquarters | Newcastle upon Tyne, UK |
| Number of locations | 68 stores |
| Area served | England |
| Key people | Stephen Bowyer (Managing director), Phil Moore (Sales Director), Jonathan Fellows (Chairman) |
| Products | New and second-hand video games, hardware and DVDs |
| Services | Buy and exchange |
| Revenue | £18m (2009)[1] |
| Website | www.graingergames.co.uk |
Grainger Games is an independent video game retailer chain in the United Kingdom.
The company first launched as a market stall in 1996, in the Grainger Market, Newcastle upon Tyne.[2][3]
They operate stores in the North of England and are undergoing nationwide expansion. The company plans to have 75–100 shops by 2013, of which about 40 are expected to be in Yorkshire. Stores have recently been launched in Grimsby, Hull, Chesterfield, Doncaster,Leeds and Derby.[1][2][4]
Grainger Games was named Independent Retailer of the Year by MCV in 2008 & 2010.[3]
The company started out by buying and selling pre-owned computer and console games. Demand soon grew and the company developed.
By 2001, The company had grown to such an extent that it became incorporated as Grainger Games Ltd. As a result of this a larger store was opened in Newcastle with further stores in Whitley Bay and Jarrow.
Grainger Games were the main sponsor for the Games Media Awards held on the 26 October 2011. However Grainger's attendees were criticised for their behaviour during the event, which included heckling both the compere and people's acceptance speeches. The company hired dwarves and booth models to present the awards, as well as littering the dinner tables with orange condoms.[5][6] Grainger Games published a brief apology on the news section of their website,[7] which has since been taken down.