How Blockbuster Could Have Survived (2024)

Growing up in the early 2000s, I loved going to a blockbusters store, scrolling through the A-Z selection of movies, and looking at the new DVD rental releases. Like many great stores, it just didn't work out. Despite having over 9000s stores in the US and many in the UK, it disappeared quickly. Blockbusters became a store that people walked past. To this day, there is only one Blockbuster store left in the world, which is in Oregon, US. It was valued at $8.4 Billion and acquired by Viacom and declared bankruptcy in 2010.

Did Blockbusters do well by its customers or was their failure predictable?

• It was a great social place to talk about films and you meet other locals there too who were also film lovers like yourself.
• DVD rentals were cheap. Some DVD rentals only cost $2.99.
• They had a membership card. We love it when businesses offer loyalty schemes where you can collect points.
• Film recommendations. Whenever I went to a blockbuster store, the staff were friendly. They were passionate and knowledgable about films and tv shows. Much like when you go into a book shop and have…