GameStop Hints at New Florida Office

Posted on by Jenna

While investors speculate whether or not GameStop is going to the moon, GameStop packs its bags for a trip to Florida.

Job postings on GameStop’s website, along with activity on LinkedIn and Twitter from employees, seem to be hinting towards a South Florida-based customer support center for GameStop.

Career Listings

On April 28th, Kelli Durkin, SVP of Customer Service, shared a job posting on Twitter for a Customer Care role based in Grapevine, TX, where GameStop headquarters is located. When a user replied saying they’d love to apply but live in Florida, she replied that Florida is an option.

Just six days later on May 4th, GameStop posted a job listing for a Customer Care Support role based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

We are looking for individuals to manage multiple contact channels simultaneously, phone calls, email, chat and possibly social media. You may also help our store and field leaders via phone. The right candidate will have an infectious personality, a desire to engage in meaningful conversation, the ability to think critically on-their-feet, and a passion for genuinely helping others. Having love for gaming is an added bonus!

On May 8th, Ryan Cohen retweeted the post from Durkin, his first retweet since joining the board of GameStop.

On May 17th, job listings for Training Specialist I & II in Grapevine appeared, noting the positions may be remote but must be in the South Florida area if so.

Sometime later in the day, the same two positions were added again to the careers page, but with a Tallahassee address.

LinkedIn Activity

When Ryan Cohen was asked how he finds his management teams during a 2018 Miami Herald interview, he gave his endorsement for LinkedIn.

We use a special proprietary tool called LinkedIn and we look for people with very relevant experience at companies we respect and we shoot them a message. … We hand-picked these people. They are the best of the best, the Navy Seals of management teams.

Kelli Durkin, SVP of Customer Service for GameStop and the woman responsible for building Chewy’s brand reputation into what it is today, still has Miami-Fort Lauderdale Area listed as her LinkedIn location despite working for Texas-based GameStop since March and being active on the platform.

Robbie Lowenbein, Director of Continuous Improvement at GameStop and former Chewy employee, has Tampa FL as his LinkedIn location for GameStop, and recently posted a customer support role for the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area.

Wes Burke, GameStop’s Vice President of Human Resources, has also shared a bullish post on LinkedIn describing the customer care team as located in Dallas/Fort Worth as well as Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Want to join the biggest transformation in retail history!?! ????????????

Chewy

It’s worth noting that Chewy started in South Florida and still operates the business from the Fort Lauderdale area.  Chewy employs over 17,000 people nationwide, with 3,000 in South Florida, making it one of the largest locally based employers in the region.

With an office nearby, GameStop could easily tap into Chewy’s talent pool. GameStop has been recruiting hordes of former Chewy employees, and it is possible that the lack of forced relocation has been a major incentive.

GameStop has not made any announcements regarding a Florida-based customer center, despite job postings and LinkedIn activity pointing to it.

Jenna guest wrote this article exclusively for GMEdd, Toast contributed

Sources: Kelli Durkin on Twitter, GameStop on LinkedIn, Wes Burke on LinkedIn, Robbie Loewenbein on LinkedIn, MiamiHerald

Ryan Cohen Shares Quote from Grandma

Posted on by Joe Fonicello

At 10:38 PM EST, Ryan Cohen has tweeted once again.

As demonstrated by his past, Ryan Cohen places an immense value on family.

Back in March, the incoming GameStop Chairman shared a photo of his inspirational father, and now, he has shared a photo of his grandmother.

In the photo, Grandma Cohen is wearing a bedazzled white sweater and some fine gold jewelry. A pair of retro glasses and her curled white hair completes the look that we can’t help but love.

“Ryan, I love you but I don’t like you” (My Grandma)

The photo is paired with a caption that may resonate with some investors who feel in the dark as GameStop continues to recruit talent with a lack of announcements or public-facing roadmap.

It is interesting to note that the tweet of Cohen’s dad “Superman lives forever” was on March 17. This tweet of his Grandmother has been shared on May 17.

Ryan Cohen’s first tweet of a GameStop visit, where he shared his support for a Culver City, CA retail location, was on April 12.  Most recently, his second GameStop visit, an Arlington VA retail location, was on May 12.

It is likely these are strange coincidences, but some investors speculate the dates of tweets could mean something bigger.

Speculative investors were quick to notice that the song You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me, originally by The Miracles and later renditioned by the Beatles, starts with a similar line to Ryan’s quote.

I don’t like you, but I love you

The song also repeats the word “hold” twenty times, making up a central message of the song.  The lyrics later reference both a split and a squeeze.

This could also be a coincidence, but some speculate it is a planned message to the investors who dig deeper.

Source: Ryan Cohen on Twitter

GameStop Launches Esports Twitter

Posted on by Joe Fonicello

On May 12th, GameStop launched a new Twitter profile: @GameStopEsports. 

GameStop’s expansion into Esports is in line with the company’s goals to expand into competitive gaming, a market that RC Ventures described great opportunity in during the November 2020 letter to the board.

Significantly upgrading e-commerce can provide for greater revenue capture across larger gaming catalogs, digital content and community experiences, online trade-ins, streaming services and Esports.

GameStop went with the username GameStopEsports.

GameStop Esport’s bio reads, “The official page for Gamestop Esports,” with a location of Grapevine, TX.

Having already accumulated 3,383 followers, GameStop’s support amongst both shoppers and investors is in the upper echelon.

It seems the same customer service team responsible to responding to fans on @GameStop is running this account as well, as there are a few comical replies, including a Cohen-inspired South Park gif.

GameStop announced the launch of the account with this tweet.

So far, there isn’t much to see besides a tweet announcing the creation. The gaming retailer states that the profile will offer chances to compete, win prizes, and more.

We’re going to keep this Twitter profile on our radar, as we look forward to seeing what’s next for GameStop within the growing Esports scene.

Source: GameStopEsports on Twitter

Ryan Cohen Unfollows Elon Musk Amid Controversy, Adds Nintendo

Posted on by Joe Fonicello

At some point last night, Ryan Cohen felt the obligation to unfollow Elon Musk while #dontbuytesla and #FuckElonMusk trended on Twitter.

Bitcoin speculators are outraged that the Technoking of Tesla caused the “digital gold” to fall almost 17% to its lowest point since the beginning of March by axing the ability to accept Bitcoin as payment. 

It seems Ryan wants nothing to do with that.

On April 8th, GameStop Corporate posted a job that requested additional skills and expertise in the crypto and booming non-fungible tokens space.

The incoming GameStop Chairman of the Board has also unfollowed Steam, PC Gamer, and Geekwire. He has added NintendoAmerica, as to be impartial.

This leaves Cohen with only 4 follows: Xbox, PlayStation, NintendoAmerica, and GameStop. How fashionable.

Let us know when you want to make it 5, Ryan. Check us out on Twitter @GMEdd.

Source: Ryan Cohen on Twitter 

Ryan Cohen Rides Scooter to Arlington GameStop

Posted on by Joe Fonicello

At 9:13 PM EST, Ryan Cohen has shared a photo visiting an Arlington, Virginia GameStop location. Cohen is checking out the Xbox section, reminding us of the Microsoft deal struck in October 2020.

Cohen appears to be holding a bag, but there is no way of telling what is in it.

Cohen’s thumbs-up emoji could indicate he was pleased with the service he received as a shopper. We have to wonder if these GameStop employees know who they’re dealing with.

Despite 67 degree weather by the Nation’s capital today, Cohen opted for a slick $1,000 Moncler jacket, zipped up three-fourths the way. The jacket is paired with some black joggers, offering a tight fit. His black disposable face mask compliments the ensemble nicely.

el3ment#7127 on the GMEdd Discord has determined that Ryan Cohen is holding a Micro Mobility e-scooter, possibly for zipping around the city or mall.

On Nov. 16, 2019,  the Arlington County Board adopted regulations for Micro-Mobility Devices (e-scooters) that allow their use on sidewalks (with limitations), trails, and bike lanes, unless specifically signed or marked otherwise. It is possible that Ryan Cohen was breaking the rules by bringing it inside a GameStop.

The filter used appears to be similar to iPhone’s “Dramatic Cool” set to about 30% with a boost in contrast to bring out the black in his fit.

Source: Ryan Cohen on Twitter

GameStop Tweets Man on the Moon

Posted on by Joe Fonicello

At 2:00PM EST today, the official @GameStop on Twitter has tweeted a man on the moon.

Been away for the past few months. What did I miss?

The photoshopped image depicts an astronaut relaxing on the moon with a cold glass of Carlsberg beer in his grip. The astronaut is lounging with his feet also on a Carlsberg branded cooler.

GameStop took the opportunity to photoshop their shortened “GS” logo onto his armband.

The tweet was sent out via Salesforce Social Studio, which indicates it was likely posted by a social media manager put in place under the transformation team, as this platform wasn’t utilized by GameStop until recently.

Source: GameStop on Twitter

May 12, 2021 Editorial Update: A Reddit user claims to have spoken with GameStop’s SVP of Customer Care Kelli Durkin, who stated that the Marketing team made the post, and her customer service team has been trying to have fun and keep up with the responses.

Source: RyanCohenIsMyDad on Reddit

GameStop Hires VP of Technology and VP of Fulfillment From Zulily, Director from Chewy

Posted on by Joe Fonicello

Investors can learn a lot about the transformation brewing behind-the-scenes at GameStop by looking at the company’s latest hires on LinkedIn.

GameStop has recruited two new Vice Presidents, Marc Dellisanti and Josh Krueger. Dellisanti was brought on in April 2021, and Krueger in March 2021.

Marc Dellisanti will serve as GameStop’s Vice President of Technology Operations, and Josh Krueger as GameStop’s Vice President of Fulfillment.

Both individuals have a shared background in working at Zulily, an American e-commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Zulily describes itself as:

Since its launch in early 2010, Zulily continues to reinvent itself, providing a fun shopping experience full of products millions of customers around the world love, at prices they can brag about. We’re a fast-paced, data-driven and down-to-earth company, dedicated to defying expectations. Our unique business model is just one example. 

Another notable hire is Gaby Herrera, a former Learning and Development Manager at Chewy. Herrera has been recruited for a similar role at GameStop, becoming the Director of Learning and Development. 

Gabby’s LinkedIn biography states:

Experienced Human Resources professional with a knack for Learning and Development. Fast thinker, strong willed, people focused and process oriented. Experienced and skilled in hospitality, luxury and retail, specifically, but adaptable and open to any fields and always expanding horizons.

GameStop will likely continue to hire individuals skilled in e-commerce to support the transformation, and GMEdd will be keeping eyes out for further hires.

Sources: Josh Krueger on LinkedIn, Marc Dellisanti on LinkedIn, Gaby Herrera on LinkedIn