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Two and a half years ago, Debbie Smith and her husband decided to purchase their DVDNow Kiosks business, which they named New Release DVD, as a backup plan, “We were concerned with economy being volatile and were looking for a business that would provide us with something to fall back on,” Smith explained. Her foresight paid off. “Four months ago the company that I worked for began laying people off. One month ago I was laid off, so my back up plan worked.”
In addition to providing Smith and her husband with a business to fall back on, the DVDNow Kiosks distributorship opportunity also appealed to Smith’s interest in innovation. “I have my Master’s degree in chemistry and for 28 years I worked in the chemical industry… I’ve always been intrigued by new technology,” she said.
So naturally, the red DVD rental kiosk machines that began popping up in the Maryland area, a few years ago, where Smith and her husband keep their boat piqued their interest, “Those were the very first DVD rental kiosks. We thought the concept of a DVD rental kiosk was really cool. There was nothing like it in Pennsylvania where we live, so we started investigating how we could get into the DVD rental machine business and discovered the DVDNow Kiosks distributorship opportunity.” Smith and her husband purchased their business in October 2006 and placed their first machine in January 2007.
“The DVDNow Kiosks concept offered us several competitive advantages and the kiosks had features that other DVD rental kiosks didn’t. The DVDs in the DVDNow Kiosks are in their original packaging and movies in the original packaging with full graphics sell better,” Smith noted. “With DVDNow Kiosks the customer experience is similar to going to a movie rental store. Customers have 10 minutes to take the DVD out, read about the movie, and then decide whether they want to put it back, rent it or even buy it.”
All of the machines that Smith owns are located in grocery stores throughout Chester County, Pennsylvania. “I currently own six, 110-DVD machines, and I recently purchased five 250-DVD machines which will be placed by mid- July. So all together we’ll own 11 machines that hold approximately 3,000 DVDs total,” she said. “I determine which titles my machines will carry based on box office figures and territory-specific consumer demand.”
A Convenient, Flexible Business
“Before I was laid off, I worked full-time and traveled about 40 percent of the time all over the country for my job with a raw materials supplier,” Smith said. “My job was very demanding, but the DVDNow Kiosks business is very flexible. Anyone who works full-time can definitely take this on. ”
“When I was working full-time, my husband and I would fill the machines with the new release DVDs on Thursday nights, so we could play all weekend. But the machines can be filled anytime after the DVDs are delivered on Thursday…The new release DVDs just have to be in the machines in prior to their release date on Tuesday. Now I take my time and deliver the DVDs to the machines on Mondays,” Smith said.
Although Smith handles affixing the necessary Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) labels and stickers to the DVDs herself, “DVDNow Kiosk distributors can now also opt to receive the DVDs with the labels already affixed. They can also delegate the stocking of the machines with the DVDs to the customer service managers at the stores where the machines are placed,” Smith explained.
“With the DVDNow Kiosks business system, I can work from anywhere…including the boat. All I need is my laptop or my iPhone to run the business. It’s a very convenient business to own,” Smith said.
“I’m currently in the process of trying to hire an ad sales staff because the machines feature advertising space for static ads on the side panels of the kiosks and video ads can run on the kiosk screen. Advertisers can also place coupons or small print ads inside of the DVD jewel cases. Up to this point I haven’t sold the advertising space because I didn’t have time…and I still had a successful business,” Smith said.
An In-Demand Business That Can Easily be Incorporated Into a Busy Mom’s Schedule
“I definitely recommend this business to other women- and men…especially if they’re good with numbers and have a good concept of money management. This is definitely a good business for mothers. I have three daughters, ages 18 through 20. When my youngest daughter was learning how to drive I would have her practice driving by taking me to the various sites. Mothers with children can take their children with them and spend time together while they’re on the road. Or, if they only have a couple of machines near their home they can go to the sites while their children are in school. This business can definitely be incorporated into a busy mom’s schedule,” Smith said.
“Consumer demand for my business is growing more and more,” Smith observed. “With the economy hurting, people are going out less and less. It’s cheaper to stay home and watch a movie than to go out to see a movie. Especially in the last six months I’m seeing rentals going up and up.”
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