Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Cootes.
Hi Adam, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My business partner Mike Eubanks and I had been involved in the video game retail industry for almost two decades each and decided to partner up and open A&M Upstate Games in June 2021, during COVID. We chose to take a big risk because we knew that we had the inventory and the skills necessary to succeed. In our first year we added Pokémon cards to our store, and that was the right added value we needed to exponentially grow the business for the next four years. I am currently an MBA student at Clemson, hoping to learn new skills to take the next step to scaling our business farther than we ever imagined when we started.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest challenge has been to never stop buying deals. Some weeks we would spend more than we were selling, but it is necessary to keep a steady flow of new inventory.
We’ve been impressed with A&M Upstate Games, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are one of the largest video game and trading card stores in upstate SC and boast decades of experience in the industry. We buy, sell and trade every day and are known for giving our customers the most cash and highest trade value possible. We also are aware of specific items our customers are looking for and do our best to track it down. We also sponsor the Southeast Game Exchange in Greenville every year and travel to and vend at many other conventions. We also host Pokémon league weekly for trading cards, Go and video games. We pride ourselves on putting the customer experience first, and greatly value return customers.
What’s next?
Getting my MBA at Clemson I am brainstorming ways to scale and expand our business without taxing our personal workload as owners. When I graduate in 2027 I plan to come with new ideas and ways to add value to an already established, successful business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.upstategamesllc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upstate.games
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upstategames
