GameStop 2010 Annual Report Download - page 31

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Table of Contents
Competition
The electronic game industry is intensely competitive and subject to rapid changes in consumer preferences and frequent new product
introductions. We compete with mass merchants and regional chains; computer product and consumer electronics stores; other video game and PC
software specialty stores; toy retail chains; mail-order businesses; catalogs; direct sales by software publishers; and online retailers and game rental
companies. In addition, video games are available for sale and rental from many video stores. Video game products are also distributed through
other methods such as digital delivery. We also compete with sellers of used video game products. Additionally, we compete with other forms of
entertainment activities, including casual and mobile games, movies, television, theater, sporting events and family entertainment centers.
In the U.S., we compete with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ("Wal-Mart"); Target Corporation ("Target"); and Best Buy Co., Inc. ("Best Buy").
Competitors in Europe include Game Group plc ("Game Group") and its subsidiaries, which operate in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scandinavia,
France, Spain and Portugal, and Media Markt and Carrefour, which operate throughout Europe, and other regional hypermarket chains. Competitors
in Canada include Wal-Mart, Best Buy and its subsidiary Future Shop. In Australia, competitors include Game Group, K-Mart, Target and JB HiFi
stores.
Seasonality
Our business, like that of many retailers, is seasonal, with the major portion of our sales and operating profit realized during the fourth fiscal
quarter, which includes the holiday selling season. During fiscal 2010, we generated approximately 39% of our sales and approximately 57% of our
operating earnings during the fourth quarter. During fiscal 2009, we generated approximately 39% of our sales and approximately 55% of our
operating earnings during the fourth quarter.
Trademarks
We have a number of trademarks and servicemarks, including "GameStop," "Game Informer," "EB Games," "Electronics Boutique,"
"Kongregate," "Power to the Players," and "PowerUp Rewards," which have been registered by us with the United States Patent and Trademark
Office. For many of our trademarks and servicemarks, including "Micromania", we also have registered or have registrations pending with the
trademark authorities throughout the world. We maintain a policy of pursuing registration of our principal marks and opposing any infringement of
our marks.
Employees
We have approximately 17,000 full-time salaried and hourly employees and between 31,000 and 51,000 part-time hourly employees
worldwide, depending on the time of year. Fluctuation in the number of part-time hourly employees is due to the seasonality of our business. We
believe that our relationship with our employees is excellent. Some of our international employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements,
while none of our U.S. employees are represented by a labor union or are members of a collective bargaining unit.
Available Information
We make available on our corporate Web site (www.gamestopcorp.com), under "Investor Relations — SEC Filings," free of charge, our
annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably
practicable after we electronically file or furnish such material with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). You may read and copy this
information or obtain copies of this information by mail from the Public Reference Room of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549,
at prescribed rates. Further information on the operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. can be obtained by calling the
SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a Web site that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like
GameStop, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is http://www.sec.gov. In addition to copies of our annual reports on
Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports, the Company's Code of Standards,
Ethics and Conduct is available on our Web site under "Investor Relations — Corporate Governance" and is available to our stockholders in
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