Store name: Nicecube Gift & Video
Name of owner: Richard F. Reyes
Store address: 720 Montana Ave., El Paso, TX 79902
Store phone: (915) 533-6670
Website: myspace.com/nicecube
Hours: Mon.-Sat., 11a.m. - 4 p.m.
Rent: $850/mo
How long have you been open: Since Sept. 2008
Average purchase amount of a customer: $15
What is the target demographic: People of all ages who enjoy Anime (Japanese-animated movies & tv series), lovers of Asian cinema (we have a DVD rental section featuring Asian drama, martial arts, horror and art films), and those looking for a unique or cute gift such as Hello Kitty, plush dolls, Anime figures, robot model kits, key chains, posters and manga (Japanese comic books).
Are you purchasing merchandise from any local retailers or is everything purchased out of state? We order most of our items straight from Japan, and some from companies in the U.S.
Who is your competition? Well these days a lot of fans shop online - which does make an impact on small local businesses, but we offer our items for the same price (as online stores) so customers won't have to wait for their stuff to arrive or pay expensive shipping costs. I've also heard that local FYE stores have a small selection of Anime merchandise - but friends have assured me that they carry only mainstream series. Here at Nicecube, we cater to both fans of the more popular series as well as imported, more obscure ones that haven't been released in the U.S. yet.
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Editor's Note: The Unique Boutique series is dedicated to highlighting unique shopping experiences in El Paso. Know of any stores that offer unique merchandise to a niche market? Send your idea to info@epmediagroup.com and we’ll be sure to feature it in an upcoming installment of Unique Boutique.
