About the founder: GameStart Stores is Owned by Michael Elliott.
Michael is well known in the video game industry by vendors, competitors and most importantly his clients and store owners. He is down to earth and very straight forward. Having created, maintained, and evolved the Game Start Stores opportunity since 2009, Michael has opened stores across the US and even internationally. He has the experience needed to assist you in opening your store.
Credentials:
MBA Ohio Dominican University
BS Business Administration Ohio Dominican University
AS Business Admistration Ohio Dominican University
As owner of Game Start Stores Michael has been Directly responsible for building stores, planning and implementing the entire product line, client training, and setting up turnkey operations for many turn key video game stores internationally and domestically.
He asks that you reach out to his clients for information regarding his ability.
Michael is well known in the video game industry by vendors, competitors and most importantly his clients and store owners. He is down to earth and very straight forward. Having created, maintained, and evolved the Game Start Stores opportunity since 2009, Michael has opened stores across the US and even internationally. He has the experience needed to assist you in opening your store.
Credentials:
MBA Ohio Dominican University
BS Business Administration Ohio Dominican University
AS Business Admistration Ohio Dominican University
As owner of Game Start Stores Michael has been Directly responsible for building stores, planning and implementing the entire product line, client training, and setting up turnkey operations for many turn key video game stores internationally and domestically.
He asks that you reach out to his clients for information regarding his ability.
BIO:
Game Start Founder Michael Elliott and his wife Liezl.
The Early Years- Michael was Born in 1974 in Columbia SC, Michael lived a small town life throughout childhood and was raised in a happy home. Michael's Father was the successful manager of a small mobile home supply company. Michael witnessed his father at work on the phone with clients and vendors at an early age all the way up through his teenage years. Michael was always impressed with how quick his dad's fingers could move across a 10 key when adding up invoices at the end of the night.
Although Mike's Dad worked for someone else, the company was small and his management role within meant he had true ownership of processes and he seemed to experience joy in the company he worked in. Michael took note of the nature of the small business his Dad worked for at an early age. The owner would through parties for his staff, and sponsor trips to the Bahamas, and New Orleans and the like. Michael's father worked decent hours, and owned his accomplishments. Michael was proud of his Dad's success and impressed by the generosity of the small company his dad worked for.
Michael Joined the Navy at 18 wanting to experience the world beyond SC. Michael served his country with pride for four years developing life long friendships and experiences along the way. Most importantly Michael now had the GI Bill to use for education. (Well part of it) Shortly after life in the US Navy, Michael Moved to Columbus Ohio.In Ohio Michael began private sector work.
Coming Up- Michael Worked and enrolled in The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, briefly following the path laid out for him by the Navy (dental) for survival sake, but also enrolled in business school at the Ohio Dominican University. Michael knew early on he wanted to build a company of his own as he was inspired by the small but successful mobile home supply company his father worked with back home.
After about four years at the Ohio State University having moved from sterilization, to chairside, to becoming a certified X-Ray Technician and matriculating successfully up through the ranks of the University, Michael Left OSU to join his friend Chris in an entry level executive capacity at small firm that was quickly becoming one of the largest Healthcare Receivables firms in the country. Michael had met Chris in Business School, and after working on several projects together Chris offered Michael a position on his team at the firm. Together Chris, Michael and the rest of the team worked to automate processes at the firm. This Corporate gig was Michael's First forte into corporate life.
Due to unfortunate lending practices perpetrated by the CEO and some of his high level officers that were unbeknownst to the company's lower level employees and mid level execs such as Chris and Michael, the company was shut down. However Michael had his first exposure and learned a great deal regarding business process design from this position. Michael had worked in a capacity that involved turning manpower serviced processes into automated ones. He had also forged a friendship with Chris that continues today.
Michael Joined the Navy at 18 wanting to experience the world beyond SC. Michael served his country with pride for four years developing life long friendships and experiences along the way. Most importantly Michael now had the GI Bill to use for education. (Well part of it) Shortly after life in the US Navy, Michael Moved to Columbus Ohio.In Ohio Michael began private sector work.
Coming Up- Michael Worked and enrolled in The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, briefly following the path laid out for him by the Navy (dental) for survival sake, but also enrolled in business school at the Ohio Dominican University. Michael knew early on he wanted to build a company of his own as he was inspired by the small but successful mobile home supply company his father worked with back home.
After about four years at the Ohio State University having moved from sterilization, to chairside, to becoming a certified X-Ray Technician and matriculating successfully up through the ranks of the University, Michael Left OSU to join his friend Chris in an entry level executive capacity at small firm that was quickly becoming one of the largest Healthcare Receivables firms in the country. Michael had met Chris in Business School, and after working on several projects together Chris offered Michael a position on his team at the firm. Together Chris, Michael and the rest of the team worked to automate processes at the firm. This Corporate gig was Michael's First forte into corporate life.
Due to unfortunate lending practices perpetrated by the CEO and some of his high level officers that were unbeknownst to the company's lower level employees and mid level execs such as Chris and Michael, the company was shut down. However Michael had his first exposure and learned a great deal regarding business process design from this position. Michael had worked in a capacity that involved turning manpower serviced processes into automated ones. He had also forged a friendship with Chris that continues today.
Michael & Chris
Chris and Michael both enjoy Video Games past and present and at work in between projects and while off, often contemplated the entrepreneurial side of the video game industry. Even after class the two would spend hours in the university parking lot in focused contemplation and planning. Chris and Michael were reunited after school and able to work together again as Michael was building the video store program. Chris introduced Michael to the then owner of a local independent video game store. Chris and mike worked together for some time during both of their introductions to the video game industry on several projects and ultimately, Michael developed the video game store set up program and Chris programmed, and contracted with Michael to licence the POS system that Michael provides to his clients today.
Shortly after leaving the healthcare receivable company, Michael Held positions with Morgan Stanley, Discover Financial, and BMW Financial Services, to finance and keep him afloat as he finished school. Michael progressed all the way to the top earning his Masters Degree in Business Management before leaving school. Shortly after graduation Michael began to craft the Video Game Store Set Up and Business Opportunity. Learning about the retail side of the industry by working in off hours at the a fore mentioned independent video game store in Columbus that was then owned by an acquaintance. For Just over a year Michael spent his days off within this video game store learning, innovating and designing the offer of his own store. Afterwards Michael took the aggregate of what he learned and launched online, his design, implementation and system, and marketed his offering. In late 2009 Michael celebrated as he had sold his first Video Game Store. Since 2009 the model has become even more evolved and extremely successful.
The Leap of Faith- The day Michael quit BMWFS to set up his first store marked a turning point in his life. Michael's Job at BMW was relatively secure. He even drove new company cars for 6 months at a time turning each in for newer models. On the day Michael left BMW he was in line for a promotion and was already being trained for his new job. He was driving a Montego blue, 2010 hardtop convertible BMW 328i, had a cushy salary and sitting pretty in the eyes of his peers.Yet there was one thing that bugged the hell out of him... No matter how hard he worked for this company, and all other corporations before, rewards were pithy even at the level he was at, in comparison to what his daily efforts had generated for the company. It seemed like those above him always received the credit. At any moment the company could get rid of him if things changed. It was a life that did not fulfill what he dreamed of. On the day Michael left BMW (a dream job for most) his heart was pounding so hard in his chest he thought he was gonna stroke out. It was a definite risk.....One that he has never regretted taking. Being in business for himself has afforded Michael freedoms that he did not have under corporate employ. He has traveled the world literally. He is a devoted advocate of small business and enjoys helping others achieve the same dream.
Shortly after leaving the healthcare receivable company, Michael Held positions with Morgan Stanley, Discover Financial, and BMW Financial Services, to finance and keep him afloat as he finished school. Michael progressed all the way to the top earning his Masters Degree in Business Management before leaving school. Shortly after graduation Michael began to craft the Video Game Store Set Up and Business Opportunity. Learning about the retail side of the industry by working in off hours at the a fore mentioned independent video game store in Columbus that was then owned by an acquaintance. For Just over a year Michael spent his days off within this video game store learning, innovating and designing the offer of his own store. Afterwards Michael took the aggregate of what he learned and launched online, his design, implementation and system, and marketed his offering. In late 2009 Michael celebrated as he had sold his first Video Game Store. Since 2009 the model has become even more evolved and extremely successful.
The Leap of Faith- The day Michael quit BMWFS to set up his first store marked a turning point in his life. Michael's Job at BMW was relatively secure. He even drove new company cars for 6 months at a time turning each in for newer models. On the day Michael left BMW he was in line for a promotion and was already being trained for his new job. He was driving a Montego blue, 2010 hardtop convertible BMW 328i, had a cushy salary and sitting pretty in the eyes of his peers.Yet there was one thing that bugged the hell out of him... No matter how hard he worked for this company, and all other corporations before, rewards were pithy even at the level he was at, in comparison to what his daily efforts had generated for the company. It seemed like those above him always received the credit. At any moment the company could get rid of him if things changed. It was a life that did not fulfill what he dreamed of. On the day Michael left BMW (a dream job for most) his heart was pounding so hard in his chest he thought he was gonna stroke out. It was a definite risk.....One that he has never regretted taking. Being in business for himself has afforded Michael freedoms that he did not have under corporate employ. He has traveled the world literally. He is a devoted advocate of small business and enjoys helping others achieve the same dream.
Additionals-
Keeping it loose. Deep dive off the coast of Boracay.
Michael is an advocate of small business and is happy to be in a role where he can launch start ups on a full time basis. Michael is an avid Gamer, With the freedom of time afforded by business ownership Michael likes to travel both domestically and internationally , enjoys scuba diving, and is a dedicated husband to his beautiful wife! During his studies at ODU Michael mentored under then professor, now friend, Alan Nay. Professor Nay was a past CFO of Time Warner Group. Michael owes and dedicates much of his success to the individual tutelage and influence of this amazing businessman.
GameStart Stores is not a large corporate entity nor do we pretend to be. We are just as capable as our corporate competition and in many areas more so. When you call us you are not speaking to one of many employees of an immense corporate structure who may or may not be interested in representing the company to their fullest at that given moment. You are speaking to the owner of the company. Michael has a vested interest in your success as one of his clients. We can not hide within the numbers of hundreds. We are accountable to you. You will appreciate the difference.
