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Online retailer opens center in Lock Haven

For ‘geeks and gamers,’ firm is growing fast

LOCK HAVEN — It’s an online, subscription-based retail sales company “that delivers crates of epic gear to geeks & gamers.”

And now, it’s in Lock Haven … at least, the start of its East Coast warehouse distribution network is here.

Loot Crate Inc. has moved into the west end of the old Piper Aircraft Corp. assembly building at the foot of Bald Eagle Street.

It can be found on the World Wide Web at www.lootcrate.com.

Based in Los Angeles, Calif., the company offers “a curated collection of awesome items from the best pop culture franchises delivered to your door every month.”

Chris Davis

Essentially, for a paid monthly subscription, consumers can buy an assortment of pop culture items, including T-shirts, clothing and many, many other items.

Among its promotions are, “The best and most exclusive licensed figures, T-shirts, home goods, and more!”

“At Loot Crate, we offer up a unique monthly box of awesome for every fandom, enthusiast group and style,” the firm’s web site says.

Customers can sign up for “monthly mystery crates for pop culture fans filled with incredible and exclusive items and apparel from your favorite TV shows, movies, games and more,” the web site states.

Cool Collectibles include, “The best and most exclusive licensed figures, T-shirts, home goods, and more!”

Gift of Geek includes, “Treat yourself every month or give the gift of geeking out to a friend or loved one!”

According to a CNN Money article last September, Loot Crate at the time was valued at $ 116 million and was considered to be among the fastest growing private firms in the U.S.

Co-founders are Chris Davis, CEO, and Matthew Arevall, listed as chief experience offer.

Scott “ToyGuru” Neitlich writes a regular blog on Lootcrate.com promoting products and pop culture trends.

“Every month (Loot Crate) ships out 600,000 boxes of assorted fandom — from Dead Pool figurines to Bill and Ted T-shirts — across 35 countries. It’s a formula that clearly is working: Loot Crate is valued at $116 million,” CNN Money reported. “Since exclusive items are a key selling point for Loot Crate, one of the most challenging aspects of the business model early on was finding great products. They built their base of suppliers and now, says Davis, “work with most of the major entertainment brands and a lot of licensors and manufacturers.” Also, an in-house team has started crafting its own content, including Loot Crate-produced video games, comic books and videos.

“We think of ourselves as delivering this great fan experience subscription,” Davis explains.

Meanwhile, the company aims to build platforms for communities “based on what they’re passionate about,” says Davis. Its Facebook Live videos garner a half-million viewers each month.

At first, customers could sign up only for a $20 a month box, stocked with four to six assorted items of fan gear, CNN’s Daisy Carrington wrote. “The items would celebrate a mix of references across pop culture, from video games, TV, and movies, running the gamut from collectables to apparel to comics to the completely random. (Bacon lip balm bombed, Davis recalls.) Today, the offerings have expanded to 12 product lines that cater to specific fan bases, such as anime, or Halo lovers. Where once Loot Crate had five full-time staff members, who each helped to ship an average of 240 boxes per day, the company now employs 240 full-time staff and 300 part time, and sends out 70,000 boxes across 32 countries.”

Lock Haven has become its East Coast Distribution Center, Flanagan said.

“They cleaned up the place and are bringing in new inventory,” Flanagan said.

“I expect that, within a couple of weeks, they’ll announce employment opportunities,” he added.

Flanagan said the firm likes the site partly because of its potential for more space.

They currently lease 100,000 square feet from Anthony Frasca, of Brooklyn, N.Y., who owns the buildings.

“They’re almost filled up, and that’s great news,” Flanagan said.

The entire complex has 400,000 square feet of floor space.

Other tenants there now are First Quality Inc. and ProMax Auto Parts Depot, which sells auto parts.

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