ideo retailing Election Campaigning Begins Governed by New VSDA Procedures manufacturers will increasingly writers." He further says he doubts "It was getting to the point where says, adding it is still incomplete. BY EARL PAIGE have less respect for VSDA if it's the large national chains such as VSDA was nothing but a political Also drafted were measures LOS ANGELES The Video Soft- primarily mom-and -pop." National Video can influence elec- convention." Neely, owner of Video whereby nominating committee ware Dealers Assn. (VSDA) is dra- However, director Art Ross, Tam- tion of candidates, adding that his Show here in suburban Fullerton, members cannot sign independent matically streamlining its election pa Video Station -who campaigned opinions do not necessarily reflect also campaigned successfully last candidate petitions but must sup- process. in 1984 in Las Vegas on a strictly official board policy. Ross heads a year as a single -store proprietor. He port their own slated candidate; and A new mail balloting procedure mom -and -pop platform and won- membership committee now draft- tied with Joan Weissenberger of In that the VSDA will handle the one aims to avoid political hoopla, or thinks the rule change preserves ing guidelines, including voting Home Video in nearby Riverside, mailing (which includes a photo- what one board member calls a "cir- good representation. "There are qualifications. and won a subsequent coin toss. graph) though a candidate can write cus atmosphere at our conven- stringent rules. The ban on trade While Ross says he doubts ener- One embarrassment VSDA hopes his or her own bio. tions." Also, a ban on trade publica- ads is not a slap at the magazines; it getic efforts will materialize by am- to avoid is having a nominating com- Other candidates have an extra 30 tion campaign advertising aims to hopefully prevents a candidate from bitious candidates, other directors mittee person named on the commit- days-the deadline is three months assist in enhancing representation. are less certain. One relates how a tee's slate, as happened last year prior to the convention, May 24 -to The election rule change, passed candidate last year attempted to in- with Jerry Frebowitz, Movies Un- get the required 20 nominating sig- during a Feb. 5 board meeting here, There will be five fluence a distributor to do an exten- limited, Philadelphia. The group natures and send a petition to marks VSDA's 1986 election kick- sive mailing. But in Neely's opinion, picks five so- called "favorite son" VSDA secretary Jim George, San off, according to Rudy Neely, nomi- director slots open the whole idea of the rule changes is candidates. "We want committee Francisco Home Video. nating committee head. "Our slate to create a more orderly process. people" on the committee, Neely (Continued on page 30) is due in April 25," he says. VSDA spending huge sums. Also, we have convenes Aug. 24 in Las Vegas. a rule there can be only one mailing The new system met with objec- per candidate." FOR WEEK ENDING MARCH 1, 1986 tions by some board members. One As for action coalitions or huge Copyright 1986, Billboard Publications, Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any director complains that the mailing telephone campaigns to get around retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, procedure "takes the election pro- the trade ad and mailing limits, Billboard. recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. cess out of the convention." Anoth- Ross says, "Frankly I can't see any- er director says he thinks "this will one wanting to be on the board so tend to favor the better known peo- bad they will spend thousands go- ple. I believe there is concern the ing around the country hiring sky- P KID VIDEO eh GHQ Compiled from a national sample of retail store sales reports. AVA Is Assembling a Panel 4c O= Copyright Owner, 1 icc TITLE Manufacturer, Catalog Number To Consider Superstores %,/:-4/ 1 1 22 PINOCCHIO Walt Disney Home Video 239 1940 29.95 ple to open a superstore, just to BY JIM BESSMAN local and be pre- watch the trends 2 4 17 ROBIN HOOD Walt Disney Home Video 228 1973 29.95 NEW YORK With a heavy prolif- pared to respond. But we do feel video dealers crowding so a will to Samuel Goldwyn Company eration of that superstore emerge 3 3 22 THE CARE BEARS MOVIE 1985 24.95 many markets, the emergence of a control business in your neighbor- Vestron 5082 immi- hood, so this is going to hap- video "superstore" seems since 4 2 22 DUMBO Walt Disney Home Video 24 1941 29.95 nent. While the larger chains would pen, it's important that you be the seem likely candidates for this trend Warner Bros. Inc. store." 5 5 18 BUGS BUNNY'S WACKY ADVENTURES 1985 19.98 toward greater inventories in in- Thus, Power urges dealers to Warner Home Video 11504 creased floor space, the concept plan now, but not to act "unless 6 6 13 PETE'S DRAGON Walt Disney Home Video 10 1977 29.95 does not necessarily preclude the business justifies it." To help AVA of independent retail- the develop- participation members understand 7 12 7 SHE -RA, PRINCESS OF POWER VOL. II Magic Window 6 -20506 1985 24.95 ers. ment of the dozen or more super- future the which he says now exist, he ITAND YR BIRTHDAY PARTY WITH RAINBOW BRITE Children's Video Library For that reason, the of stores 8 22 11 1985 59.95 video superstore will be a major top- has established a "To Superstore Or FRIOUE'S NDS Vestron 3105 ic when April Warner Bros. Inc. of discussion John Power Not" panel at the gathering, 9 7 19 DAFFY DUCK: THE NUTTINESS CONTINUES ... 1985 19.98 where several megamart owners Warner Home Video 11505 will experiences. RAINBOW BRITE AND THE MIGHTY MONSTROMURK Children's Video Library share their 10 8 22 1985 29.95 `Offering large Among them is Jim Salzer, presi- MENACE Vestron 1508 dent and owner of the two- month- World Events Prd Ltd 11 9 22 VOLTRON- CASTLE OF LIONS 1985 49.95 quantity does a old Salzer's Video, situated on a Sony Video Software 99H0019 -50020 heavily traveled intersection of the Children's Video Library 12 14 5 RAINBOW BRITE -PERIL IN THE PIT 1985 29.95 lot in maintaining Ventura Freeway in Ventura, Calif. Vestron 1507 (Billboard, Jan. 18). An outgrowth Children's Video Library 13 13 22 MY LITTLE PONY 1984 19.95 market superiority' of the 25-year -old Salzer's Mercan- Vestron 1400 11 2 STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE'S HOUSEWARMING tile department store across the Family Home Entertainment F348 1983 29.95 gavels in the five-day American Vid- street and the prior Salzer's Video SURPRISE eo Assn. (AVA) convention on April location operating catercor- rental 15 17 8 THE WALT DISNEY COMEDY AND MAGIC REVUE Walt Disney Home Video 318 1985 9.95 24 in Scottsdale, Ariz. The AVA is a ner to the new 7,000 -square -foot fa- cility. This latest has "plenty Snoopy s Home Video Library 2,000- member independent video store 16 23 3 BE MY VALENTINE, CHARLIE BROWN 1985 14.95 dealer buying service, with its of- of space" to hold some 10,500 pieces Media Home Entertainment M342 fice and warehouse facility in Mesa, of video product. 17 21 22 CARE BEARS BATTLE THE FREEZE MACHINE Family Home Entertainment F371 1983 29.95 Ariz. "I have a strong feeling about su-

These stores, by Power's defini- perstores, that they're the best 18 20 22 LIFE WITH MICKEY! Walt Disney Home Video 260 1985 29.95 tion, are in the range of 3,000 thing you can do if you want to hold Warner Bros. Inc. square feet and up and carry in ex- on to your market," says Salzer, 19 18 18 PORKY PIG'S SCREWBALL COMEDIES 1985 19.98 cess of 5,000 videocassettes. For who adds that offering such large Warner Home Video 11508 a lot" in maintaining Sunbow /Hasbro /Bradley Pd. Inc. Power, founder and president of the quantity "does 20 16 7 THE TRANSFORMERS: FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN 1985 14.95 Family Home Entertainment FI -142 AVA, superstores represent a "nat- market superiority. neces- to being a ural process" and "ongoing, "We're used market 21 10 21 G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO Family Home Entertainment F4 -87 1984 39.95 sary evolution" in video retail. leader," he continues, "since we've out Tomorrow Entertainment Inc. "A dealer will keep adding movies retailed records all these years 22 NEW 00, FAERIES 1981 19.95 and adding movies to the point of the Mercantile. Our mission is Family Home Entertainment F2145 Sunbow /Hasbro /Bradley Pd. Inc. where he has to move to a bigger lo- now to do the same in video, but to HEAVY METAL WARS 1984 14.95 23 NEW P THE TRANSFORMERS: Family Home F1163 cation with more displays, p -o -p., do that is a constant job -you have Entertainment Sunbow /Hasbro /Bradley Pd. Inc. computers, and hours," explains to keep your antenna out there." 24 15 22 THE TRANSFORMERS: THE ULTIMATE DOOM 1985 24.95 Power. "The first thing you know Salzer, who is also treasurer of Family Home Entertainment F -3120 California chapter of you've got a superstore." the Southern 25 19 14 THUNDERCATS -EXODUS Family Home Entertainment F3135 1985 24.95 But Power warns dealers not to the Video Software Dealers Associ- "step out in front" of the progres- ation (VSDA), built his new super- Recording ndustry Assn. of America gold certification for theatrical films, sales of 75,000 units or suggested list price income of $3 million (30,000 or $1.2 for non -theatrical made -for -home video product; 25,000 or $1 million for music video product). RIAA platinum certification for theatrical f lms, sales of sion by jumping in with a risky half - store on the site of what he original- million 150,000 units or suggested list price income of $6 million (60,000 or $2.4 million for non -theatrical made -for -home video product; 50,000 units o a value of million- dollar inventory expansion. ly intended to be a restaurant/ $2 million for music video product). Titles certified prior to Oct. I, 1985 were certified under different criteria.) International Tape Disc Assn. certification for "We're not trying to convince peo- (Continued on page 31) gross label revenue of $1 million after returns or stock balancing.

28 BILLBOARD MARCH 1, 1986 www.americanradiohistory.com