ThinkGeek
{{Short description|Defunct American online retailer}}
{{Infobox company
| name = ThinkGeek
| logo = ThinkGeek logo 14-07-29.jpg
| type = Subsidiary
| genre =
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| foundation = {{start date and age|1999|08|13}}
| founder =
| defunct = {{end date and age|2021}}
| location_city = Grapevine, Texas
| location_country = United States
| area_served =
| key_people =
| industry = Retail
| products =
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| parent = Geeknet (2000–2021)
| divisions =
| subsid =
| homepage = {{official|http://www.thinkgeek.com/}}
| footnotes =
}}
File:ThinkGeek_logo_1999-2014.webp
ThinkGeek was an American retailer that catered to computer enthusiasts and "geek culture". Described as a "Sharper Image for sysadmins", their merchandise has been likened to "toys for adults, novelties designed to appeal to both your inner child and your inner grad student."Honan, Matthew (September 27, 2010). [https://www.wired.com/2010/09/mf_thinkgeek/ "Inside ThinkGeek, Where Mythical Meat Can Make Millions"]. Wired. These include clothing, electronic and scientific gadgets, unusual computer peripherals, office toys, pet toys, child toys, and caffeinated drinks and candy. ThinkGeek was founded in 1999 and was based in Fairfax, Virginia. The brand is currently owned by Geeknet, a subsidiary of GameStop.
History
ThinkGeek was founded in 1999, and originally based in downtown McLean, Virginia. The company was founded by Jen Frazier, Jon Sime, Scott Smith, and Willie Vadnais, all of whom were running a small Internet startup at the time, with ThinkGeek initially starting as a side project. The website's official launch date was August 13, 1999.{{cite web |title=ThinkGeek The Nerd Company at a Crossroads |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/thinkgeek-the-nerd-company-at-a-crossroads/2013/12/11/c7d579ba-4b12-11e3-9890-a1e0997fb0c0_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post|author=Chaney, Jen|date=December 12, 2013}} Andover.net, a Boston area technology news publisher, acquired ThinkGeek in October 1999. Only a few months later Andover.net was acquired by VA Linux, a California-based tech company that specialized in Linux hardware and software products. VA Linux, after several name changes, became Geeknet.{{cite web |title=Geeknet Investor Relations|url=http://www.geek.net/ |publisher=Geeknet|accessdate=January 6, 2014}}
In August 2000, the company moved its offices to Fairfax, Virginia. ThinkGeek grew steadily and increased the number of employees from six in 2004 up to 83 in 2013. Company revenues also increased during this time period, reaching $50 million in sales in 2009 and $118.9 million in 2012. In 2012, ThinkGeek was ranked as one of the top online retailers, listing as #175 on the Internet Retailer Top 500 List.{{cite web |title=ThinkGeek Ascends to #175 in Internet Retailer's 2012 Top 500 List |url=http://geek.net/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=672131 |publisher=Geeknet |accessdate=January 6, 2014}}
ThinkGeek's mascot was a monkey named Timmy.Dak (August 9, 2012). [https://www.wired.com/2012/08/monkey-timmy-cosplay/ "Behind the Monkey — Timmy's Story"]. Wired.
File:14th St Union Sq W td (2019-10-28) 29.jpg–ThinkGeek store in New York City in 2019]]
On May 26, 2015, it was announced that pop culture-oriented retailer Hot Topic had made an offer to acquire Geeknet and ThinkGeek for $17.50 per-share, valuing the company at $122 million. However, on May 29, 2015, it was revealed that an unspecified company had made a counter-offer of $20 per-share; Hot Topic was given until June 1, 2015 to exceed this new offer.{{cite news|author=Rupp, Lindsey|title=Geeknet Gives Hot Topic Three Days to Match Higher Offer|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-29/geeknet-gives-hot-topic-three-days-to-match-higher-rival-offer|date=May 29, 2015|work=Bloomberg Business}}{{cite news|title=Hot Topic to Buy Retailer Geeknet Inc.|author=Dulaney, Chelsey|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/hot-topic-to-buy-retailer-geeknet-inc-1432639751|date=26 May 2015|work=The Wall Street Journal}}{{cite web|author=Beilfuss, Lisa|title=Geeknet Calls New Takeover Offer Superior to Hot Topic's Bid|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/geeknet-calls-new-takeover-offer-superior-to-hot-topics-bid-1432911893|website=The Wall Street Journal|date=May 29, 2015}} On June 2, 2015, it was announced that video game retail chain GameStop had acquired Geeknet for $140 million.{{cite web|author=Hutchinson, Lee|title=GameStop outbids Hot Topic for ThinkGeek parent company purchase|url=https://arstechnica.com/business/2015/06/gamestop-outbids-hot-topic-for-thinkgeek-parent-company-purchase/|website=Ars Technica|date=June 2, 2015}} The deal was completed on July 17, 2015.[http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150717005087/en/GameStop-Completes-Acquisition-Geeknet "GameStop Completes Acquisition of Geekne"]. Business Wire. July 17, 2015.
On September 25, 2015, ThinkGeek opened its first retail store at The Florida Mall in Orlando, Florida.{{cite web|title=Here's where ThinkGeek is opening its first physical store|url=http://fortune.com/2015/09/03/thinkgeek-physical-store/|website=Fortune|accessdate=4 September 2015}} In 2016, ThinkGeek opened 25 more physical stores in the U.S., along with 25 international stores. The retailer said they were "committed to creating a seamless omnichannel experience for its customers", including store pickups and ship-to-store options.{{Cite web|url=http://www.retailwire.com/discussion/once-e-tail-only-thinkgeek-expands-brick-and-mortar-presence/|title=Once e-tail only, ThinkGeek expands brick-and-mortar presence – RetailWire|website=www.retailwire.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-02-12}}
In June 2019, ThinkGeek announced that it would be discontinuing its online store, and integrating its e-commerce operations into a "curated selection" of GameStop's online operations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-06-14-thinkgeek-moves-in-with-gamestop|title=ThinkGeek closes site, moves in with GameStop|website=GamesIndustry.biz|date=13 June 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-06-15}} New product details from after the standalone site closed were made public in January 2020, including Jigglypuff and Get Schwifty (from Rick and Morty) themed Bluetooth Speakers.{{cite web|title=This Jigglypuff Bluetooth speaker could be a sleeper hit|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/15/21067236/jigglypuff-bluetooth-speaker-fcc-filings-thinkgeek-gamestop-pokemon|website=The Verge|date=15 January 2020|accessdate=26 January 2020}}{{cite web|title=Jigglypuff Bluetooth Speaker by ThinkGeek, Inc. hit|url=https://electric.garden/V77-KULO-PK-JG?fccid|website=Electric Garden|accessdate=26 January 2020}}{{cite web|title=Get Schwifty Bluetooth Speaker by ThinkGeek, Inc. hit|url=https://electric.garden/V77-KRTV-RM-OTH?fccid|website=Electric Garden|accessdate=26 January 2020}}
The Miami location closed in January 2021.https://www.facebook.com/ThinkGeekDolphinMall/ {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}} In July 2021, the North Star Mall location in San Antonio, Texas closed. In August 2021, the Austin, Texas; El Paso, Texas; McAllen, Texas; and Tacoma, Washington locations announced on social media that they would be closing on September 26, 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://kisselpaso.com/el-pasos-thinkgeek-store-says-goodbye-with-sweet-message-to-customers/|title='We Love You, 3000' Says ThinkGeek as they Say Goodbye to EP}}https://www.facebook.com/pg/ThinkGeekLaPlazaMall/posts/ {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}https://www.facebook.com/ThinkgeekTacomaMall/ {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}
Products
After its acquisition by GameStop, most of ThinkGeek's merchandise was licensed from various science fiction and fantasy media franchises[http://www.dailynews.com/business/20150526/hot-topic-buying-star-wars-heavy-thinkgeek-parent-company-for-1173-million "Hot Topic buying 'Star Wars'-heavy ThinkGeek parent company for $117.3 million"]. Los Angeles Daily News/Associated Press. May 26, 2015.[http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hot-topic-to-acquire-geeknet-inc-parent-company-of-online-retailer-thinkgeek-300088388.html "Hot Topic to Acquire Geeknet, Inc., Parent Company of Online Retailer ThinkGeek"]. PR Newswire. May 26, 2015. such as Star Wars,Macy, Seth G. (May 26, 2015). [http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/05/26/hot-topic-buys-thinkgeek-parent-company "Hot Topic Buys ThinkGeek Parent Company"]. IGN. Star Trek, Firefly,Masnick, Mike (April 11, 2013). [https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130410/12122122666/fox-sends-cease-desist-letters-to-firefly-fans-selling-jayne-hats-because-money.shtml "Fox Sends Cease & Desist Letters To Firefly Fans Selling Jayne Hats, Because Money"]. Techdirt.Yamshon, Leah (July 19, 2013). [http://www.techhive.com/article/2044685/i-almost-got-sued-for-knitting-a-firefly-hat-the-legal-risks-of-pop-culture-fan-art.html "'I almost got sued for knitting a Firefly hat': The legal risks of pop-culture fan art"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025013155/http://www.techhive.com/article/2044685/i-almost-got-sued-for-knitting-a-firefly-hat-the-legal-risks-of-pop-culture-fan-art.html |date=2015-10-25 }}. TechHive. Marvel Comics,Cooper, Daniel (May 27, 2015). [https://www.engadget.com/2015/05/27/hot-topic-is-buying-thinkgeek/ "Hot Topic is buying ThinkGeek"]. Engadget. Doctor Who, Minecraft, and The Big Bang Theory.[http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hot-topic-thinkgeek-20150526-story.html "Hot Topic buying Geeknet for about $117.3 million"]. Los Angeles Times. May 26, 2015. Other products offered by the company include classic pop cultural icons like the Magic 8 Ball, or products inspired by science, such as a Schrödinger's Cat Executive Decision Maker. Prior to the acquisition, ThinkGeek curated a collection of many unique products, especially for the time; such as Miracleberry tablets, a t-shirt with integrated sound effects, and virtual keyboards, well before other retailers stocked such items.
ThinkGeek was known for its April Fool's Day gags, wherein the site would post a series of fictional, unconventional products referencing popular culture, such as the "Banksy Toaster" (which burns pictures of Banksy artwork into toast), "Where's Barb?" (a Stranger Things-themed parody of Where's Waldo?), "Nerf Nuke", and the "Thor Mighty Mjolnir Mailbox".{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/april-fools-pranks-2019-google-snake-waymo-self-driving-cars-for-cats-mcdonalds-pickle-burger/|title=April Fools' pranks: Space burps, Waymo self-driving cars for cats, pickle burger|last=Kooser|first=Amanda|website=CNET|language=en|access-date=2019-06-15}} Some of the more popular items, however, were made into actual products, such as "Canned Unicorn Meat", the cecaelia-themed "Tentacuddle Blanket", the Tauntaun sleeping bag, and the "Technomancer Hoodie".{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/4/2/17188720/april-fools-day-2018-pranks-thinkgeek-mermaid-snuggie-star-wars|title=ThinkGeek keeps manufacturing some of its most popular April Fools' Day pranks|last=Heller|first=Emily|date=2018-04-02|website=Polygon|access-date=2019-06-15}}{{cite web|last=Honan |first=Mathew |url=https://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/09/mf_thinkgeek/all/1 |title=Inside ThinkGeek, Where Mythical Meat Can Make Millions|newspaper=Wired|date=September 27, 2010}}
ThinkGeek ran a points-for-reward system called "Geek Points", under which customers could earn rewards for buying more products.{{cite web |title=ThinkGeek Geek Points |url=http://www.thinkgeek.com/geekpoints/ |publisher=ThinkGeek |accessdate=January 6, 2014}}