It has always been your dream to grow a business into a thriving empire. After securing a loan from the bank, you purchased a small store in a new area where neighborhoods are just beginning to form. You are not alone, however, as other entrepreneurs have started their own stores. With everyone trying to establish themselves in this emerging community, you have 5 years to prove yourself as the dominant store brand. If you can become powerful enough by then, the local community will be so used to shopping at your store that your empire will flourish for decades. Good luck!
U-Mart is a store management game that challenges you to spot market trends and make smart business decisions. In this simulation, you must pay utility bills, loan payments, employee wages, and keep your store stocked with merchandise. You even have the option to spy on your rival stores, pay your market research team for insights on new products, and adjust your wages to attract the best employees.
Key Features:
- Time Progression: When the game is unpaused (using the spacebar), each tick represents one day. To simplify, each month has exactly 30 days. A coin drop sound signals employee payments, while a handful of coins indicates bill payments. An alarm warns you if you fall into negative funds or miss a payment, and falling 3 months behind on any loan or bill results in bankruptcy.
- Store Aisle Management: Your store features a number of aisles, each dedicated to one type of product. You can quickly select aisles using number keys, and adjust merchandise quantities with the plus and minus keys. Holding shift, ctrl, or alt with these keys amplifies their effect.
- Employee Management: The number of customers you can serve each day is twice the number of employees you have. Hiring more workers allows you to serve more customers, but remember, there are only 100 employees available between your store and your rivals. As the game progresses, you may need to increase wages to attract employees from other stores.
- Audio Cues: While the game is unpaused, different sound tones play when you sell items, with the tone corresponding to the aisle number. If you no longer hear sales sounds, it may be time to restock or adjust your prices to avoid falling into debt.
- Market Research: Request estimates from your market research team to gauge the demand and value of your products. Keep in mind that their data is only partially accurate, so use their advice with caution.
- Loan Management: Loans can be a lifesaver or a trap. Minimum payments are made automatically each month, but you can choose to pay extra to reduce the total interest. However, taking on too many loans can lead to overwhelming debt.
U-Mart puts you in the driver’s seat of a thriving business empire. Can you manage your resources, outsmart your competitors, and build a store that dominates the market? Your entrepreneurial journey starts now!