A BOLTON man has vowed to "challenge the status quo" of online department stores after launching a new online gaming store.

Josh Alcock, 32, from Tonge has launched Gaming Hound, along with his partner Natalie Brocklehurst.

Gaming Hound, which launched on Friday, is the brainchild of Mr Alcock, who has been a gamer all his life, and he believes that he has found a gap in the market.

He said: “The idea is that we feel online department stores are sleepwalking through the online gaming department, not giving particularly good prices and offers and it seems to be that they hold an awful lot of stock to keep little guys like us out.

“So we want to be a destructive influence in the market and try to reduce costs where we can to become really affordable.

“We want to become the UK’s premium online gaming retailer, the want to be the biggest, best and most reputable.

“At the moment we’re a local, small independent business who are looking to challenge the status quo in the gaming industry.

“We want be the place that offers the most affordable prices on the market and we’re gradually working our way towards that mark.”

“We want to make Gaming Hound big and become a big Bolton business employer in the future.

His online store currently sells a host of gaming products such as consoles, games, furniture, laptops, PCs and accessories.

Mr Alcock has lived in Bolton for the past decade and studied Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management at the University of Bolton.

He still currently works full-time in the construction industry but hopes to leave that job to focus solely on Gaming Hound as it grows.

In time he also hopes to be able to establish a physical store in Bolton, as well as across the country.

His new business is very much fuelled by his passion for gaming which he explains.

He said: “My burning passion has always been for gaming. It’s something I’ve played and followed all my life, from the Atari days to PlayStation 5s that’s just been me really.”

More Information on Gaming hound can be found on their website and social media pages.