Ryan J. Kugler Entertainment Asset Management guru
Ryan Kugler is the President and Co-Owner of Distribution Video & Audio (DVA, Inc.), the nation’s largest closeout buyer in the home entertainment industry.
Ryan was born in Chicago, Illinois and moved to Los Angeles shortly thereafter. Right from the start, Ryan took a strong interest in film and everything to do with. At the age of 13, Ryan made his way onto several studio lots, including Paramount. On one particular day, Ryan stumbled onto the set of the hit TV show, Cheers, and was immediately introduced to the cast. When asked by Ted Danson about his interest in TV and films, Ryan replied, “I want to be a Director.” It was then that Mr. Danson made him an offer too good to pass up.
Ryan was to write and direct his own short-movie in which Mr. Danson and other cast members of Cheers would act in Ryan’s film. Several months later The Question, a short-movie, was filmed on the Paramount Lot, starring Ted Danson, Kirsty Alley, Woody Harrelson and George Wendt, and directed by Ryan Kugler.
Ryan began working for DVA, Inc. on his Summer breaks. Upon finishing school, he moved to Florida and to work full-time at DVA, Inc. in sales. After learning the ropes there, he moved up to Buyer, soon followed by VP of Purchasing. With his unique blend of creative and operational strengths as well as his exceptional skills in sales, Ryan founded the Closeout Division of DVA, Inc., making DVA, Inc. the largest closeout video buyer — selling to the largest retailers across the United States.
In 1998, Ryan brought the Closeout Division to Los Angeles and opened an office to specifically serve those clients. Since then, he has developed relationships with most of the major movie studios in Los Angeles buying their excess inventory and servicing it to 350 accounts with 24,000 storefronts, making DVA, Inc. the nation’s largest home entertainment closeout buyer.
With an account base of over 350 companies, including Best Buy, Target, Musicland and Circuit City, Ryan has built and grown the Closeout Division to 30 employees, selling 20 million units per year, generating $20 million in annual sales.
As a public face for the entertainment closeout/overstock industry, Ryan has recently appeared both on National TV and in print. He has appeared on the CBS Early Show, ABC7 News in Los Angeles, and on the KTLA Prime Time News (a local station in Los Angeles, California). Also, Ryan has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Business Journal, Moviemaker Magazine, and the New York Times.
Ryan has given his voice and vast knowledge of the entertainment industry to conferences and seminars. Recently, Ryan spoke to attendees at the Game Supply Academy as well as attendees of a entertainment-related breakfast seminar, sponsored by Washington Mutual. In addition to speaking at seminars and conferences, Ryan also hosts film seminars which provide practical and applicable advice for filmmakers, actors, producers and anyone who wants to succeed in the movie industry.
Ryan is the co-author of a book with well-known, best-selling author, Eric Sherman, which details the Home Video Business. The book’s intent is to give the reader the benefit of Ryan’s vast experience and knowledge of this growing industry.