High Street | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Thu, 24 Dec 2015 09:12:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png High Street | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 GAME’s Christmas sales fall from last year https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/jon-martindale/games-christmas-sales-fall-from-last-year/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/jon-martindale/games-christmas-sales-fall-from-last-year/#comments Thu, 24 Dec 2015 08:51:53 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=278958 It doesn't seem that long ago that GAME, like a number of high-street gaming and technological chain stores, was bankrupt and needed to be saved by outside finances. Since then it's had some measure of recovery, but it's not doing amazing. Christmas sales have not been as strong as expected in 2015, with the retailer …

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It doesn't seem that long ago that GAME, like a number of high-street gaming and technological chain stores, was bankrupt and needed to be saved by outside finances. Since then it's had some measure of recovery, but it's not doing amazing. Christmas sales have not been as strong as expected in 2015, with the retailer making 11.4 per cent less than this time last year.

This is somewhat surprising, as the build up to Christmas is traditionally the biggest for retailers like GAME as gamers pick up presents for friends and families and clueless relatives attempt to do the same. We're also in a place where two years after the launch of the new-gen consoles, their install bases are wide and deep, especially when it comes to the PS4.

But total revenue was down 6.7 per cent (as per the BBC) for the 21 weeks leading up to the middle of December. This, we're told by GAME, was because fewer people were spending on last-generation systems. Presumably, that's because they're spending on the new-generation, though apparently not at GAME.

GAME

Source: Wikimedia

“Trading conditions in the UK video games market have been challenging,” said GAME CEO Martyn Gibbs. “The switch over from the older gaming formats to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One software has impacted profitability across the UK market.”

He then went on to off-handedly mention lower high-street and shopping centre foot traffic, which seems just as likely to be the culprit here.

While GAME may revamp its service to be more hardware focused and have new avenues of potential revenue, as more people shop online, retail outlets that have real-world locations are going to suffer the most.

GAME's share price dropped 34 per cent following the news.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Not hugely surprising. When was the last time any of you went into a GAME? Other than to nose around while I'm waiting for someone, I can't remember.

 

 

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Google’s own Chrome OS laptop is coming to the UK https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/googles-own-chrome-os-laptop-is-coming-to-the-uk/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/googles-own-chrome-os-laptop-is-coming-to-the-uk/#comments Fri, 10 Apr 2015 19:15:28 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=244486 Google's in-house made Chrome OS laptop, the Chromebook Pixel 2, is coming to the UK this month. The new model was announced last month over in the US and is intended to get more developers on-board and working with the lesser used Chrome operating system. Chromebooks are generally cheaper, intended for student use or someone …

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Google's in-house made Chrome OS laptop, the Chromebook Pixel 2, is coming to the UK this month. The new model was announced last month over in the US and is intended to get more developers on-board and working with the lesser used Chrome operating system.

Chromebooks are generally cheaper, intended for student use or someone who just needs a low-cost laptop. However, Google's flagship Chromebook Pixel is a bit more expensive sitting just under the £800 mark for the Intel Core i5 version and £1000 for the higher end Core i7 model.

aair-800-e1424800865439

The new Chromebook Pixel will also come with 8GB of RAM and a 32GB SSD, which can be upgraded to a 64GB SSD. The Chromebook Pixel is a WiFi only device so don't expect any 4G LTE connectivity. Here in the UK, the laptop will be stocked at a few retailers rather than on the Google Play Store.

The hope is that Google will be showing off its broad range of hardware at shops, including the Nexus smartphones, the Chromecast dongle, the new Chromebook Pixel along with Chrome OS laptops made by partners.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Chrome OS hasn't really taken off and it still has plenty of limitations that hinder it from being a wide-spread success. However, Google has hinted that its Pixel line is mainly intended for developer use, in order to get them experimenting with software for Chrome OS. Have any of you guys used a Chromebook before? What do you think of Google's OS? 

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HMV to drop pre-owned game sales https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/jon-martindale/hmv-to-drop-pre-owned-game-sales/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/jon-martindale/hmv-to-drop-pre-owned-game-sales/#respond Mon, 10 Mar 2014 09:41:43 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=181304 One of the hottest points of contention between developers, gamers and store owners over the past few years, has been the sale of pre-owned games. Developers say they take money out of the industry, gamers say they allow them to buy new games since they know they can get trade-in value and stores are just …

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One of the hottest points of contention between developers, gamers and store owners over the past few years, has been the sale of pre-owned games. Developers say they take money out of the industry, gamers say they allow them to buy new games since they know they can get trade-in value and stores are just happy because they get to sell games several times over, but now HMV, one of the UK's longest standing game sales brands, is dropping the practice altogether.

hmv
It wasn't long ago HMV faced the closure of every division and product line. Source Gwidion Williams

While we've not had an official announcement or release from the chain or its management, Eurogamer did receive confirmation from several different sources, suggesting that HMV could well be getting out of the pre-owned game market. Whether that means it'll be focusing on new game sales, or moving away from games as a whole remains to be seen. If the latter is the case though, it may only be temporary, until the install base for the new consoles grows enough that sales of Xbox One and PS4 software make them viable stock for HMV, which isn't necessarily out of the financial woods yet.

KitGuru Says: The word is that any pre-owned stock at HMV is going to be heavily discounted, so make sure you go and check out what's on offer if you fancy some real bargains. 

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Former HMV boss ready to ‘help’ Blockbusters https://www.kitguru.net/channel/harrison/former-hmv-boss-ready-to-help-blockbusters/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/harrison/former-hmv-boss-ready-to-help-blockbusters/#respond Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:52:31 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=131109 Confidence is a good thing. We like meeting people who have a well-placed confidence on their own skills and abilities. Bit like the master and commander of a sailing vessel. But what if a captain's last command ran into the rocks – and he was still highly confident?  KitGuru wonders what life is like on …

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Confidence is a good thing. We like meeting people who have a well-placed confidence on their own skills and abilities. Bit like the master and commander of a sailing vessel. But what if a captain's last command ran into the rocks – and he was still highly confident?  KitGuru wonders what life is like on the far side of the retailing world. 

Having grabbed a yellow jacket and made his way down a slide into the water following the demise of his last ship, the S.S. HMV, Gary Warren has re-surfaced as Managing Director for Blockbusters.

Strangely, his enthusiasm for selling products in the high street remains unabashed.

In a recent interview, he was quoted as saying “We need to maintain the strong retail we have” followed by “We need to grow our retail”.

Not sure about the Blockbuster stores near you, but ours is now a Topps Tiles centre for home improvement.

Also, the HMV units are probably being eyed-up by Primark as possible future locations for cheap t-shirts.

Sure, entertainment may well be a multi-billion industry in the UK, but it's hard to see how he will wrestle enough of that cash to make this venture worthwhile.

This is a very different situation than the one being faced by Peter Jones with his attempt to revitalise the UK's retail camera presence. Why?  Simple enough: You can't download a camera in real time.

One thing that Warren touched on was ‘being a partner' with the games industry. In that statement, KitGuru feels that he has hit the only useful nail on the head. IF the games industry agrees that it needs an extensive high street presence as part of its overall marketing plan – and it is prepared to PAY for that presence – THEN our man Gary Warren might have a job.

There's no doubt that the game industry's support for organisations like Play.com ended up causing a ‘bullet in own foot' scenario – as price pressure closed Game and HMV among others – which removed a vital way for the games industry to put new titles in front of the public. Maybe the games industry will feel remorse and pay Gary Warren's salary for a while.

Blockbuster-closing

KitGuru Says: From the first moment a kid at college was asked to use a file hopping program, the nails were lined up around the coffin. Napster began the process of mass-manufacturing coffins for high street retailers and with future internet speeds likely to be measured in gigabits, the music/film store is unlikely to make a comeback. Against Steam et al, how can a store in the street compete with games etc?  Hard to imagine. Captain Warren looks likely to be remembered on the same page as Captain Ahab.

Comment below, in the KitGuru forums or join us over on Facebook.

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HMV shuts down ROI stores https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/hmv-shuts-down-roi-stores/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/hmv-shuts-down-roi-stores/#respond Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:54:01 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=124959 Following on from the temporary closing of all HMV outlets in Ireland last month – as per Irish law – when the administration was announced, Deloitte, the administrator, has announced that all locations will be permanently shuttered since no buyer has been found for the branch of the firm. This means over 300 staff will …

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Following on from the temporary closing of all HMV outlets in Ireland last month – as per Irish law – when the administration was announced, Deloitte, the administrator, has announced that all locations will be permanently shuttered since no buyer has been found for the branch of the firm.

This means over 300 staff will be let go as part of the move, though perhaps since the main HMV business is looking a little healthier than it was a month ago, their severance pay will be better than the paltry lot the GAME employees, that were fired last year, received.

HMV
While England will see a reduction in HMV stores, Ireland is now set to lose all of them.

“Since his appointment, the receiver has conducted an assessment of the viability of the company and has actively sought a sale,” HMV said in a statement to the Irish Examiner.  “The marketplace is very difficult given competition from web-based retailers and digital downloads, compounded by a number of other factors including high levels of rent.”

“All stores were loss-making and it was not possible to attract a purchaser.”

These aren't the first HMV outlets to close of course, with just last week the team of debt buyer Hilco and administrator Deloitte, jointly closed 66 locations and as many as another 100 are expected to be shut down in the next few months.

KitGuru Says: Not a fun time to be an HMV employee. At least those that have been let go can stop worrying and get on and find a new job. Can't be nice for the ones remaining, wondering who's next.

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GAME looking to buy up HMV locations https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/game-looking-to-buy-up-hmv-locations/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/game-looking-to-buy-up-hmv-locations/#respond Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:55:00 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=122310 Despite suffering through its own administration less than a year ago and ultimately closing half of its outlets and letting go a big portion of its staff, GAME is apparently looking to buy up HMV locations in a move to expand current business. Revealed by GAME boss Martyn Gibbs in a chat with the Financial …

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Despite suffering through its own administration less than a year ago and ultimately closing half of its outlets and letting go a big portion of its staff, GAME is apparently looking to buy up HMV locations in a move to expand current business.

Revealed by GAME boss Martyn Gibbs in a chat with the Financial Times (requires signup), he said that GAME had been in touch with HMV administrator Deloitte, asking for more information. However it isn't the only one, with upwards of 50 different companies currently looking into whether HMV's prime high street locations could be put to better use.

GAME already shut down the Gamestation brand, will it do the same with HMV? Source: Alamy / Getty and Jeff J Mitchell.

“We will constantly review our property portfolio based on what is available,” Gibbs said, when asked about his company's interest. “I would not rule out any stores becoming available, be that through an administration or normal property deals.”

Of course none of this necessarily means that HMV is going under permanently. However like GAME before it, it's likely that the least profitable locations will be shut and a lot of staff let go in order to balance the books a little better. It will also require a sizeable investment from someone. Perhaps OPCapita, fresh off the back of its Comet money making could step in and “save” another British firm for a few months?

KitGuru Says: What do you guys think about the future of HMV, is it bright, or will it go the way of several other iconic British high street outlets?

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Making the shopping experience of the future https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/making-the-shopping-experience-of-the-future/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/making-the-shopping-experience-of-the-future/#comments Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:00:51 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=122265 While we've seen a lot of high street businesses fold in recent times thanks to a huge upsurge in online sales, Intel has come up with a way to improve the retail shopping experience in the real world that could mean for a much nicer experience when out looking for a deal. It debuted a …

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While we've seen a lot of high street businesses fold in recent times thanks to a huge upsurge in online sales, Intel has come up with a way to improve the retail shopping experience in the real world that could mean for a much nicer experience when out looking for a deal.

It debuted a “deal-sending screen,” at this year's National Retail Federation conference in New York, where retailers are able to automatically tap into a user's information in order to tailor deals to them. Maybe you're a man, who's short and slim – like a certain writer I know – so perhaps you're looking for clothes designed to fit a leg that belongs in the Shire? Well Intel's tech could direct you right to it and give you a 10 per cent discount too by sending a coupon to your phone.

The idea is that using cameras that pick up your details as well as cross referencing publicly available information about a shopper, the whole buying experience can be streamlined and personalised to each customer.

Minority Report
We already have the floaty touch screens, how right does Minority Report need to be?

There's also talk of bringing the self checkouts seen in supermarkets into retail outlets as well, which should cut down on the lines seen at stores that can sometimes turn people away from purchasing. Bigger selections is also something that stores are going for according to Reuters, with screens in store offering a wider range of products.

Ultimately a lot of the technology being talked about is attempting to emulate the ease of use that we have online.

KitGuru Says: Most people would agree that facial recognition tech is likely to turn people away from stores, but would you guys be happy with a camera checking your build and then sending a discount offer to your smartphone?

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HMV.com is taken down by administrators https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/hmv-com-is-taken-down-by-administrators/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/hmv-com-is-taken-down-by-administrators/#respond Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:27:33 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=122135 You know it's the end where the simple to maintain website is taken down. Administrators for HMV, Deloitte, have now killed off the HMV.com website, leading it with a simple message explaining that until further notice, the website would no longer be in operation. HMV staff have said in the past that all existing orders …

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You know it's the end where the simple to maintain website is taken down. Administrators for HMV, Deloitte, have now killed off the HMV.com website, leading it with a simple message explaining that until further notice, the website would no longer be in operation.

HMV staff have said in the past that all existing orders will be fulfilled, so fingers crossed for those that made last minute orders through the site.

HMV Notice
If you have made an order that isn't getting sorted, might be best to give them a ring on the number shown

KitGuru Says: Any of you guys make any late orders with HMV? If so have you received them yet? Let us know.

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Virgin stores still deserted – new venture doomed? https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jules/virgin-stores-still-deserted-new-venture-doomed/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jules/virgin-stores-still-deserted-new-venture-doomed/#comments Mon, 31 Dec 2012 06:00:51 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=120659 Back in January 1971, Richard Branson opened his first Virgin Records store at 24 Oxford Street, the ‘cheap end' as Dickie put it. Until March 1992, when he sold out to Thorn EMI for $1 Billion, his business was a huge success. Virgin's attempts to sell phones on the high street doesn't seem to be …

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Back in January 1971, Richard Branson opened his first Virgin Records store at 24 Oxford Street, the ‘cheap end' as Dickie put it. Until March 1992, when he sold out to Thorn EMI for $1 Billion, his business was a huge success. Virgin's attempts to sell phones on the high street doesn't seem to be working out quite so well. KitGuru analyses more pics.

On 20th December, the last Thursday before Xmas, shopping malls across the UK were jam packed with folks hungry to buy that last minute gift. In the UK, Thursday is the customary late night opening day – so we Brits are programmed to spend in the early evening from an early age.

Wandering past a brand new Virgin store, we pulled right back to get the widest shot possible – but there were no customers to be snapped.

Sunday 29th December saw us hitting the same shopping centre and, for a laugh,  we parked up so that we got to walk past the Virgin store twice. With the visits around 1 hour apart, you'd expect them not to look like they were taken 30 seconds apart.

See what you think.

Having seen Game and HMV enjoy some spectacular problems - and Orange merging with T-Mobile to help curb costs - can Virgin make this new venture work? Shots were taken around 1 hour apart.

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We know what you're thinking. Is the store is in a bad position?  Nope. It's right next to packed McDonald's, opposite Waitrose and on one of the main thorough-fairs to the multi-story car park.

At this time of year, you would have thought that Virgin could immaculately create customers, but apparently not so.

Now you're wondering if we cheated and the entire complex was empty – devoid of shoppers. Check these shots of the Apple and Carphone Warehouse shots taken between the two Virgin ones.

Not exactly jammed - but every other phone store has a steady stream of customers. Virgin is barren.

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KitGuru says: We have no feeling one way or the other for Virgin. Sure, there are TONS of complaints into KitGuru every year about Virgin's broadband service, but nothing really about Virgin as a mobile provider.  From what we're seeing in the high street, Virgin might have a place in our interconnected technological futures – but we can't see it happening in shops.

Comment below or in the KitGuru forums.

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HMV wants you to come in-store and save on postage https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/hmv-wants-you-to-come-in-store-and-save-on-postage/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/hmv-wants-you-to-come-in-store-and-save-on-postage/#respond Mon, 13 Aug 2012 19:00:27 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=103980 HMV is continuing its struggles to stay relevant in an increasingly digitally dominated media world, by offering a click and collect system, where users can reserve online and then buy and collect in-store. This saves on postage, which the company likely takes a small loss on – since it offers it for free on every …

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HMV is continuing its struggles to stay relevant in an increasingly digitally dominated media world, by offering a click and collect system, where users can reserve online and then buy and collect in-store. This saves on postage, which the company likely takes a small loss on – since it offers it for free on every item – while opening up the possibility that you'll impulse buy something else while picking up your newly acquired purchase.

However, don't expect to reserve an item and then show up for it a week later. According to the terms and conditions, you'll need to pick it up within two days, or the purchase order will be cancelled. Since you're paying in-store though instead of online, that shouldn't bother the consumer as much as it does HMV.

HMV
Don't make Nipper said, reserve and collect in a timely manner please.

This is a scheme that's worked well for other companies such as Argos and PC world, so it's hoped by the higher ups that HMV will be able to repeat that success. With the company's intended focus on hardware like headphones, getting more people in-store is a smart plan, as when it comes to audio equipment, there is little that can sell a product better than actually having the customer listen to it.

This is also an initiative that allows the retailer to advertise its prices in-store as being the same as online, a move that makes it sound as if the prices at the retail outlet are good.

The future of the company was called into question again recently, when the newly departed HMV boss Simon Fox said, that he wouldn't bet his house on the company still being around in 2021 – the year that HMV Group turns 100.

KitGuru Says: Do scheme's like this really help, or are they just a PR gimmick designed to make prices seem lower? What do you guys think?

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