stores | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:35:18 +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 stores | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Some HMV stores have been saved from closure https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/some-hmv-stores-have-been-saved-from-closure/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/some-hmv-stores-have-been-saved-from-closure/#comments Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:35:18 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=130869 While there will still be closures if the rumours of a Hilco buyout of HMV this afternoon take place, some of the outlets previously earmarked for closure will now be saved, with a final tally of stores kept open expected to be around 140. Update: It's now been confirmed by the BBC, Hilco has purchased …

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While there will still be closures if the rumours of a Hilco buyout of HMV this afternoon take place, some of the outlets previously earmarked for closure will now be saved, with a final tally of stores kept open expected to be around 140.

Update: It's now been confirmed by the BBC, Hilco has purchased HMV.

MCV is claiming confirmation of certain store saves this morning, including outlets in Manchester and Edinburgh. The latter was expected to lose all of its stores at one point, but it will now retain three in total. 140 HMV owned shops will eventually be saved, with 130 HMV branded retail locations and 9 Fopp outlets (am I the only one who has never heard of Fopp?).

hmv

It's also expected that sometime today will see a deal struck between HMV and another firm, probably Hilco, which already owns HMV Canada. It could take the weekend to finalise some parts of the deal, but it should mean that by Monday, we'll have a new owner of HMV and the chain will have a mission going forward.

KitGuru Says: I'm sure this will mean a lot of staff can breathe a sigh of relief as it looks like all the unprofitable stores have been closed at this point. 

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More HMV store closures announced https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/more-hmv-store-closures-announced/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/more-hmv-store-closures-announced/#respond Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:25:40 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=125869 Deloitte, the administrator for beleaguered tech firm HMV, has announced the closure of another 37 outlets, meaning another 464 staff will be let go in the process. This brings the total number of shuttered stores to over 100, on top of the closure of all ROI outlets. This latest move will leave HMV with 116 …

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Deloitte, the administrator for beleaguered tech firm HMV, has announced the closure of another 37 outlets, meaning another 464 staff will be let go in the process. This brings the total number of shuttered stores to over 100, on top of the closure of all ROI outlets.

This latest move will leave HMV with 116 shops still open in the UK and it is unknown if any of those remaining will be closed in the coming few weeks.

The list of newly closed stores (thanks MCV) includes:

  • Ashford
  • Basildon
  • Bolton
  • Cheltenham
  • East Kilbride
  • Enfield
  • Folkestone
  • Glasgow Argyle
  • Gloucester
  • Grimsby
  • Hatfield Galleria
  • Heathrow T5 Departure Level
  • Heathrow Terminal 1
  • Heathrow Terminal 3
  • Heathrow Terminal 4
  • Hemel Hempstead
  • High Wycombe
  • Isle of Wight
  • Lancaster
  • Leadenhall
  • Mansfield
  • Middlesbrough
  • Newbury
  • Newcastle Silverlink
  • Newport
  • Nuneaton
  • Redditch
  • Salisbury
  • Scarborough
  • Southport
  • Stafford
  • Staines
  • Stockport
  • Swindon
  • Taunton
  • Torquay
  • Woking

KitGuru Says: For those that lost your jobs in this cut, know that you have a healthy dose of KG sympathy coming your way.

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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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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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