HMV to Close 66 Stores Across the UK

Subject: HMV to Close 66 Stores Across the UK Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:07 pm

In an attempt to make HMV a more attractive prospect for potential buyers, HMV's administrators, Deloitte, are set to close 66 stores across the UK to drastically cut its running costs.

Hilco UK, who operate HMV Canda, is still in prime position to acquire the firm after acquiring its debt last month and this latest move is to "enchance the prospects of securing the business future," according to Deloitte administrator, Nick Edwards.

"As part of our ongoing review of HMV’s financial position, we have now completed a review of the store portfolio and have identified 66 loss making stores for closure," said Edwards.

“We continue to receive strong support from staff and are extremely grateful to them for their commitment during an understandably difficult period," continued Edwards, "All other key stakeholders remain very supportive and I continue to be hopeful of securing a future for the restructured business.”

The closure is set to impact 930 staff.

HMV aren't out of the doldrums yet, but this move is set to make their business a more attractive package for would-be buyers.

The full list of those 66 "loss making stores" is as follows:

Ashton-under-Lyne
Ballymena
Barnsley
Bayswater
Belfast Boucher Road
Belfast Forestside
Bexleyheath
Birkenhead
Birmingham Fort
Blackburn
Boston
Bournemouth Castlepoint
Bracknell
Burton-upon-Trent
Camberley
Chesterfield
Coleraine
Craigavon
Croydon Centrale
Derry
Dumfries
Durham
Edinburgh Fort
Edinburgh Gyle Centre
Edinburgh Ocean
Edinburgh Princes Street
Edinburgh St James
Falkirk
Fulham
Glasgow – Fort
Glasgow – Silverburn
Glasgow Braehead
Huddersfield
Kirkcaldy
Leamington Spa
Leeds White Rose
Lisburn
Loughborough
Luton
Manchester 90
Moorgate
Newry
Newtonabbey
Orpington
Rochdale
Scunthorpe
South Shields
Speke Park
St Albans
St Helens
Stockton-on-Tees
Tamworth
Teesside
Telford
Trocadero
Wakefield
Walsall
Walton-on-Thames
Wandsworth
Warrington
Watford
Wellingborough
Wigan
Wood Green
Workington
Wrexham

[Via x360a]

UPDATE!!!

More HMV and Blockbuster Stores to Close, as Retail Crisis Deepens

As retail continues to struggle, HMV and Blockbuster have announced more store closures.

A further 164 Blockbuster stores are to close in the UK, while every single HMV outlet in Ireland is also set to shut down, with 300 employees due to lose their jobs at HMV alone.

"Since his appointment, the receiver has conducted an assessment of the viability of the company and has actively sought a sale,” HMV told 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."

Meanwhile, Blockbuster administrators Deloitte have confirmed that they are closing a further 164 Blockbuster UK stores in the coming weeks.

"We have continued to review the performance of individual stores since our appointment a month ago and have concluded that further closures are necessary in order to restructure the Company for sale," said Deloitte's Lee Manning.

"We would like to thank the Company's employees for their support and professionalism during this difficult time and we are also grateful for the continued support of customers. We are in discussions with a number of parties interested in purchasing all or parts of the business and will update on progress in due course."

More bad news for the high street then. Best of luck to all those affected.

Subject: Re: HMV to Close 66 Stores Across the UK Sun Feb 10, 2013 10:18 pm

Wow that's alot of jobs. Could see it coming a mile off thought, i mean when was he last time you ever bought anything from there? Especially when you can just download songs now.

Subject: Re: HMV to Close 66 Stores Across the UK Sun Feb 10, 2013 10:29 pm

I don't think I've bought anything from there for years, atleast 10 years, they must have known this would happen at some point ever since iTunes came out.

Subject: Re: HMV to Close 66 Stores Across the UK Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:10 pm

That's it, plus with Supermarkets doing DVDs etc at prices that can beat online shopping why would you go there?
Although it was good to have a mooch around.

Subject: Re: HMV to Close 66 Stores Across the UK Mon Feb 11, 2013 12:28 am

Yep, HMV was doomed the moment you could download music and DVDs and go to a supermarket and get them cheaper. And they did nothing to help them selves in terms of competitive prices, I saw a pic someone had took of a HMV sales sticker and it was like £10 down to £9, lol

Subject: Re: HMV to Close 66 Stores Across the UK Mon Feb 11, 2013 7:48 pm

Dude you can add Chester to that list....It's gone! Sad

Subject: Re: HMV to Close 66 Stores Across the UK Mon Feb 11, 2013 7:53 pm

Oh well that's one store I won't miss at all, lol. Only time I go in is to pass the time.!!

Subject: Re: HMV to Close 66 Stores Across the UK Mon Feb 11, 2013 8:46 pm

Yeah but it's a massive hole in the high street mate, there's gonna be no one left at this rate.

Subject: Re: HMV to Close 66 Stores Across the UK Mon Feb 11, 2013 8:55 pm

That is very TRUE, but its something we can't change, noone is going to boycott downloading music or games, so it is a shame but its going to happen

Subject: Re: HMV to Close 66 Stores Across the UK Mon Feb 11, 2013 9:06 pm

Yeah they really didn't help themselves, their prices were shocking.

How are GAME are still open? They can't have long to go now. If it wasn't for the trade in factor they'd be well sunk.

Subject: Re: HMV to Close 66 Stores Across the UK Mon Feb 11, 2013 9:13 pm

GAME will still be here for awhile because they know how to survive, look at the phones aspect, that's the store evolving, how many people will go there to trade an old phone in for the new release, or to get the next big console, its perfect. People can't trade their phones in towards things in supermarkets or anything.

They will keep evolving until they reach the end of the line and internet shopping takes over it all, and the highstreet will become a housing estate or carpatk for pubs and reaturants.

Internet advanced us such a long way but has killed alot on its way to the top.

Subject: Re: HMV to Close 66 Stores Across the UK Mon Feb 11, 2013 9:31 pm

Its gone?! That was quick! And with such great sales aswell lol!

It isnt good for the high street and all those jobs! It's going to start looking like a right dump if all these shops start closing.

I think the games shops will be ok for a while, especially as most of them do the second hand trade and internet. But it will prob get to the point where they are just a warehouse for the online trade.

But even then we shall see cause lets face it supermarkets (Tesco & Asda or Walmart for our American friends) and Mc Donalds are taking over the world and won't be long till most independants are squashed! Twisted Evil

Subject: Re: HMV to Close 66 Stores Across the UK Mon Feb 11, 2013 9:47 pm

What annoys me most about GAME is that they advertise a price online but when you go into the store it can be up to £10 more. Evil or Very Mad

Subject: Re: HMV to Close 66 Stores Across the UK Mon Feb 11, 2013 9:52 pm

Yeah i don't understand there logic there? Cause your not going to pay extra for the same thing. Which means people are going to stop going into the stores and they will end up closing down.

Subject: Re: HMV to Close 66 Stores Across the UK Thu Feb 14, 2013 11:02 am

Posted more updated news in the OP (new news in RED text

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