Thread: HMV in dire straights

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Post by Nagraboy January 25, 2013 (61 of 74)
Maybe HMV will put coffee shops in their stores - they seem to be doing alright on the UK high streets!

It would be nice if they concentrated on the physical markets that are still stable and strong - vinyl LPs and Classical SACD sections would make a profit. Could be a good new start for HMV, maybe it'll be worth visiting them again.

Post by hiredfox January 26, 2013 (62 of 74)
Nagraboy said:

Maybe HMV will put coffee shops in their stores - they seem to be doing alright on the UK high streets!

It would be nice if they concentrated on the physical markets that are still stable and strong - vinyl LPs and Classical SACD sections would make a profit. Could be a good new start for HMV, maybe it'll be worth visiting them again.

Great idea! Make them a place where we can stop and browse and play a few discs and chat to other like minded souls before we buy.. why not? As you say with enough stock of everything even browsing could become fun again.

What else do we chaps do when the ladies just 'pop' into Zara, H & M and Monsoon?

Post by nucaleena January 26, 2013 (63 of 74)
hiredfox said:

Make them a place where we can stop and browse and play a few discs and chat to other like minded souls before we buy.. why not? As you say with enough stock of everything even browsing could become fun again. What else do we chaps do when the ladies just 'pop' into Zara, H & M and Monsoon?

I so agree. Back in the old RBCD days when I was married my wife and I would agree when and where to meet before she went off to shoe shops and I browsed, often spending as much on discs as she on a pair of shoes or something for the kids. But by the time it was me and Brenda, and it was SACD browsing not RBCD, there was never any point going to HMV, Borders et al as the inventory even then was so low. A coffee lounge would have made no difference. However, there was nearly always a book shop around with a coffee lounge and that's where I'd head for instead: B. too. It's all about stock (and price: HMV's prices were pretty steep cf. the net). These days I browse the net for discs and always have a cup of coffee by my side, so the loss of the HMV's of the world doesn't seem too bad to me. And instead of the thrill of taking a new find home I have the pleasure of hearing that satisfying "plop" in the letter box and the postie's motorcycle driving away.

Post by old-dog-newtricks January 27, 2013 (64 of 74)
I agree with Nucaleena that serious browsing for SACDs has long since gone. The problem with the demise of the likes of HMV for the main record labels have less and less places to display their new releases. Getting sales when a new title is released is vital as it is one of the steps needed to establish a new product in the eyes and ears of the public (along with radio exposure, advertising, PR, reviews etc.).
To some extent this is achieved nowadays by 'new releaae promotions' from mail order houses. HMV online often offered new releases at discounted prices and a number of the UK mail order merchants do the same. These offers are, I am sure, funded by the labels themselves. These independent operators are now in the front line and need the support of the labels and their customers if we are not to find ourselves propelled into a world of downloaded music sooner than we might like. This site also plays an important role and deserves better attention from labels, many of whom still don't seem to be able to supply release information in a timely fashion. I also wish that more of the mail order merchants were represented in the list we feature, as such a monopoly by Amazon is very unhealthy. I am not sure where the 'fault' lies, ie are the companies too tight to offer sufficient commission or is the site too greedy in what it asks for? It seems perfectly reasonable for Zeus to expect to earn a little for facilitating access to a dedicated following who obviously have considerable buying power. In my opinion we all need the mail order specialists and they and the industry owe this site a great deal - in both meanings of the word.

Post by zeus January 27, 2013 (65 of 74)
old-dog-newtricks said:

I also wish that more of the mail order merchants were represented in the list we feature, as such a monopoly by Amazon is very unhealthy.

Maybe because Amazon is more proactive than other online retailers that don't see the value in referrals and don't have the machinery in place. I have approached any number of vendors or applied for affiliation (I won't name them here ... most know who they are) and drawn a blank. It's probably not surprising that the vendors that are currently represented know their business and offer great service to their customers (you).

Post by aoqd22 January 27, 2013 (66 of 74)
I went into my local HMV a week ago (in Oxford here in the UK) to see what was going on it was packed and the checkout counter struggled to cope with the volume of sales. Looking at the queue of those waiting to pay it was clear stacks of movies on DVD and games were being shifted rather than cds let alone SACDs.

There appears to be over 50 parties interested in bits of HMV including non music/game retailers with an eye on the prime shop locations. So some stores could well become mini supermarkets run by Tesco, Sainsburys etc. I am convinced Amazon will one day set up some High Street locations they may just see HMV as an opportunity to put a toe in the water here in the UK.

I tend to browse online these days rather than in store. When it comes to SACDs this website is key and I remain grateful it was set up. It has given me the opportunity to get to know and communicate directly with publishers like BIS, Channel Classics and PentaTone who operate from outside of the UK. So, the loss of HMV on the High Street here in the UK would not be a major disaster for me (sorry though for those who get put out of work).

Post by lennyw January 27, 2013 (67 of 74)
aoqd22 said:

I am convinced Amazon will one day set up some High Street locations they may just see HMV as an opportunity to put a toe in the water here in the UK.

I very much doubt it as it has very little to do with their business-ethos.

With regards to the future of retail, albeit not (SA)CDs, this was a very interesting read:
http://www.wired.com/business/2012/11/mf-best-buy-comeback/all

Post by wolf359 January 27, 2013 (68 of 74)
aoqd22 said:

I went into my local HMV a week ago (in Oxford here in the UK) to see what was going on it was packed and the checkout counter struggled to cope with the volume of sales. Looking at the queue of those waiting to pay it was clear stacks of movies on DVD and games were being shifted rather than cds let alone SACDs.

I tend to browse online these days rather than in store. When it comes to SACDs this website is key and I remain grateful it was set up. It has given me the opportunity to get to know and communicate directly with publishers like BIS, Channel Classics and PentaTone who operate from outside of the UK. So, the loss of HMV on the High Street here in the UK would not be a major disaster for me (sorry though for those who get put out of work).

First time I visited my local HMV since the news of administration became public, this time I looked at it through the critical eyes of a CD purchaser. Of the total floor space less than 25% was devoted to music of any genre, heavy on chart and cheap offers very little in any specialist music genre, Like aoqd22 I found it packed with people buying DVD/Games, they were having a sale on (as normal) In terms of floor space the CD's were poorly represented being behind DVDs,Games,Technology,Blu rays in floor space allocation. Talk about ignoring customers. As my local HMV is virtually the last B&M retailer for many miles (I don't count the Supermarkets) I feel this is poor stratergy on their part for failing to capitalise on the many impulse buyers,browsers, people in a hurry and those who are averse are to web purchases.

Post by old-dog-newtricks February 13, 2013 (69 of 74)
Latest rumour is that Theo Paphitis (Dragons DEN) has expressed an interest in some of the stores as he 'likes the brand'.

Post by Failed Muso February 13, 2013 (70 of 74)
aoqd22 said:

I am convinced Amazon will one day set up some High Street locations they may just see HMV as an opportunity to put a toe in the water here in the UK.

Amazon did indeed toy with the idea of having a high street presence, akin to the failed Argos concept of "Call & Collect" stores, whereby customers went online, ordered their goods and then collected them from the high street branch.

However, I imagine the inherent costs of a bricks and mortar model probably outweighed any perceivable boost in sales.

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