HMV
- RockitRon
- Posts:2750
- Joined:Mon Oct 22, 2018 11:14 am
- Location:Left a bit, down a bit, right a bit... there
Gone again
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46708075
...and if Hilco can't make it pay I guess no-one can, so the outlook for it, in its present form and size, is bleak.
I have to say that the Nottingham (Victoria Centre) store was busy enough in the run-up to Christmas.
Unlike the still huge numbers of clothes shops, many of which are struggling, HMV is very much the last retailer of home entertainment (music and DVD), since the supermarkets backed out of the market (and never sold a comparable range anyway). For those who still like the tangible article, rather than download or streaming, shopping online - Amazon - will be the only option, and prices will rise. It is already evident that Amazon matches HMV for price, but items which HMV doesn't stock have become dearer. In Europe, where the like of HMV on the high street disappeared long ago, a chart CD is commonly Eu15.99 (=£14.30)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46708075
...and if Hilco can't make it pay I guess no-one can, so the outlook for it, in its present form and size, is bleak.
I have to say that the Nottingham (Victoria Centre) store was busy enough in the run-up to Christmas.
Unlike the still huge numbers of clothes shops, many of which are struggling, HMV is very much the last retailer of home entertainment (music and DVD), since the supermarkets backed out of the market (and never sold a comparable range anyway). For those who still like the tangible article, rather than download or streaming, shopping online - Amazon - will be the only option, and prices will rise. It is already evident that Amazon matches HMV for price, but items which HMV doesn't stock have become dearer. In Europe, where the like of HMV on the high street disappeared long ago, a chart CD is commonly Eu15.99 (=£14.30)
- Claude Balls
- Posts:4365
- Joined:Mon Oct 22, 2018 12:34 pm
Re: HMV
One of the Twitter comments hit the nail on the head for me -five years ago, people would have had around £20 to £30 worth of CDs or DVDs in their Christmas present list, myself included. How many people could say this for 2018?
- RockitRon
- Posts:2750
- Joined:Mon Oct 22, 2018 11:14 am
- Location:Left a bit, down a bit, right a bit... there
Re: HMV
Claude Balls wrote: ↑Sat Dec 29, 2018 11:10 amOne of the Twitter comments hit the nail on the head for me -five years ago, people would have had around £20 to £30 worth of CDs or DVDs in their Christmas present list, myself included. How many people could say this for 2018?
JD McPherson, Curse of Lono, Beth Hart, Fara, Nick Lowe, and Rodders (for OH, of course)
- Turnipsock
- Posts:280
- Joined:Wed Dec 19, 2018 12:43 am
Re: HMV
Its down to trudging all the way to a shop on the off chance they have what you want. Of course you are going to check Amazon first.RockitRon wrote: ↑Sat Dec 29, 2018 10:11 amGone again
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46708075
...and if Hilco can't make it pay I guess no-one can, so the outlook for it, in its present form and size, is bleak.
I have to say that the Nottingham (Victoria Centre) store was busy enough in the run-up to Christmas.
Unlike the still huge numbers of clothes shops, many of which are struggling, HMV is very much the last retailer of home entertainment (music and DVD), since the supermarkets backed out of the market (and never sold a comparable range anyway). For those who still like the tangible article, rather than download or streaming, shopping online - Amazon - will be the only option, and prices will rise. It is already evident that Amazon matches HMV for price, but items which HMV doesn't stock have become dearer. In Europe, where the like of HMV on the high street disappeared long ago, a chart CD is commonly Eu15.99 (=£14.30)
How do you turn off signatures?
Re: HMV
There could be an extremely long post on this but it's fairly simple, retail needs to be an experience rather than a method of selling stuff - generally the internet does that better (i.e. cheaper and more convenient).
Iggy's listening to jazz
Don't take my kindness for weakness...
- Turnipsock
- Posts:280
- Joined:Wed Dec 19, 2018 12:43 am
Re: HMV
yip, that's it.
The only time I go to the "shops" is the supermarket...and I don't really need to do that now.
How do you turn off signatures?
- RockitRon
- Posts:2750
- Joined:Mon Oct 22, 2018 11:14 am
- Location:Left a bit, down a bit, right a bit... there
Re: HMV
So, Sunrise Records of Canada has bought it, talking about the "retail experience" that we get nostalgic for, giving stores some autonomy to cater for local tastes, and of stocking more vinyl (LPs to you and me). Mike Ashley will have to find something else to fill the empty acres of space at House of Fraser.
The takeover is certainly not before time - the stores haven't received new stock or new releases since Christmas, which has turned likely purchasers away. Jan/Feb are quiet generally, but HMV in Nottingham has felt like the Marie Celeste. Not that there's nothing on the shelves - they've got an awful lot of DVDs and back catalogue stuff they can't shift.
A little more of that "retail experience" is found at the Fopp stores which HMV retained. The Nottingham one is at the wrong location and is odds-on to be one of the closures. As for vinyl, it's still a niche market, and LPs are expensive (to buy and to stock). When CDs were launched they cost £10 and an LP was £3.99. CDs are still a tenner but you'll be lucky to get change out of £20 for an LP.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47127520
The takeover is certainly not before time - the stores haven't received new stock or new releases since Christmas, which has turned likely purchasers away. Jan/Feb are quiet generally, but HMV in Nottingham has felt like the Marie Celeste. Not that there's nothing on the shelves - they've got an awful lot of DVDs and back catalogue stuff they can't shift.
A little more of that "retail experience" is found at the Fopp stores which HMV retained. The Nottingham one is at the wrong location and is odds-on to be one of the closures. As for vinyl, it's still a niche market, and LPs are expensive (to buy and to stock). When CDs were launched they cost £10 and an LP was £3.99. CDs are still a tenner but you'll be lucky to get change out of £20 for an LP.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47127520
Re: HMV
I like what the bloke from Sunrise has said, sounds like he has the right attitude but it's not going to be easy.
Nottingham used to be great for vinyl, I used to spend most of a day going from 1 Selectadisc to the next one and to the third. Used to spend a fortune in those shops
Nottingham used to be great for vinyl, I used to spend most of a day going from 1 Selectadisc to the next one and to the third. Used to spend a fortune in those shops
- Phillip Phlopp
- Posts:21796
- Joined:Mon Oct 22, 2018 7:16 am
Re: HMV
Will they reinstall those wooden cabinets (like a small enclosed telephone box) where you could stand and listen to the LP you wanted to buy? To get the authentic experience they'd have to ensure the worn-out earphones were a bit greasy and the cabinet smelt of cigarettes and wee (and something else you couldn't quite place but was a bit unpleasant).
"It's easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled"
- Mark Twain
- Mark Twain
- RockitRon
- Posts:2750
- Joined:Mon Oct 22, 2018 11:14 am
- Location:Left a bit, down a bit, right a bit... there
Re: HMV
The list of stores for closure has now been posted
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47132310
Slightly puzzling. I've always loved going to the Peterborough one because it's bigger and has a better range (of music). Perhaps rent is a big factor, since a lot of them are in the big shopping centres and Oxford Street. Amazingly, both Nottingham stores survive. (Put together they'd make one decent record shop)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47132310
Slightly puzzling. I've always loved going to the Peterborough one because it's bigger and has a better range (of music). Perhaps rent is a big factor, since a lot of them are in the big shopping centres and Oxford Street. Amazingly, both Nottingham stores survive. (Put together they'd make one decent record shop)
Re: HMV
I bought lots of records in both HMV stores on Oxford Street but was working next door to one. I did tend to buy a lot more in specialist stores though although HMV wasn't bad on soul and dance back in the day.
Last edited by Maximus on Wed Feb 06, 2019 8:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
Iggy's listening to jazz
Don't take my kindness for weakness...
Re: HMV
I think that Record stores need to offer a package.
My brother lives in Kingston (on Thames, not Hull) and Banquet records there are excellent. They have personal appearences and gigs, in-store and at local venues, club nights and have a wide range of music and matching knowledge. It's where I met The Mad Professor reggae producer who I see quite a bit of (see new for 2019). Rough Trade have a similar set-up plus the record label.
Banquet Records
The guy buying HMV seems to have the right attitude and bought the HMV Canada stores and turned them around so lets be hopeful.
My brother lives in Kingston (on Thames, not Hull) and Banquet records there are excellent. They have personal appearences and gigs, in-store and at local venues, club nights and have a wide range of music and matching knowledge. It's where I met The Mad Professor reggae producer who I see quite a bit of (see new for 2019). Rough Trade have a similar set-up plus the record label.
Banquet Records
The guy buying HMV seems to have the right attitude and bought the HMV Canada stores and turned them around so lets be hopeful.
Iggy's listening to jazz
Don't take my kindness for weakness...
Re: HMV
Talking of Record Shops, one of my favourite YT watches is 'What's In My Bag?'.
Simply, it's a monster media store in LA and they get any passing musicians to feature what they've bought.
Really, they have every artist from heavy metal to rap and a lot of really big names so do a search. It's also useful for picking up artists I don't know.
Here are a couple of my favourites:
Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile - What's In My Bag?
Childish Gambino (Donald Glover) - What's In My Bag?
I don't much like what he picks but he's great:
Ethan Hawke - What's In My Bag?
More my kind of music:
Mark Ronson - What's In My Bag?
There are loads more...
Simply, it's a monster media store in LA and they get any passing musicians to feature what they've bought.
Really, they have every artist from heavy metal to rap and a lot of really big names so do a search. It's also useful for picking up artists I don't know.
Here are a couple of my favourites:
Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile - What's In My Bag?
Childish Gambino (Donald Glover) - What's In My Bag?
I don't much like what he picks but he's great:
Ethan Hawke - What's In My Bag?
More my kind of music:
Mark Ronson - What's In My Bag?
There are loads more...
Iggy's listening to jazz
Don't take my kindness for weakness...
Re: HMV
She's always welcome to something out of my bag...Claude Balls wrote: ↑Wed Feb 06, 2019 10:50 amI think that happens to Wynona Rider in every shop she goes into now
Iggy's listening to jazz
Don't take my kindness for weakness...