Hmv In Talks, Who Is Next?

[Eve]

Just seen it flash up on Sky News:

http://news.sky.com/story/1038002/hmv-board-pondering-retailers-future

Sad but not hugely surprising given the increasingly online culture.

How sad for potentially another store close down, they were clearing out Jessops on the main shopping street a couple of day ago.

Shops disappearing all over and big names too.

What is the future for the high street?

[emmie]

most people are to blame for the loss of their local shops, be it papers, books, music, or greengrocers. Once the supermarkets came into being, people flocked there in their multitudes, and now that is the general rule of thumb. You get all your needs, including clothes at these megastores, it's why we have seen many of our high streets go west. Amazon has done their share in this, and for those that buy their goods online for shops like HMV will go. In much the same way that Woolworths went, that was partly the fault of the senior management who took out stupendous loans to prop up the business, and saw it finally fail. You can still shop at Woolies online, their ranges are extensive and quite good.
I still prefer to get my fruit, veg from the market, it's a bit of a schlep, it's considerably cheaper, and i don't end up with ten tons of packaging.

[youngmafbog]

Were you just as sad when HMV, Virgin etc were bullying th esmall record shops off the high street?

Big names are dissapearing because of weak management and a poor structure. Now you have to work hard for a living in retail it is showing the men from the boys.

There will be others but in the end it will be to the advantage of UK plc as we become leaner and meaner.

If it was not the 'recession' countries such as China would have eventually forced their hand as they expanded out into the West.

[anotheoldgit]

Ups someone already mentioned it.

[pdq1]

They blame in on internet sales. Then why don't these companies get online and do the same thing?

[emmie]

HMV are online, but they cannot compete on prices, the likes of Amazon have much cheaper items, cd's, dvd's, and plenty more besides.

[jno]

in the end it will be to the advantage of UK plc as we become leaner and meaner.

How does it help UK plc when Amazon don't bother paying it any taxes?

[jno]

em, I'm not sure that's always true. I've bought plenty of DVDs online from HMV that have been cheaper than other sources (not new ones, though, I wait till the prices come down). I got an email from them this morning, but I have no idea whether they are still trading or what.

[Booldawg]

they had the heydey of music sales in 90s when CDs first came out. The average price was around 15 quid for a CD right up until the dotcom boom of the early 2000s. For around 15 years Brits paid well over the top for music and video.

as an industry heavyweight HMV shouldve been at the forefront of internet sales and mp3 distribution but carried out their old rip off Britain High Street mentality to the retail music industry.

I just feel sorry for hip uni students with facial piercings - where they gonna work now?

[emmie]

jno, i have yet to see cheaper dvd than from amazon. I would rather buy from a shop, but confess the pocket is only so deep. Also if you don't mind waiting a couple of days for your item, it will be delivered free...

[emmie]

boold, they will turn up in the gastro pubs and cheapo bars, places, selling dodgy beer to don't care what they drink customers.

[Eve]

I've seen HMV try to diversity over time, having an Orange shop and other things inside. The staff in the main one in town here are brilliant, never too much trouble to help you out, they seem to have a knack for employing people who take pride in their jobs.

They have suspended gift vouchers etc... but still trading for now - no sign of anything different when I walked past one earlier, unlike one of our Jessops which was closed and looked to be being stripped the day after the announcement (other stores like Peacocks, Comet, Bon Marche, more recently, carried on trading for a bit after announcing they were going into administration).

I wonder about places like WHSmiths as well as Waterstones. I know WHSmiths do other things but I can't think of anything you can't get for the same price (and often cheaper) elsewhere. If I really wanted a book then I'd go somewhere else to look for it rather than wait for it to be ordered (and have done). Maybe moreso in the city centre as there is more choice and competition.

[jno]

now Blockbusters - though that's not a huge surprise, people don't rent videotapes any more.

[DTCwordfan]

Blockbusters went into admin the US a while ago, amazed it has hung on here.

There needs to be a really serious think about the high street - yes I know Portas is supposed to be doing that but nothing has emerged.....

Here in Truro we see the impact of the major chains but then when you see the greed of the Cornwall Council - £8000 rates for a back-street small restaurant with 40 seats or a hairdressers (and no exemption or phasing in for a new business), £35000 for a two floor store selling gifts and nick-nacks on the main street, then the car parking £3-60 to £4-10 for three hours, they are just screwing the customers that could come into town - not even any inventiveness with say a rebate if you spend a minimum sum..... Who, in their right minds, wants to take on all these overheads before they start shelling out on job creation? And when you think that Truro with all the tourist business should be finding it easier to build a reputation for artist/antique/artisan shops..........God help Oldham, Basildon or Wolverhampton.

Next candidates, apart from Smiths, M&S down the road, certainly it's clothing to go and the group that owns Austin Reeds etc.

[barney15c]

Maybe Amazon, Starbucks etc will have renewed pressure put on the to pay their fair share of tax, all the homegrown bricks and mortar stores are going to the wall.