Looks like all 140 remaining HMV stores will stay open thanks to Hilco UK (beating out ASDA), which bought out HMV's debt, and previously managed to turn around HMV in Canada. 2,500 staff will keep their jobs, and even some stores originally set to close have been taken off the chopping block. That brings the total closed to 90 stores, far less than originally feared. [Sky via MCV] Read More >>
Britain's economy might be going tits-up, but there's one tiny pin-prick of light at the end of a very long tunnel: Blockbuster, one of the biggies in January's horror-show of business failures, is being saved from total doom. Huzza! Read More >>
Featured comment by Ian:
"Who still wants to buy and keep media? I have vinyl, cassettes, CDs, VHS and DVDs galore; I'd much rather rent or download new stuff, so I don't need..." More »
Green-topped supermarket chain ASDA may be about to salvage pink-topped physical media dinosaur HMV, with the retail giant said to be offering to buy the remaining HMV stores from the administrator -- and keep some of them going. Read More >>
Featured comment by zakida:
"Whatever the Internet will be in 60 years?
Probably a censored, heavily monitored shell of it's former self if governments and corporations get the..." More »
HMV seems to be going from bad to worse, shutting more and more shops. Deloitte has announced another 37 are getting axed in the next four to six weeks, including HMV's Heathrow outlets. Still, you might be able to grab a bargain here and there. Read More >>
Featured comment by zakida:
"I feel for the employees who will lose their jobs but it is very hard to feel sympathy for a chain that helped put my favourite independent record sto..." More »
Hilco might have bought out HMV's debt, giving it effective control over Deloitte's administration of the troubled chain, but that doesn't mean everything is hunky dory right now. HMV's just announced 66 stores will close with the loss of 930 jobs. Ouch. Read More >>
A Tesco. Another Tesco. A boarded up something, and another Tesco. That's what you can expect to see in this ultra-modern version of Monopoly, which takes inspiration from the depressing lows of today's miserable, recession-hit society. Read More >>
A Tory MP and legal expert has accused HMV of literally stealing money from customers over the past few weeks, claiming that management's decision to continue selling gift vouchers while the chain teetered on the brink was tantamount to "obtaining property by deception." Read More >>
Featured comment by mysticusa:
"http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2013/01/tesco-and-asda-will-refund-hmv-gift-cards/
now this is good pr and how it should have been in the first place!" More »
The poor UK High Street is taking a right battering at the moment. First Comet, then Jessops, then HMV, and now Blockbuster has hurtled into administration. Deloitte's handling this one, along with HMV, and it seems the plan is to keep at least some of the 528 stores open. Read More >>
Featured comment by ian1175:
"I know loads of people will bang on about just download movies but I do really like blockbuster.
And the one close to my house is always very busy s..." More »
Last night we heard the sad news that yet another of the UK's big High Street brands was forced into administration. HMV has appointed Deloitte to handle things from now on in, and the temporarily good news is that all 239 stores across the UK and Ireland will stay open, for now. Read More >>
Bad news I'm afraid. After plunging into administration, the high street has lost yet another 187 stores and 1,370 jobs, as Jessops has shut up shop for good. Apparently suppliers cut its lifeline, which meant Jessops had no future, and it seems there won't even be a fire sale to console us either. Read More >>
Featured comment by josh.moulder:
"I'd probably say that most people are pulling their stock just in case, but this just in case approach will cause DSG to go the same way if too many p..." More »
Another well-known British high street chain has been forced into administration. Jessops, the last remaining camera store chain in the UK, has just folded, with PricewaterhouseCoopers now taking charge. If you had any Jessops vouchers or were hoping to return a camera, you're fat out of luck. Read More >>
Microsoft is set to bring its own take on the retail experience to the UK high street, with the software giant believed to be planning the launch of a number of physical shops next year. Read More >>
Featured comment by ollypercival:
"Doesn't that big sheet say 'Grand Opening May 19 2012'!
This is either really old news (and therefore not news) or Microsoft have absolute contempt..." More »
It looks like the classic British high street electronics chains might be going the way of the Dodo, or at least Dixons looks to be down sizing quite severely. Its head honcho is looking to cut stores down to just 30-40 to slash costs. Read More >>
Featured comment by ssg007:
"Does anyone know if Amazon have a cashback or discount system? I've been buying all sorts of stuff from them and haven't really looked to see if they ..." More »
The rumoured buying of GAME Group by RBS may well still come to pass, with the banking giant said to be very close to finalising a deal that would pull the troubled gaming chain out of administration and keep it on the high street. Read More >>
Featured comment by A1pha0mega:
"Well you're wrong (shocking!) I'm a professional in a well paid job. The fact is some people don't have a choice when it comes to finding a job and so..." More »
Apparently that big painted Samsung logo coupled with the “30.03.2012” date on the window of Phones 4U’s flagship store on Oxford Street isn’t what we were all hoping for. It’s just the re-opening date of the store, which is currently undergoing refurbishment. Read More >>
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