HMV's fucked (1 Viewer)

[sleepy]

I'm gonna say something pretty unpopular here but the HMV on Henry St has always had a way better selection than the Tower in Easons. I'll actually be glad to see it opened back up again

 

[rettucs]

100 jobs is obviously good. But what about all the lost jobs because thy got it wrong again and again and again. Albeit quite some time ago,I worked for HMV and they like many big companies have a tendency to go for the quick unthought out fix. If they don't make big changes then there's a very very good chance that those 100 jobs could turn into 100 jobless again very quickly.

HMV grafton street was a profitable store at the time it closed. That was never the issue with it.

 

[Theseus Mock]

If they don't make big changes then there's a very very good chance that those 100 jobs could turn into 100 jobless again very quickly.

I reckon this bailout crowd Hilco will make some big changes since they seem to have successfully rescued HMV in Canada, they'll apply the same business tactics here. I wouldn't expect any of us here to be too enamored with whatever changes they have up their sleeves, probably Beats headphones up the wazoo and all that muck.

 

[GARYXKNIFEDX]

Weren't they stocked up the wazoo with stuff like headphones etc before they closed?

 

[pete]

HMV Canada

Background
HMV is Canada’s last remaining nationwide bricks and mortar specialist retailer of audio and visual entertainment products. Operating from 119 stores across 9 Canadian provinces, the long-established business is the cornerstone of the Canadian entertainment market.
Although profitable, HMV Canada was suffering from declining performance due to a number of external factors. The impact of widespread price deflation, combined with increased competition from large nonspecialist retailers focusing on chart products was compounded by rising store overheads, reduced footfall due to fewer blockbuster releases and the rapid growth of digital media distribution.
In addition, HMV Canada’s parent, the UK-based HMV Group, was similarly suffering from declining financial performance in its other trading markets, coupled with significant seasonal funding requirements.

The Transaction
Hilco UK acquired the equity and rights to the HMV brand in Canada from HMV Group. Additionally, Hilco provided HMV Canada with a CAD $26 million working capital facility to allow the business to trade through its peak holiday period.

Hilco’s Role
Hilco provided additional operational support to the Board. In particular, Hilco has assisted Management in designing a revised marketing and promotional plan, including new signage and marketing collateral, and has provided Management with additional financial resources to support capital expenditure in new revenue streams for the retail business.
Hilco and HMV Canada’s Management have been in discussions with the key suppliers to the business to ensure their continued support in maintaining current terms offered to the Company. The key suppliers have been supportive to date and remain of critical importance to the future of the business.
Hilco’s operational team has provided Management with additional advisory to identify ways of reversing sales declines and increasing volumes. By moving away from multi-buy promotions to single pricepoints, emphasising everyday low prices, store traffic has been converted from double digit year-on-year declines to year-on-year growth and has led to significant increases in sales trends. These trends have further been reinforced through additional weekend promotional campaigns.
HMV Canada has a small number of loss making stores and is negotiating with landlords in an effort to find a solution. In circumstances where a compromise cannot be reached and leases are due to expire, Hilco has worked with the Company to design and implement store closure sales, augmented with additional product acquired specifically to support the closure process. In all cases these have generated significant sales uplifts at only modest levels of discounting.

Results
The support of Hilco has ensured that approximately 1,500 jobs have been preserved and Canada’s last remaining specialist entertainment retailer continues to trade. The business has been re-energised and is making excellent progress in extending its life span in a declining market.

http://www.hilcouk.com/hmv-canada/

 

[nlgbbbblth]

Good luck to them.

 

[ann post]

they are looking for some staff:

http://www.excelrecruitment.com/ret...b_role_id=2&records_per_page=15&submit=Search

 

[pete]

Swap your old HMV gift cards for new ones

http://www.businesspost.ie/#!story/Home/News/New HMV giftcards for old: how the exchange works/id/19410615-5218-5227-42a0-94b997792851

 

[rettucs]

disappointed Grafton St isn't included in the stores that are reopening. That was a decent music shop by any standards. The rest are just video games and DVDs.

 

[pete]

disappointed Grafton St isn't included in the stores that are reopening. That was a decent music shop by any standards. The rest are just video games and DVDs.

no blanch either

 

[Unicron]

Just went back to the house to check to see if my voucher from last year was still in the drawer I left it in when the chain folded. It was, PLUS an unused 1 for all voucher that I'd slipped into the same envelope as the HMV one that I had forgot about

 

[Anthony]

I was in HMV on Queen Street in Toronto and it was quiet but ticking over. The other one on Younge Street was busy enough though, tons of records as well as plenty of Adventure Time t-shirts and Beatles mouse mats.
Thing is though, years ago Queen Street was awash with cool music shops and HMV stood there in the middle of it while hipsters looked down their noses at it as they skated past. Now all but one of those indie record shops is gone (SUPER intimidating vinyl only shop) and HMV remains the only option for people who want physical albums and pop music seems to be very well there.
There's an answer in there somewhere about who stopped buying music and "killed our beloved record shop, wah wah wah"

 

[CinnamonBoy]

Just went back to the house to check to see if my voucher from last year was still in the drawer I left it in when the chain folded. It was, PLUS an unused 1 for all voucher that I'd slipped into the same envelope as the HMV one that I had forgot about

In that case, let me direct you to some, hot off the press, useful information provided courtesy of our wonderful consumer rights watchdog: http://www.consumerhelp.ie/index.jsp?p=100&n=101&a=1062

 

[GARYXKNIFEDX]

Are they open here again?

 

[nlgbbbblth]

Bloody hipsters and their intimidating ways.

 

[rettucs]

Are they open here again?

a handful of stores are reopening. Liffey Valley and Henry St among them. Starting saturday

 

[hydromancer]

 

[GARYXKNIFEDX]

Anyone have a look yet?

 

[Jim Daniels]

Anyone have a look yet?

Was in the Henry St store yesterday. It was jammed. Appeared to be pretty much the same as it was before it closed -lots of discounted cds and dvds. A stronger focus on vinyl perhaps. Decent t-shirt display on the ground floor too. Good to see them back

 

[pete]

October 24th 2013

HMV launches innovative digital music store in Ireland



HMV today announced the launch of a new digital music store and smartphone app in Ireland, marking the first phase of the retailer’s much anticipated entry into digital entertainment since the company was acquired by Hilco Capital in April.
The innovative HMV app, available from today (Thursday 24th October) free of charge from Google Play stores in Ireland, allows users to shop, look and listen by combining image search and sound search technology with high quality MP3 downloads for the first time
The iOS version of app, which was released last week in the UK, has been temporarily removed from the iOS App Store by Apple in spite of the Cupertino, California-based tech company previously giving HMV’s app its approval. An update is due next week on the status of the Irish iOS App,as the HMV Digital Team work around the clock on an updated version .

Shop
Users can browse HMV’s digital catalogue and buy or pre-order MP3s. MP3 purchases are added to the user’s digital locker and a Download Manager seamlessly integrates purchases into the user’s existing Windows Media library on their PC or Mac.
Look
Image Search enables users to scan CD or album covers with their Android phone to access 30 second track previews and buy MP3 downloads.
In HMV’s stores, Image Search provides a 21st century take on the music store listening booths of old. A simple scan of the album cover or the Singles Chart graphics in store will allow music lovers to sample each track on their own device before they buy. HMV has installed wifi in all its stores specifically to support this feature.
At home or on the move, users can now scan album artwork on CDs, posters or adverts to preview and buy music direct from HMV.

Listen
Sound Search lets users discover the tunes they hear around them every day, whether it’s the music playing in store at HMV or a track playing on the radio, and buy an MP3 download immediately.
HMV’s digital music store will be fully integrated into the new hmv.com which is set to launch this week, extending the ability to listen to and buy digital music to platforms, including Windows PC and Blackberry 10 and Windows smartphones.

James Coughlan, Managing Director of HMV Digital, commented:
“I’m excited to say that we’re putting music ownership back into focus with the launch of our new digital music products. For the first time, music lovers have the ability to experience the traditional feel of HMV on the high street and have the option to discover and build a digital music collection, delivered and managed across devices, from HMV, the Home of Entertainment.”
“An exciting vision is unfolding and I look forward to announcing further developments regarding our plans for 2014 in the coming weeks – this is just the beginning!”

Paul McGowan, CEO of Hilco Capital and Chairman of HMV added :
"HMV's position at the heart of entertainment retail demands that we enable customers to buy their music from HMV in the way that best suits them and to engage more closely with the music, video and gaming worlds."
"Integrating a 'listening post' Image Search feature will enhance the shopping experience as music fans scan and sample albums in store over our newly-fitted high speed wifi before deciding to buy either the physical or digital product direct from HMV."
"The new website, launching this week, together with a revitalised YouTube channel will start the journey towards enhancing the experience of interacting with the entertainment industry, an engagement that will be further increased by the massive ramp-up in the number of live events being held within our stores on an ongoing basis."

Notes for editors:
Restructuring specialist Hilco Capital acquired HMV Canada in June 2011 and HMV UK from its administrators in April 2013.

HMV trades from 141 stores in the UK and 112 in Canada. Hilco is re-establishing HMV in Ireland with four stores opened over the past five weeks and a further standalone store and 28 dual branded HMV/Xtra-vision stores opening through October.

ENDS