HMV opening new stores

[johncrossley]

There was a long running thread on here about companies that you expect to disappear soon

Companies That You Expect to Disappear Soon

With the news that high street chain "Claire's" is entering into Administration, what other companies do you expect to disappear soon? Those were the days with Index, Littlewoods, BHS, Woolworths, Virgin Megastores (and there Z replacement?). Game is certainly one I expect will go at some...

www.railforums.co.uk

HMV was mentioned a lot. But they are opening stores at the moment. Can anyone see the logic in this?

 

[Ashley Hill]

Perhaps the rise of vinyl has triggered this a bit. The CD section in my local store has shrunk to make way for vinyl albums. They’ve also branched out into tee-shirts and technology. If this is saving stores from closing and indeed creating new ones then great.

 

[DarloRich]

is HMV still a thing?

 

[LOL The Irony]

Perhaps the rise of vinyl has triggered this a bit. The CD section in my local store has shrunk to make way for vinyl albums. They’ve also branched out into tee-shirts and technology. If this is saving stores from closing and indeed creating new ones then great.

They did the t-shirt and other memorabilia stuff yonks ago. The t-shirts came along after they first entered administration IIRC.

is HMV still a thing?

Considering my Neon Genesis Evangelion boxset that I got for Christmas was the HMV exclusive version, yes.

 

[DarloRich]

Considering my Neon Genesis Evangelion boxset that I got for Christmas was the HMV exclusive version, yes.

wow: it is like 1997 all over again!

 

[MikeWM]

As a big fan of physical media, I strongly welcome the continuing existence of HMV, and it is the one place I actively seek out when I go somewhere.

In many places they've recently moved to smaller stores where presumably the rent is lower. And they've branched out in various directions - vinyl, toys, etc., plus all stores now appear to have a fairly substantial anime section. They also have exclusive steelbooks, the 'premium collection' (classic film blu-rays that haven't otherwise been released in the UK but have had releases somewhere else), etc.

Notable that while the 'other stuff' has been there quite a while, the 'newer' stores have much more focus on the 'other stuff' - eg. if you go to their new Oxford store, the physical media is the back 20 or 30% of the store and almost seems an afterthought, the rest is t-shirts, sweets, toys, and other random stuff. The new Liverpool store has considerably more physical media, but again it is relegated to the back half of the store.

There will be a market for physical media for some considerable time to come, but it is likely to get increasingly specialist. I suspect HMV can probably survive for quite some time if it continues to adapt. Certainly I hope so.

 

[Mojo]

is HMV still a thing?

I was in Birmingham the other week. When I lived there I was always amused that every chain shop seemed to have at least two branches in the City Centre, which is quite a compact area. HMV is no exception to the rule, with one branch in the Bullring shopping centre and another on the ground floor of a grotty multi-storey car park around 500m away.

 

[Typhoon]

HMV was mentioned a lot. But they are opening stores at the moment. Can anyone see the logic in this?

As a big fan of physical media, I strongly welcome the continuing existence of HMV, and it is the one place I actively seek out when I go somewhere.

In many places they've recently moved to smaller stores where presumably the rent is lower. And they've branched out in various directions - vinyl, toys, etc., plus all stores now appear to have a fairly substantial anime section. They also have exclusive steelbooks, the 'premium collection' (classic film blu-rays that haven't otherwise been released in the UK but have had releases somewhere else), etc.

They are opening a 'new' store in Canterbury, having closed their previous store last month. New store is smaller, in an area with more passing shoppers, single floor (rather than two). Given the current situation in retail, there must be a good chance they were able to drive down rents. Maybe the new owner is having a fresh look at the estate and the offer?
Having read some reviews, one thing that is mentioned time and time again is the knowledge of the staff - shoppers not clear about what they want being directed to the right place. Something that 'on-line' is not too good at.

 

[MikeWM]

I was in Birmingham the other week. When I lived there I was always amused that every chain shop seemed to have at least two branches in the City Centre, which is quite a compact area. HMV is no exception to the rule, with one branch in the Bullring shopping centre and another on the ground floor of a grotty multi-storey car park around 500m away.

I think Birmingham is unique in this now for HMV. (Manchester still has a Fopp as well as HMV). The 'grotty' located-one is 'The Vault', which was supposed to be something unique that had a wider range of stock than the average store - though having visited a few times I'm not entirely convinced

Having read some reviews, one thing that is mentioned time and time again is the knowledge of the staff - shoppers not clear about what they want being directed to the right place. Something that 'on-line' is not too good at.

Yes, as indeed is the 'browsing' experience, which you very much don't get online.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Like many tweens, my little sister is obsessed with Korean pop groups like BTS and BLACKPINK and always buys her merchandise and CDs from HMV. They've really adapted quickly to that market.

 

[Falcon1200]

Notable that while the 'other stuff' has been there quite a while, the 'newer' stores have much more focus on the 'other stuff' - eg. if you go to their new Oxford store, the physical media is the back 20 or 30% of the store and almost seems an afterthought, the rest is t-shirts, sweets, toys, and other random stuff.

I was delighted when HMV opened their new store in Oxford, given that there was nowhere else to buy music CDs in the city, but surprised that the CD section is relegated to a small area upstairs. I must be a dinosaur....... But I do hope the store does well and survives.

 

[johntea]

I think a lot of people have opened their eyes to the fact streaming isn't as perhaps great as they thought it was, increasing subscription prices, too many platforms (e.g. most of the BBC and ITV content vanished off Netflix, you need Britbox for that now!)

With physical media you pay once and own it for life

 

[Red Onion]

I was delighted when HMV opened their new store in Oxford, given that there was nowhere else to buy music CDs in the city, but surprised that the CD section is relegated to a small area upstairs. I must be a dinosaur....... But I do hope the store does well and survives.

Aberdeen’s one was slated to relocate but they were “convinced” by the shopping centre owners to stay (ie, please don’t leave, you’re the only big name store here, so here’s a deal…) but in the same breath they drastically reduced the CD section by bizarrely closing off half of the upper floor space for no real reason. It’s a shame as I love browsing for CDs but it’s mostly rock and metal I’m into and the section is now abysmally tiny! But I too am a dinosaur.

 

[DelW]

My local independent record shop (yes, there still is one ...) is now almost all vinyl, with only a small CD section. 10 or 15 years ago, the ratio was the other way round.

I suspect that in part that's because CDs can easily be delivered by post (and will fit through a letterbox), whereas fewer customers would be willing to entrust expensive 12" vinyl discs to couriers or the post. The same rationale may be benefiting HMV as well.

For me streaming is the junk food of music listening - just about OK but only as a background. Sitting down to listen properly, by loading a CD into a player, or (even more so) cueing up an LP on a turntable, is more like eating at a classy restaurant. Though I appreciate that others may disagree .

 

[GusB]

When I first started buying music it was cassettes from Woolworth's and Boot's, but I started buying CDs when I left home and HMV was my preferred shop. There were a couple of Our Price outlets and the Virgin Megastore, which was always far too loud! I don't remember much vinyl being around, but that was catered for by Fopp and One-Up records, which was an independent shop (still going, I believe).

When I heard HMV was in trouble I wasn't all that surprised, but I'm glad to see that it's making a comeback.

 

[D821]

What people spend their money on is their choice, but the whole vinyl revival baffles me.
I've not bought a CD since before lockdown. I only really get the chance to listen to music when I'm on the move or in work, so streaming is ideal for me.

 

[Ediswan]

My local independent record shop (yes, there still is one ...) is now almost all vinyl, with only a small CD section. 10 or 15 years ago, the ratio was the other way round.

I don't recall Stevenage having any independent record shops, until recently (2018 if my searching is correct). Then some brave soul took on a double front in the Old Town selling a combination of pre-loved and new. Initially, it had a 'vintage' proposition, including reel-to-reel tape machines in the window. Last time I looked at the window, it was all new issue Motörhead box sets and the like.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Feb 2022 ==

What people spend their money on is their choice, but the whole vinyl revival baffles me.

The willingness of people to spend huge amounts of time and money following football teams baffles me. Each to their own.

 

[Trackman]

is HMV still a thing?

There is one in Bromley, I'm sure there are some others elsewhere.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

What people spend their money on is their choice, but the whole vinyl revival baffles me.
I've not bought a CD since before lockdown. I only really get the chance to listen to music when I'm on the move or in work, so streaming is ideal for me.

I never stopped buying physical media, including vinyl... but when the "normies" caught on a few years ago and places like Sainsbury's and HMV started stocking LPs again I was astonished that people were prepared to pay the prices being asked.

 

[D821]

I never stopped buying physical media, including vinyl... but when the "normies" caught on a few years ago and places like Sainsbury's and HMV started stocking LPs again I was astonished that people were prepared to pay the prices being asked.

I get the idea of buying something physical and tangible - I was looking at Dark Side of the Moon in Sainsbury's pre-lockdown and admiring the artwork. I'd just never have the chance to sit down and listen to an LP. Plus, there's storing them.

 

[LOL The Irony]

I get the idea of buying something physical and tangible - I was looking at Dark Side of the Moon in Sainsbury's pre-lockdown and admiring the artwork. I'd just never have the chance to sit down and listen to an LP. Plus, there's storing them.

Physical music will sound better than its digital counterparts for a long, long time. Plus, you don't actually own digital media (something to do with how it's licensed iirc), but you own that record or cd.

Just as a side note, IMAX 70mm film's native 12k resolution is yet to be topped by its digital counterparts, despite being some 50 years old. The Arri Alexa 65 can only manage an image resolution of half that and Blackmagic have only recently announced a digital camera capable of equalling 70mm. Right now, physical media trumps digital media in terms of quality.

 

[Ediswan]

I get the idea of buying something physical and tangible - I was looking at Dark Side of the Moon in Sainsbury's pre-lockdown and admiring the artwork. I'd just never have the chance to sit down and listen to an LP. Plus, there's storing them.

Plenty of options showing on HMV or Google. As a fallback, stack against a convenient vertical surface and pin in place with whatever comes to hand.

 

[Scotrail12]

HMV barely feel like a thing any more - it was always my place to browse in while my sister was off in clothes shops but it's gradually diminished over the last decade. In Glasgow, we used to have the large Buchanan St store and the one on Argyle Street plus in the 3 out of town shopping centres - Fort, Braehead & Silverburn. Now the 3 out of town ones are all gone (the Fort was first downsized before closure and they seem to have an on-and-off relationship with Braehead, they reopened in a few other units there and then closed again), the Buchanan one is gone and the Argyle one is downsized. It used to be a bit larger and with an escalator, now a really cramped staircase at the back to go downstairs.

Then there were all of the other larger ones in other cities (London Oxford St, Manchester Market St & Edinburgh Princes St) that have all gone.

 

[adrock1976]

I think Birmingham is unique in this now for HMV. (Manchester still has a Fopp as well as HMV). The 'grotty' located-one is 'The Vault', which was supposed to be something unique that had a wider range of stock than the average store - though having visited a few times I'm not entirely convinced



Yes, as indeed is the 'browsing' experience, which you very much don't get online.

Regarding HMV in Birmingham, I can remember there was a big one in the Pavillions centre that covered each floor, and a smaller one along the east side of New Street (between High Street and Corporation Street/Stephenson Place).

 

[Mcr Warrior]

They've probably got rid of all their high rent premises.

 

[Falcon1200]

In Glasgow, we used to have the large Buchanan St store and the one on Argyle Street plus in the 3 out of town shopping centres - Fort, Braehead & Silverburn.

As you say even the one remaining HMV in Glasgow in Argyle St is greatly reduced in size (and the stairs down to the CD section are dreadful), but at least we still have Fopp in Union St !

 

[gg1]

I never stopped buying physical media, including vinyl... but when the "normies" caught on a few years ago and places like Sainsbury's and HMV started stocking LPs again I was astonished that people were prepared to pay the prices being asked.

If this (paywalled) article is to be believed, a significant chunk of them don't even own a turntable to play said vinyl

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/one-in-five-vinyl-buyers-has-no-record-player-k8wcd8850

Regarding HMV in Birmingham, I can remember there was a big one in the Pavillions centre that covered each floor, and a smaller one along the east side of New Street (between High Street and Corporation Street/Stephenson Place).

For a time in the 90s there used to be two in New Street a few doors down from each other, a legacy of taking over another record store I presume. IIRC one concentrated on music and the other on videos and games.

 

[johncrossley]

Physical music will sound better than its digital counterparts for a long, long time.

Can you tell the difference between a CD and a high bitrate music file? Presumably you can't claim CD sounds better than an uncompressed or 24-bit music file.

 

[Eyersey468]

The willingness of people to spend huge amounts of time and money following football teams baffles me. Each to their own.

And me to be honest but there you go. Im glad HMV seems to be doing OK.

 

[52290]

Can you tell the difference between a CD and a high bitrate music file? Presumably you can't claim CD sounds better than an uncompressed or 24-bit music file.

There are also 24 bit SACDs. I've a few hundred of these and they are very good.