HMV next to go

Julie1979 said:
We followed the Jessops model with all our large baby items. Looked at them in various stores and ended up buying online. (hangs head in shame)

Mothercare would be a shame but they can be overpriced. We don't often buy anything from there. It's the same with Early Learning Centre, they can be very overpriced for what you're buying.

Can't say i've heard and recent rumours, not since they closed a lot of shops either last year or the year before.
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we've done the opposite.

Can't think of anything really bought online, except a cot. 2 prams, 3 car seats, countless toys and loads of clothing all bought in store
 
makes me wonder about the knock on effect to the whole retail sector who thrive on gift cards. Just been reading an article about gift cards having an average life span of 2 months... in effect, interest free loans to the retailers, equating to £65m a year in saved interest.

With an estimated spend of £4.4bn on gift cards last year.. and businesses accounting for around 50% of this to pass on as rewards for staff or gifts to clients etc.. i can imagine that the demise of large high street retailers would put a massive dent in consumer confidence to go and purchase gift cards in the future. Not good.
 
TriggerHappy said:
I'm amazed they've lasted this long. It's got to be 10+ years since I actually bought anything from HMV and probably at least 6 years since I even stepped foot inside one. My outstanding memory was just how expensive they were compared to the likes of Amazon and Play.
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It all boils down to price in the end, doesn't it?

Perhaps it is true that our high street operators should change the way they get their product or service to the market. To an extent this is true but not applicable to everyone. You can't dine out or work out online. When you need legal advice it is best to go to a solicitor than do it online or over the phone. Not for everything anyway.

Back to your post, I have noticed some items competitively priced at HMV though of course, with establishment and staffing costs to meet, their prices have generally to be higher.


However here's something on Laura Kuenssberg's Twitter feed that bears a thought

"Music industry veteran tells me HMV collapse 'calamitous', leaves artists at mercy of Amazon + supermarkets"


This thing hits everyone.....
 
I spend a £15 voucher I got for christmas on friday, just in time!!

Couldn't see them lasting much longer, they just aren't competitive. It's a shame about the job losses though.
 
joescrivens said:
we've done the opposite.

Can't think of anything really bought online, except a cot. 2 prams, 3 car seats, countless toys and loads of clothing all bought in store
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We bought all furniture from john lewis (online)disaster! It took 3 deliveries to get a complete set due to scuffs and scrapes.

We do buy from Mothercare but not the big things apart from a £100 buggy after growing to realise the Phil & Teds was too big for shopping trips.
 
Julie1979 said:
Mothercare would be a shame but they can be overpriced. We don't often buy anything from there. It's the same with Early Learning Centre, they can be very overpriced for what you're buying.
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Mothercare were in trouble last year and I don't believe they are in a significantly improved position today. ELC is part of the Mothercare Group, so I would expect them both to come under the same spotlight if things go awry.

However, for Mothercare there is a future, as opposed to what I see for HMV. They need to adjust their model more. Look at what Kiddicare is doing under Morrisons' ownership - strengthening their online offering, but providing some good 'internet showrooms' for their merchandise. The big difference between Kiddicare and Jessops/HMV is that they are a) carrying a good variety of stock, b) they will match online prices, but their prices are already keen when compared to their competition, c) they have knowledgeable staff that can empathise and advise parents/to be and d) they are seen as a good and trusted place of information.

The key thing to watch with Kiddicare will be if they become victims of their own success by trying to expand too quickly and losing their differentiation by not bringing in qualified, empathetic staff. Lose your clients trust and you lose their business. But things do look good for them.
 
joescrivens said:
be very surprised to see that heppening

Parents like to walk around mothercare and see and feel the products, also we have lots of questions where the staff can advise.

prams, car seats all need to be seen and tried in the store.
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Then buy online cheaper :-)
 
The Greek said:
I know nothing! Lol, only saying what I have heard from a very good source.
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Hey, it's not to say they are right...............they're a bank remember! :lol:
 
must admit I feel slightly guilty, as when Jessops went under last week, and peoplea t work were discussing it, I called HMV to be the next. Mothercare and BHS are top of my list to be next.
 
Lynton said:
must admit I feel slightly guilty, as when Jessops went under last week, and peoplea t work were discussing it, I called HMV to be the next. Mothercare and BHS are top of my list to be next.
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People will still want to touch and see what they buy for baby, and the clothes they wear, it's the digital stuff shops sell thats on the fast track to download heaven so bye bye GAME, well the high street side of the business anyway.
 
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