Entertainment
Entertainment explores the business and consumer trends driving the UK entertainment retail market, from gaming and film to music, books, and media. This section covers trading performance, brand strategy, licensing deals, and product innovation across both physical and digital channels. Retail Sector’s Entertainment coverage delivers insight for retailers, suppliers, and category managers seeking to understand how shifting consumer behaviour, technology, and partnerships are shaping sales and growth in this fast-evolving sector.
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Oct- 2019 -11 October
HMV opens Europe’s largest entertainment store in Birmingham
HMV has opened a new 25,000 sq ft megastore in Birmingham, making it the largest entertainment store in Europe, as its new Canadian owner attempts to kick off its revival. The HMV Vault, will be home to approximately 80,000 CDs, 25,000 vinyl albums, 40,000 DVDs and 20,000 Blu-ray discs, as…
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May- 2019 -30 May
Microsoft’s flagship store to open on 11 July
International technology and software company Microsoft is set to open its first physical retail store in Oxford Circus, London on 11 July. As well as getting access to new products, the store will feature an answer desk, offering a dedicated area for customers to get tech support, training, repairs and…
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15 May
Physical entertainment market falls by 17%
The retail market for physical entertainment declined by 17.4% during the 12 weeks to 7 April, attributed to a decline in shopper numbers, fewer major gaming and music releases and store closures for HMV. The research by Kantar showed that physical stores grew their share of the gaming market for…
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10 May
Hamleys sold to India’s richest man
Iconic toy store Hamleys has been sold to Reliance Brands Limited, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries – a conglomerate holding company owned by Mukesh Ambani, the richest man in India and the 13th richest man in the world as of March 2019. C.Banner International sold 100% of its shares in…
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9 May
The Works click and collect service leads to sales and revenue growth
Book retailer, The Works has announced it has had a “successful year” following the introduction of a click and collect service which has seen like-for-like sales and revenue rise. Revenue at The Works for the 52 weeks to 28 April rose by 13.2% year on year, while like-for-like sales saw…
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Feb- 2019 -19 February
Game and Argos’ market share boosted by major game releases
Game and Argos have reported increased growth in physical entertainment market shares for the 12 weeks to 13 January 2019, growing faster than the rate of large online retailers such as Amazon and Ebay. According to the latest figures from Kantar Worldpanel, sales of games, videos and music at Game…
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15 February
Zavvi blasted by ASA over Disneyland prize draw after winners complain
Online retailer entertainment retailer, Zavvi has been told not to run a competition again in “its current form” by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), after the winners were denied their prize as the retailer told them they had “responded too late”. The prize draw offered customers who paid with Mastercard…
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5 February
HMV bought by Sunrise Records
HMV has been bought by Canadian record store chain Sunrise Records, the deal will save 100 stores and 1,487 jobs, while 27 stores are expected to shutter resulting in 455 redundancies. No price has been given for the entertainment retailer, with staff expected to be notified if their store is…
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4 February
Canadian record shop owner ‘enters race’ for HMV
Doug Putman, the owner of Canadian record store chain, Sunrise Records, is said to be interested in purchasing HMV. The retail boss would rival Sports Direct owner, Mike Ashley, who has already placed a bid for the entertainment retailer. HMV administrators KPMG refused to comment on Putman’s interest, which was…
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Jan- 2019 -15 January
Games Workshop delivers strong half-year results
Fantasy miniatures retailer Games Workshop has reported a sales increase of 14% to £125.2m in its half-year results, covering the six month period to 2 December 2018. On a constant currency basis sales were up by 13% from £109.6m to £124m, compromised of retail £42.3m (2017: £39.6m), trade £60.7m (2017:…
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