Entertainment
The latest news, updates and analysis on the entertainment segment of the the UK retail industry. Sign up to the Daily Briefing and let Retail Sector’s business journalists keep you in the picture.
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May- 2019 -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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9 January
HMV ‘denied’ £3.35m tax lifeline before administration
Beleaguered music and film retailer, HMV, who officially fell into administration during the festive period, was denied a £3.35m government tax cut before it entered administration new figures have revealed. HMV blamed a “tsunami” of retail challenges, including business rate levels, saying it paid £15m on sales of £277m meaning…
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Dec- 2018 -7 December
Games Workshop defies ‘high street woes’ with strong H1 results
Fantasy miniatures retailer Games Workshop has reported sales of £124m and operating profits of £41m for the first six months of its 2018/19 financial year. The group said the results were “in line with expectations” for the year ending 2 June 2019, but added that the board is “aware it…
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Oct- 2018 -31 October
Argos and John Lewis Christmas toy lists create surge in interest
A new study has found interest in this year’s “must-have” Christmas toys surged by almost eight times, following the publication of the Argos and John Lewis top Christmas toys lists. The research by digital marketing agency, Everest Media, analysed the volume of Google searches that each toy on the list…
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