Music retailer HMV has introduced plans to reopen its historic flagship retailer on London’s Oxford Avenue later this 12 months as half of a bigger enlargement plan.
The music chain closed the shop in 2019 after going into administration however the firm’s fortunes have modified following its acquisition later that very same 12 months by Canadian businessman Doug Putnam’s Dawn Information.
HMV first opened on the location in 1921 and have become a part of UK pop music folklore, with connections to The Beatles’ first break, and a hub for promotional occasions and signings, internet hosting occasions for Blur and the Spice Ladies in its Nineteen Nineties heyday.
Putnam, who has a status for turning round ailing retail companies having additionally rescued Toy ‘R’ Us, mentioned the return to well being for the corporate was right down to its fan and community-focused strategy.
In response to the demise of the CD and DVD market with the rise of streaming, the retailer has expanded its providing to popular culture merchandise, vinyl, movie, TV and music expertise.
It has additionally revived its custom of welcoming music artists to its shops, internet hosting occasions and signings for the likes of Charli XCX, Stormzy, Shania Twain, Raye and Ellie Goulding in its UK websites over the previous 12 months.
“The enlargement of our fan-focused popular culture provide is de facto working for us, and the reopening of our flagship represents the end result of a very good few years of exhausting work,” mentioned Putnam.
“We’re additionally opening shops in Europe this 12 months, so whereas it’s the end result of 1 part of labor, extra excitingly we see it because the launchpad for an thrilling new period for HMV.”
HMV presently has 120 outlets throughout the UK, together with the specialist Fopp retailer in London’s Covent Backyard, and the Vault in Birmingham, which is billed as Europe’s largest leisure retailer.
The revamped 363 Oxford Avenue retailer will characteristic HMVs new emblem, structure and idea, first trialled within the West Midlands city of Solihull, the place a brand new look store was opened in July 2021 to mark HMV’s a centesimal birthday.
HMV mentioned the idea may have been taken to 24 new websites – and retrofitted to 14 present shops– by the tip of 2023.
