King of Hits.co.uk - Tipsheet Messageboard

IMPORTANT NOTE:
You do NOT have to register to read, post, listen or contribute. If you simply wish to remain fully anonymous, you can still contribute.

Home

Forums

	Messageboards	Categories Show latest posts

Welcome, Guest
Please Login or Register. Lost Password?

Messageboards

Tipsheet

Tipsheet Messageboard

Post a new message in "Tipsheet Messageboard"

Name:

Subject:

Boardcode:

Message:
(+) / (-)

Emoticons





More Smilies

[b]dixie wrote:[/b]
[quote]So, with Hilco buying the debt, it looks like they are going to run things at HMV from now on. That could be good news. They’ve done a good job in Canada. I suspect the administrators are still involved, because there are assets that Hilco could sell that would be better going to the administrators (to distribute to creditors) than going into Hilco’s coffers. For example, the lease on 150 Oxford Street could be worth selling as it has a value of around &pound;12 million. These things will be sorted out in the next few weeks, but couldn’t be resolved in the timescale available, without further damaging the business. (Hilco UK sold the HMV Vancouver store because of its immediate value). So, that’s the immediate future sorted.

Longer term, Hilco need to recruit the best senior management - probably not all of the current lot! Then close loss-making stores like the Piccadilly Circus one, and find a cheaper central London location that isn’t so high profile/expensive. Sell off any store that will give a huge immediate premium. They then need to use this money to improve the remaining stores and introduce CD/DVD/Games burning (with a full range of products). I know I’ve gone on about in-store burning, but it’s the only way to ensure every store has virtually every title on-demand. (Before commenting, please go to a Tesco that has CD burning and see the quality. You really can’t tell the difference between in store manufactured and factory manufactured product!).

The Video and Record Industries are being very supportive.[/quote]

Enter code here

Topic History of: Hilco's Master Voice
Max. showing the last 5 posts - (Last post first)

Author	Message
JK2006	Exactly my feelings and the philosophy behind my SHOP!! format and concept.
dixie	First of all, apologies for the typos in my previous message. It was composed on a mobile device. Secondly, from Retail Week, this is an interesting perspective: Following reports yesterday that Hilco has acquired the debt of collapsed entertainment retailer HMV, Chris Moody, creative director at global brand and innovation agency Wolff Olins, shares his thoughts on what HMV needs to do next to thrive again. The news on Sunday that a group of music and film companies were looking to come together to save HMV by discounting products to sell in store is a cause for concern. The music and the film industries are even more broken than retail. Don't forget that music and film are exactly the same industries that didn't come up with disruptive innovations like Amazon and Spotify. This move has the potential to perpetuate a broken business model for HMV. But now that Hilco has acquired HMV’s debt, which effectively gives Hilco control of the retailer, what can it do to begin to change the game. HMV has spent the last few years making its high street presence mini identikit versions of an Amazon warehouse, each one stocking the same anodyne guff I can buy cheaper online - I'm only likely to go in if I know what I want. There’s a parallel in the world of fast food or fast fashion: the Byron hamburger chain sell patties all over London but no two restaurants are the same because no two sites are the same, Topshop has different stock in every store. What if HMV in Hackney had exclusives that HMV Kings Road didn't? HMV has some iconic retail locations, but there is no reason to meet your mate in the once brilliant Oxford Street store. Taking its cue from unique cinema chains like Ritzy, HMV could stop acting like a supermarket and became a destination again. A place you want to hang out in and experience the passionate, exciting and escapist world of music that shaped young identities and returns spirit to old ones. In-store gigs, record label take-overs, second-hand sellers, boutique concessions. Give His Masters Voice some personality again. Starbucks match its stores to its locations. They're places where people hang out and meet others. And while some of HMV's current stores might be the wrong size, there is still a place for various sizes and shapes of HMV stores up and down the country. And even better if they're staffed by passionate experts, like the wine lovers at Majestic. People that live and breathe the product, where a conversation with someone in store always leads you to walking away with more great discoveries. Celebrate difference and discovery. Amazon proudly claims to never have accidents but I have discovered some my favourite bands by accident, HMV can be the place where I do that again. Finally, embrace digital. Not as a competitor to the retail store, but something that works alongside it that gives people more of what they want. Just like our music tastes are a mixed bag of obscure artists and guilty pleasures, so too are our listening habits including Spotify, vinyl, iTunes and good-old radio. We're listening to more music than ever before. HMV can be one of the brands at the very top of the tree that helps people get more into music and become fans. Real fans feel music and will follow it everywhere. And that’s a powerful place to build a brand.
JK2006	Bit confused by your last statement Dixie. The problem with all retail, as you've pointed out in your "burning CDs" comments, is that they have NOT moved with the times. Easy to do; the changes in the past 5 years have been extraordinary. Just like making music - the majority simply try to replicate current success (boy bands? girl bands? copy and paste) where my philosophy has always been - do something nobody else is doing. We haven't heard or seen a solo retro young girl singer for ages. So watch CHARLEY sing Only Love Can Break Your Heart on You Tube. Something to make radio listeners sit up, increase the volume and stay tuned to your station. Surely, just what you want if you programme music radio?
dixie	DJones wrote: What's the role of the UMG in this? They bought with EMI the obligation to pay the rent for (some) shops, so they (should) have some control over the leases? UMG have no say, regarding the leases. It is standard commercial lease practice that if you were the previous leaseholder of a CURRENT lease, if the current tenant fails, it reverts to previous lease holders. In this case EMI - now owned by UMG. On saying that te media as blown up UMG's exposure. HMV has a good estate so most stores will be re-let quickly. UMG as a wall exposure.
DJones	What's the role of the UMG in this? They bought with EMI the obligation to pay the rent for (some) shops, so they (should) have some control over the leases?