They open mid-October-ish and won’t close until January. They’ll offer their full array of products, especially games the ”main staple” of gifts.
They will spring up across the UK at certain High Streets and shopping centres, doubling last year’s number. Each will have around 2k to 3k square feet to pack in stuff to buy. Videogames will be a big focus as they’re ”the main staple of Christmas gift buying”.
”We were really pleased with our temporary locations last year, which generally traded very well and even encouraged us to convert a handful, such as Torquay and Bury, into more permanent sites,” said HMV’s Mark Bowles.
”It’s great for customers as they are presented with a specialist entertainment retail offer when they most need it – in the run-up to Christmas. Landlords like it as well, as it helps to keep shopping centres and High Streets busy with well known brands.”
It’s a great way for the retailer to experiment with what sites can be great permanent locations for future HMV stores.
”Aside from the commercial boost from the trading benefits, you also get to test-run locations that you’ve been thinking about – and if the reaction is positive or stronger than you expect, then this helps to build a case to open a permanent store there.”
“A few years ago none of this would have been possible, but we now have the operational, product and IT processes in place to be able to go in and set up at relatively short notice.”
