British-based retailer HMV is happy to report it has made over £1.95 billion ($3.21 billion) in sales last year (ending April 25, 2009), making an easy profit of £63 million ($103 million). HMV saw profits rise 4.4%, up from £56.6 million ($93.1 million) in the previous year. Gaming, GamesIndustry.biz notes, played a big part in boosting the retailer's overall figures, thanks to the introduction of used games sales -- which is a tactic that has become quite popular as of late.
24% of all HMV's sales in the UK & Ireland were accounted to video games. This number is an increase of 4% over the previous year and also raises HMV's market share for gaming by 0.4%. HMV International also saw 12% of its total sales go to gaming and related technologies.
Overall, it seems HMV is pleased with how its new strategy with gaming is panning out. If this keeps up, the HMV logo change we've discussed before just might happen for real.
Reader Comments (19)
Posted: Jul 1st 2009 2:32AM Lucas Fenix said
Picture was taken at my local store, Merry HIll, England. Yeayuh!
HMV do stock quite a few games, I guess it makes sense.
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HMV do stock quite a few games, I guess it makes sense.
Posted: Jul 1st 2009 4:52AM (Unverified) said
You can tell by the daft patterns on the floor that they've in Merry Hill for as long as i can remember....
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Posted: Jul 1st 2009 8:18AM (Unverified) said
you can also spot the marks and Spencer's in the reflection in the glass
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Posted: Jul 1st 2009 2:34AM (Unverified) said
I work at an HMV in Canada and yeah, they are pushing HUGE for games considering they don't get pirated as heavily as music and movies.
Funny though, my employers constantly make it sound like we're doing horrible in breaking through into the games industry and it's the sales peoples fault.
Oh but wait, HMV Canada has neglected to include selling used games so far. Even though customers and staff constantly request it. But hey, that couldn't be why sales are down now could it?!
The suits from our head office are also so ignorant to games that they thought we could play video demos in the store by simply putting a game in a PS3...and it would play itself... all day. We laughed and said sure why not.
Yes I do have great contempt for my job, thank you for asking.
Reply
Funny though, my employers constantly make it sound like we're doing horrible in breaking through into the games industry and it's the sales peoples fault.
Oh but wait, HMV Canada has neglected to include selling used games so far. Even though customers and staff constantly request it. But hey, that couldn't be why sales are down now could it?!
The suits from our head office are also so ignorant to games that they thought we could play video demos in the store by simply putting a game in a PS3...and it would play itself... all day. We laughed and said sure why not.
Yes I do have great contempt for my job, thank you for asking.
Posted: Jul 1st 2009 2:54AM (Unverified) said
Only the Dreamcast was smart enough for that. After all, It's Thinking...
I had to.
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I had to.
Posted: Jul 1st 2009 2:53AM MystileArmor said
Stop it with these articles about Pacht... oohhh....
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Posted: Jul 1st 2009 3:21AM (Unverified) said
I wouldn't be surprised they make so much, it's stupidly overpriced, and outdated, for games. Okay for some peripherals though, and ours has a wider PC range than GAME does.
Though I did managed to pick up a cheap mis-priced copy of Buzz: Quiz TV the other week, spent the saved money of getting a few quiz packs.(video game quiz pack naturally)
Reply
Though I did managed to pick up a cheap mis-priced copy of Buzz: Quiz TV the other week, spent the saved money of getting a few quiz packs.(video game quiz pack naturally)
Posted: Jul 1st 2009 8:22AM (Unverified) said
What is happening to zavvi, the one in Dundee has been left open and name replaced with "head"
Also most the prices in the clear-out sales were still more than HMV that was across the road.
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Also most the prices in the clear-out sales were still more than HMV that was across the road.
Posted: Jul 1st 2009 9:46AM Haggard said
Their prices weren't great, that's probably why whatever happened did. I'm not really sure what's gone on, I think some of the stores have been sold, some haven't, and the stock has gone off in a million different directions.
I believe they still have an online shop a la amazon though.
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I believe they still have an online shop a la amazon though.
Posted: Jul 1st 2009 11:57AM (Unverified) said
It's a wonder anyone buys games at HMV (Zavvi or Virgin included) since their prices are ridiculous. Better to get your games from a dedicated store or even Sainsburys. Only a few months ago i saw Fight Night Round 3 still going for £45.
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