What with music stores closing up shop all over the place these past number of years, even the biggest chains have had to make some changes, and HMV has been no exception - in 2006 it added video games to its stores. This proved a wise decision as that fiscal year (FY) games accounted for 14 percent of all sales for the franchise, and this FY (ending April 26), 21 percent. As a result of all this, the company has decided to move into selling used games. A report from the company states:
"We continued to enhance our credibility with customers and suppliers in the fast-growing games console and software market, and are planning to launch a pre-played games offer in 2008/09."Its multiplayer 'game zones' (pictured below) have been a hit too, outdoing the older-fashioned stores; 10-15 will follow this year and next.
Also, the company's financial statements reveal basically everything but music is going to get a jump in sales, such as gaming and tech products. HMV is sounding more and more like a general electronics and media store (i.e. Futureshop, Circuit City, etc.) by the minute.
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