[UK] GAME to shut down 85 stores

[Dark Drakan]

[UK] GAME to shut down 85 stores

Game will have less of a presence on the high-street next year, as the retailer plans to close 85 of its stores. Chairman Peter Lewis outlined the cuts this morning...

We remain the clear market leader in the UK, with 635 stores across two brands. We will continue to manage our store portfolio with strict retail disciplines. By Christmas 2013 we expect the UK store portfolio to have been reduced to about 550 stores as we reduce store over-lap and drive for greater cost efficiency.

We are focussed on having an efficient operating lease profile, To do this we are lowering our average lease length, now five years across the Group compared to 7 years two years ago, and through rent reviews and renegotiation we are seeking year on year operating lease savings.

GAME recently released a full online download service hinting a move towards more online download sales than store sales. Though its currently still being updated.

Game Downloader​

 

[Sean]

Re: [UK] GAME to shut down 85 stores

I knew someone who bought Halo: Reach from GAME and was extremely mad because he didn't get it before the release date, apparently they did something wrong or what not. But nice find, 85 stores is actually a huge chunk.

 

[cheezMcNASTY]

Re: [UK] GAME to shut down 85 stores

so... just to clarify. are you UKers viewing this as a good thing or a bad thing?

 

[droded]

Re: [UK] GAME to shut down 85 stores

It is the equivalent of GameStop in America.

 

[cheezMcNASTY]

Re: [UK] GAME to shut down 85 stores

being the only american post so far i'm guessing that was directed at me.

i know what GAME is, i was more wondering how the news is being recieved. happy, angry, indifferent? if gamestop shut down 85 locations you'd have the haters angry.
the majority of people, those to whom it's the only convenient game retailer, rather unhappy.

 

[SelfAppointedGunslinger]

Re: [UK] GAME to shut down 85 stores

Well whatever GAME stores they are, it better had not be the one right near My house.

 

[Shirosaki]

Re: [UK] GAME to shut down 85 stores

I doubt anyone cares unless they work at one of the closing stores. We tend to buy online nowadays since Game is quite extortionate with their pricing.

 

[Dark Drakan]

Re: [UK] GAME to shut down 85 stores

They have always been rather expensive for me and i hardly ever purchase games from there. However if its the only game shop in your town you would be quite annoyed if it was closed.

 

[Steve]

Re: [UK] GAME to shut down 85 stores

being the only american post so far i'm guessing that was directed at me.

i know what GAME is, i was more wondering how the news is being recieved. happy, angry, indifferent? if gamestop shut down 85 locations you'd have the haters angry.
the majority of people, those to whom it's the only convenient game retailer, rather unhappy.

Indifferent. The inside of the shop is nice - what with all of the gaming swag and merchandise (I bought a nice little Sonic the Hedgehog teddy from GAME for Jessica, which was pretty cool). Although, I do the majority of my shopping online. The last game I recall physically purchasing from an actual shop was Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 - which happened to be from GAME.

 

[Zjuggernaut]

Re: [UK] GAME to shut down 85 stores

There's two stores near me so I highly doubt that they'd close both of them.

I love GAME. I like the deals they do, the loyalty points given and the staff are usually decent and know their stuff.

 

[Shirosaki]

Re: [UK] GAME to shut down 85 stores

There used to be 3 near me but one closed.