Virgin Megastore
Virgin Megastores is an international retail chain founded by Sir Richard Branson as a record store on Oxford Street, London in the spring of 1976.
In 1979 the first megastore opened at the end of Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road . In the 1990s, it expanded into hundreds of stores worldwide. But in the years that followed, many shops had to be closed again. In the UK, USA, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Canada, Australia, France, Greece and Japan all shops were closed again. Currently, the stores are exclusively focused on the Middle East with over 100 stores.
history
Virgin megastores
The first store opened on Oxford Street in London in January or February 1971 (exact date unknown). In 1979 the first megastore opened at the end of Oxford Street / Marble Arch . Virgin Megastores and Virgin Records operated independently like many other Virgin companies. In 1980 and 1990 over 100 stores opened in the UK and other countries. Simon Wright was Chief Executive of Virgin Entertainment Group from 1999 to 2009. He was instrumental in expanding its business in Asia, the Middle East, Australia and North America.
owner
Like many of Branson's Virgin brands, the Virgin Group does not solely own Virgin Megastores. Virgin Group has sold most of its Virgin Megastores to various companies. Including the Lagardere Group . In 2001 the Virgin Megastores were split between the Virgin Group and the Lagardère Group worldwide . The Virgin Group kept the UK, Ireland, USA and Japan. The Lagardère Group received business in France, Australia, China, United Arab Emirates , Qatar , Greece , Italy , Egypt , Lebanon and Jordan .
In 2007 the real estate group Related Companies and Vornado Realty Trust wanted to take over Virgin Megastores in North America. Before that, the decision was made to close all stores.
In the UK and Ireland, a management buy-out was carried out in September 2007 , creating the UK's largest independent retailer. In November 2007 the company was renamed “ Zavvi ”. At the end of 2008 it was announced that the majority of all shops will be closed and the majority will be sold to competitor HMV and some to Head Entertainment . In December 2009 it was announced that the last shops will also be closed.
| country | Megastore owner / operator | Megastores | Books and Music | Number of megastores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK and Ireland | Zavvi Entertainment Group (2007-2008) | No | No | 125, all closed |
| France | Butler Capital Partners (80%) / LS Travel Retail (15%) / Virgin Mobile France (5%) | No | No | 35, all closed |
| Australia | Brazin Limited / Sanity Entertainment (2001–2010) HDS Retail Asia Pacific / LS Travel Retail (2004–2012) |
No | No | 24, all closed |
| United States | Virgin Entertainment Group ( Related Companies / Vornado Realty Trust ) | No | Yes | 23, all closed (2 Virgin Books and Music stores) |
| Japan | Marui Co / Culture Convenience Club / Tsutaya Stores Holdings (1990–2009) | No | No | 22, all closed |
| Middle East | V Star Multimedia (Butler / Lagardère) | Yes | Yes | 18th |
| Greece | Vivere entertainment | No | No | 15 in 2005 - all closed |
| Hungary | Fotex Records | No | No | 1 in 2000 - all closed |
| Italy | No | No | 4, all closed | |
| Spain | Virgin Entertainment Group | No | No | 9, all closed |
| Germany | HDS Retail / LS Travel Retail | No | Yes | all closed (5 Virgin Stores) |
| The Netherlands | Free Record Shop group | No | No | 4, all closed |
| Canada | Virgin Entertainment Group | No | Yes | all closed (1 Virgin Books and Music store) |
| Austria | Better Music Handelsgesellschaft mbH | No | No | 2, all closed |
Product selection
All Virgin Megastore stores offer CDs , games, books, DVDs , records , magazines, portable media players, accessories and other products such as calendars, board games and Virgin branded items . Larger stores are also stocked with electronic equipment and computer peripherals. It should be noted, however, that not all of these product categories are available in all Virgin stores, although the larger stores usually have the full range of products in stock.
In 2003, all business in the US focused on different categories of fashion, pop culture, categories like street, urban, film and television to compliment the music, and DVD and video game offerings. Virgin Mobile products can also be found in separate Virgin Mobile compartments in most Virgin Megastores. Some shops also have cafes, which are often run by external companies.
Web links
- Virgin Megastores (International portal)
- Virgin Megastores (France)
- Virgin Megastore (Gulf countries and Egypt)
- Lagardère Group
- Virgin Store (Germany)
swell
- ^ Who's Richard Branson . Virgin Group. Archived from the original on April 6, 2008. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
- ^ Virgin Megastore: Music and entertainment stores around the world . Virgin.com. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
- ^ Lagardère Media acquires Virgin Stores in France . Lagardère Group. July 26, 2001. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
- ^ Related Companies to Acquire Virgin Entertainment Group Virgin Megastores North America . PR Newswire. August 17, 2007. Retrieved March 28, 2008.
- ^ Related Companies to Acquire Virgin Entertainment Group Virgin Megastores North America . Related. August 17, 2007. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
- ^ Branson sells Virgin music stores , BBC News . September 17, 2007. Retrieved March 28, 2008.
- ↑ Head Entertainment starts closing down sale . Retail Week. September 12, 2009. Retrieved February 18, 2009.
- ↑ Virgin Entertainment Group Teams Up With UK Fashion Leader Ben Sherman; Virgin Entertainment Group Launches Ben Sherman Boutiques Inside Select Virgin Megastores. (12-FEB-03) PR Newswire. March 25, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2018 .
- ↑ UK - Virgin Mobile to set up outlets in megastores. (04-AUG-03) Europe Intelligence Wire. March 25, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2018 .
- ↑ Virgin Mobile USA is Virgin Megastores' One and Only. (20-JUN-02) PR Newswire. March 25, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2018 .
- ^ SSP wins contract for French Virgin Megastores. February 24, 2000, accessed April 28, 2018 .
