44,45 MCV543_final
22/6/09
09:36
Page 1
RETAILBIZ: HIGH STREET 44 MCV 26/06/09
WWW.MCVUK.COM
Sponsored by
RETAIL BIZ: NEWS
OFFERING NEW SERVICES THE BIGGEST challenge we’re all facing right now is a drop in footfall. I’m combating this by offering a wide range of services to increase sales that way. One area that is either overlooked or can’t be implemented due to the complexity of it, is phone unlocking. There is big money in phone unlocking and repairing. We unlock most phones on-site and open the phone up to any network. We even sell pre-owned phones and accessories. I am also launching a new service for indies to supply the equipment and full live technical support via MSN. Once you have bought the equipment, which is not expensive, the outlay is over and the money you take is pure profit. The
“I firmly believe we should be spending our money and time developing this add-on services if we are all to survive and increase our sales during the recession.” main issue with this has been acquiring the necessary knowledge, as it is a complex topic and unlockers never reveal the secrets. I firmly believe we should be spending our money and time developing these add-on services if we are all to survive. New releases may be one tempting area to get people in, but the recession has taught people to be very price conscious. They simply go to the cheapest place for each item and sell low to get extra sales. This doesn’t work any more – at least not in the way it did. Just think about Zavvi and Woolworths, if you need reminding. If anybody is interested in offering these services and making a lot of extra cash, contact me and I’ll be happy to help you. Gary Noakes Proprietor of Game Player
INDIE CHARTS - ALL FORMATS THIS WEEK
LAST WEEK
1
TITLE/FORMAT
PUBLISHER
PROTOTYPE FORMAT: 360
DEVELOPER: RADICAL ENTERTAINMENT PUBLISHER: ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
2
1
2
NEW
THE SIMS 3 PC
4
2
RED FACTION GUERRILLA 360
THQ
5
3
RED FACTION GUERRILLA PS3
THQ
6
4
POKÉMON PLATINUM DS
7
RE
PROTOTYPE PS3
UFC 2009: UNDISPUTED PS3
8
6
UFC 2009: UNDISPUTED 360
9
RE
WII FIT WII
10
8
STAR OCEAN 360
MCV offers a weekly digest of the latest news on the High Street... TESCO’S UK SALES UP 4.3 PER CENT The UK’s biggest retailer Tesco posted another strong set of numbers for the 13 weeks ending May 30th 2009 that show both domestic and international growth. Like-for-like UK sales for the period were up 4.3 per cent excluding petrol, with total growth reaching 9.3 per cent. Tesco’s non-food business saw “modest growth” with categories including electricals and toys seeing improved performances. International sales increased by 11.4 per cent at constant exchange rates, with European sales managing to climb 1.9 per cent despite the tough economic climate in the Euro sector. Asian growth hit a staggering 43.8 per cent, whilst US sales went one better, jumping by 174 per cent. Total Group sales for the period excluding petrol were up by 12.6 per cent. GAME ON TRACK DESPITE TOUGH HIGH STREET The UK’s largest dedicated games retailer GAME assured investors that its performance to date in 2009 is in line with its expectations. In the period between February 1st and June 13th, the GAME Group opened 23 new stores bringing its total outlet base to 1,365 across ten countries and across its two brands – GAME and Gamestation. In addition, GAME confirmed that the integration of the Gamestation chain, including its IT and distribution networks, will be fully completed by September. As of May 30th 2009 the Group’s net debt was £86m, up from the £57.8m at the same stage in 2008. It predicts that net debt for the year ending January 31st 2010 will be around £60m. ANALYST: MODERN WARFARE 2 TO OUTSELL ALL 2009 RELEASES A Janco Partners analyst recently estimated that sales of Activision Blizzard’s Modern Warfare 2 will surpass 11.1 million units by the end of 2009. The firm’s Mike Hickey suggested the game will be “the largest video game release” for the year, and will rack up $338 million in sales on its first day. In his analysis on the game, Hickey said: “We anticipate the sell through to consumers of 11.1 million units for an estimated retail value of $803 million and sell-in approximating 12.4 million units.”
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ON THE UK HIGH STREET, CHECK OUT: WWW.MCVUK.COM/RETAIL-BIZ
MCV POLL ARE YOU ATTENDING GAMESCOM IN COLOGNE?
74%
EA ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
YES
NINTENDO THQ THQ NINTENDO SQUARE ENIX
Charts compiled by Game Guide/Complete EPOS Solutions. For more information about Complete EPOS Solutions call 01543 370002. For more information about the Game Guide call 01606 836347.
26% NO
The organisers of Gamescom have triumphed over their Leipzig-based rivals in the fight to be Europe’s flagship games trade show, and now participants of our latest online MCV study prove they have an audience supporting them.
Take part in MCV’s next poll at www.mcvuk.com
ble at a l i a v All A
For more information contact sales - 01256 385 251
NINTENDO DS, IS A TRADEMARK OF NINTENDO.
[RETAIL REACTION]