BIG BRAND ENTERTAINMENT RETAILER SECURES PROMINENT UNIT IN MAJOR CITY SWITCH

Date: 20 Jul 2009

HMV, the UK & Ireland’s leading music, film and games specialist has confirmed its move into one of the main units available in Princesshay, Exeter’s awarding winning shopping quarter.

This major development will not only see HMV switch to the much larger premises in Princesshay – at 6,000 sq.ft. almost double the size of its previous operation, but will see its sister music and entertainment retail chain, Fopp, take up its longstanding site at 191 High Street (3,300 sq.ft.).

HMV currently has 270 stores in key shopping locations nationwide, and the international brand has now finalised an agreement to occupy the unit formerly occupied by Zavvi, one of the most prominent positions in the centre of the shopping quarter.

Wayne Pearce, Princesshay Centre Director said: “We’re really excited that HMV have confirmed their move into one of our central units. The brand is internationally recognised and will be a fantastic addition to Princesshay.”

Mark Bowles, HMV Director of Property comments: “We’re delighted to be taking up the site in Princesshay, which has an excellent location and is almost double the size of our longstanding store in the high street. We’ve been looking to extend our trading space in Exeter for some time so as to offer improved range and service to our customers and also to introduce new product categories, such as iPods and other personal technology. The added bonus of this move is that it enables us to bring Fopp to the City as well. The two brands have their own highly distinctive styles, customer offers and shopping environments, but complement each other very well, and will further increase choice for music, film and games fans in the City.”
Due to the nature of the entertainment business, HMV have become renowned for their ability to adapt store layouts and space in order to capitalise on new and fast growing entertainment products. The unit HMV will occupy in Princesshay has 6,000 sq ft of shop floor space and will employ 16 staff.
The new HMV store in Princesshay is expected to commence trading by 18th July, with the Fopp taking up in its former site to open around 25th July. Launch activity is planned and details will be announced in due course.