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HMV brand to expand in Ireland thanks to Xtra-vision alliance
By Chris Cooke | Published on Friday 30 August 2013
It having looked for a time like the HMV brand would disappear completely from the Republic Of Ireland, the entertainment retailer will now expand its presence around the country as a result of both it and video/games rental firm Xtra-vision coming into common ownership.
As previously reported, when the HMV Group fell into administration at the start of the year the company’s Irish stores quickly closed down, even while a buyer was still being sought for the UK business. But once Hilco had acquired the HMV UK company, it opened negotiations with the landlords of some of the firm’s former Irish stores, and will now open four shops in the country.
Meanwhile, in April Irish DVD and gaming retailer Xtra-vision also fell into receivership, with Hilco buying that business in June. And now Hilco has confirmed plans to co-brand 26 Xtra-vision stores in Ireland with the HMV name, introducing some of the product lines more associated with the music seller. It will result in the HMV brand arriving in a number of places where it never previously operated.
The CEO of Xtra-vision and HMV in Ireland, Gerry Butler, told reporters: “This roll out ensures that customers have access to a huge range of exciting movies, games, music and a range of other must-have entertainment products, coupled with Xtra-vision continuing to deliver and expand the movie and game-rental proposition. It’s really the best of both worlds for customers”.