Summary
HMV has reported a 12% rise in footfall at its UK stores in the first half of the year. The music retailer, which has a store in Cheltenham, is benefiting from rising demand for collectibles including K-pop CDs, squishy toys and trading cards, as younger shoppers head back to physical stores. HMV said it is on track for around 50 million visits to its 114 UK shops during 2026.
Details
The retailer has revamped its stores since the pandemic to give more space to pop culture collectibles and merchandise. Phil Halliday, HMV managing director , said stores were now significantly busier on Saturdays, as younger consumers met there to share their interests. Revenue was also boosted by a rise in sales of physical products – with in-store vinyl sales up 27% and online vinyl sales increasing by 45%.
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CD sales rose by 10%, partly driven by K-pop fans buying physical albums. Halliday added that CDs were an affordable alternative to vinyl for younger music fans, which offered ‘a greater sense of ownership’ than listening to music on streaming sites.
Report source: Punchline Gloucester
