Next week, music store chain HMV will open its first Belgian store in Wijnegem’s shopping centre. What can customers expect? We have images of the British chain’s latest store concept.
300 T-shirts
News of HMV’s European expansion plans surprised a lot of people last week. After all, the breakthrough of streaming services seemed to give the already troubled music industry the final blow. However, the British chain profits from the upturn in vinyl record sales: on the British market, HMV is the leader in vinyl sales. CDs are also doing better again, thanks in part to the popularity of K-Pop: those Korean bands do indeed still release real CDs.
In addition, HMV sees great potential in licensed products: all kinds of merchandise with the logos of well-known characters from pop culture – think Funko, Loungefly, Anime, Marvel, Star Wars or DC. HMV also sells graphic novels and more than 300 T-shirts of well-known bands: ideal for shoppers looking for great gifts. The photos show the HMV store in Wigan (near Manchester), but the first Belgian store should not look too dissimilar.
