HMV fast forwards expanded technology offer

After a turbulent year to date, retailer HMV has announced that it is to fast-forward” its efforts to increase its presence in the technology market.

Its new range and displays are being rolled out as quickly as possible to 150 of the chain’s UK and Ireland stores following a successful trial in six stores in the first half of this year.

Some stores will dedicate up to 25 per cent of their floor space to the new tech range. The new offer will be marketed with the tag line Play it, Touch It, Live It”. In-store and nationwide marketing is being planned for Q3 and Q4.

Head of technology Ewan Pinder, who joined the retailer from Comet in March, is heading up the new HMV tech team which has been expanded to include nine people.

Phil Browes who joined HMV in June, is the new technology category manager. Rob Mason has been made senior category buyer and Dean Millward category buyer. The assistant category buyers are Jonny Austin and Ed Lee.

Rebecca Hunt has been appointed as supply chain manager and Tilly Bolton and Anne Ravet have both become merchandise planners for the division.

"We now have a really strong buying team in place – an excellent blend of experience and commerciality and youthful drive and enthusiasm, which will support our plans to expand HMV’s tech offer and our ambition to become the leading specialist retailer of personal technology on the high street,” Ewan Pinder stated.

HMV’s remit has always been about giving its customers the widest-possible access to music, film and games, however they want to discover and enjoy them, so expanding our range of technology products, through which so many of us increasingly consume our entertainment content these days, is actually a very natural fit for us."