GAME posts 9.7% UK sales decline in 2010

The GAME Group has reported a total sales decline of 12.3 per cent for the 49 weeks ending January 8th in the UK and Ireland.

On a like-for-like basis the UK drops hit 9.7 per cent. The Christmas period was more successful for the chain, however, with UK and Ireland sales falling by just 0.5 per cent year-on-year on a like-for-like basis. Overall sales fell 3.3 per cent in the period.

For the GAME Group as a whole like-for-like sales for the year were down 6.6 per cent with overall sales down 7.7 per cent. For the five weeks ending January 8th like-for-like sales fell 2.1 per cent and overall sales declined 4.1 per cent.

Online fared well over the year as a whole, falling just 0.3 per cent on both a total and like-for-like basis. International sales fell 2.2 per cent like-for-like over the year and 4.5 per cent like-for-like over Christmas.

The retailer points out that its numbers are below the overall level of decline seen in the UK video games market.

Annual profit for the year is estimated to be between 37m and 39m. In a statement the retailer said that it was on track to "deliver more operational cost savings" than the 7m it had previously predicted.

"Customers continued to shop at GAME over Christmas despite a difficult PC and video games marketplace and adverse weather," chairman Peter Lewis stated.

"Our specialist proposition, including the strength of our pre-Christmas deals and post-Christmas Sale offers, provided unique appeal for customers. The dedication and skill of our teams ensured that our stores remained open through the severe weather and customer conversion and market share increased during the key weeks."