GAME presses on with store closures

Plans to drastically reduce its UK store count are to continue as previously outlined at GAME.

In April 2010 chairman Peter Lewis stated that the group aimed to reduce its UK store count to 550 by Christmas 2013. This number was reiterated today by chief executive Ian Shepherd, who added that 15 stores have already been closed in the first three months of 2011.

"We aim to close stores without losing sales, using loyalty card data and marketing initiatives to transfer a minimum of 60 per cent of customers to the nearest store or online," he stated. "A relatively short average lease length of five years continues to offer us flexibility.

"Internationally, stores remain the key route to market in the medium term. In Spain, Portugal and the Czech Republic, where we are market leaders, there may be tactical growth where we see local and profitable opportunities. As we move to strengthen our businesses in France and Australia, there may be a small number of additional closures."

Shepherd added that GAME had successfully grown the number of visitors to stores who conclude a purchase from 18 per cent in 2009 to 19 per cent last year.