GAME announces closure of 19 stores
Locations to shut down as part of wider plans announced in April last year
The GAME Group has revealed that 19 of its stores will close as part of its plans to reduce the overall location count first announced last April.
Those plans outlined the strategy to see 85 shops shut down across a three-year period, while the retailer has also opened or relocated stores in the past nine months, as well as dropping 25 outlets that were installed in Debenhams outlets.
"You will remember that last April we announced plans to close 85 UK stores over three years, to reach 550 by the end of 2013," said regional MD Martyn Gibbs in a statement given to GamesIndustry.biz. "This was part of a detailed review to ensure that our stores are in the right locations for our customers, and we have already started to move some locations accordingly.
"Since the statement in April 2010, we have opened or relocated 13 stores and closed 19, as well as 25 Debenhams concessions. This year we will continue with this strategy and we have now informed 19 stores that we are proposing closure in the coming weeks.
"This is never easy news to announce and I am fully aware of the impact of these decisions on our people. We are fully committed to finding alternative roles for those who are potentially impacted by the decisions."
Staff were informed of the decision earlier this week, although the specific locations of the closures have not been detailed.