Posted February 10, 200718 yr Fopp Builds Empire On Music Zone from Billboard (!!!!) February 05, 2007 - Retail | Global http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/27/Fopp.gif By Lars Brandle, London British independent music retailer Fopp has bought 67 stores from administrators of the beleaguered Music Zone chain. The outlets, plus Music Zone's headquarters and warehouse in Stockport, England and its warehouse in Denton, have been sold for an undisclosed sum, the company's administrators Deloitte said today (Feb. 5). In a statement, Deloitte partner Bill Dawson commented, "We are pleased with the disposal to Fopp, and wish them every success in the future. This represents a much better outcome for creditors and other stakeholders than a piece-meal disposal." The deal is the first sign of good news to emerge from Music Zone since it was placed into administration on Jan. 3. Within two weeks, joint administrators Dawson and Nick Dargan shuttered 31 stores, causing 325 job losses. Matters worsened when Deloitte admitted on Jan. 25 that they wouldn't find a home for the company and effectively called time on the business, resulting in 800 job cuts. Deloitte says that the new deal accounts for "substantially all" the Music Zone stores which had been open at the time of the Jan. 25 announcement. The demise of Music Zone, which until recently was the No. 3 ranked music specialist in the U.K., should confirm Fopp as a heavyweight contender in the U.K. High Street music retail sector. Fopp, which began life in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1981, operated 31 stores prior to the deal and accounted for 1% of U.K. album expenditure in 2005, according to labels body the BPI. The music merchant is headed by chairman and founder Gordon Montgomery, managing director David Pryde and finance director Peter Hill. Has your local Music Zone been taken over by Fopp? State your local branch and whether it is open today under Fopp or has remained closed.
February 11, 200718 yr i'll find out about my 2 on Monday, I could imagine the Stockton one maybe becoming a Fopp, but not the Boro one due to it's neighbour
February 11, 200718 yr Mine shut, but then re-opened as music zone again :unsure: It won't have been. If you ask them at the desk why they shut, they'll tell you that they're no longer Music Zone and they're waiting for the new sign. That's what they said to me when my MZ shut. :P
February 11, 200718 yr I've never heard of Music Zone :o your unlikely to ever again :lol: it joins Our Price in the record store bins
February 11, 200718 yr The 3 in my city centres have all remained closed!!! They might have re-opened at the wkend tho! I quite liked Music Zone, it was ace when there was a sale one! Dead cheap :dance:
February 11, 200718 yr Leeds music zone was closed yesterday. There was a notice in the window but I didn't read it.
February 11, 200718 yr To be honest the new Fopp is exactly the same as MZ, same staff, same layout, same design, the only difference is that it's a bit more expensive than Music Zone. :arrr:
February 11, 200718 yr the only difference is that it's a bit more expensive than Music Zone. :arrr: Oh typical :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
February 12, 200718 yr Author Except for the cool name "Fopp"? The name "Fopp" comes from the title of a song by the Ohio Players.
February 13, 200718 yr Not yet, but the question is how long will FOPP last. Our Price was taken over by Sanity - went under. MusicZone took over MVC - went under. FOPP takes over MusicZone - see a pattern emerge?
February 13, 200718 yr Not yet, but the question is how long will FOPP last. Our Price was taken over by Sanity - went under. MusicZone took over MVC - went under. FOPP takes over MusicZone - see a pattern emerge? Unfortunatey. I hated it when I thought MZ had closed down for good, in town the only places to buy music is HMV, Virgin and Woolies and they're all ridiculously priced. :manson:
February 13, 200718 yr Unfortunatey. I hated it when I thought MZ had closed down for good, in town the only places to buy music is HMV, Virgin and Woolies and they're all ridiculously priced. :manson: HMV is my preferred choice, the prices aren't that bad if you want chart albums. It's some of the back catalogue stuff that is ridiculously priced, especially the compilation cds, a lot of the recent Now cds are nearly £20 for crying out loud. As for woolies, they're not as good as they used to be.
February 13, 200718 yr HMV is my preferred choice, the prices aren't that bad if you want chart albums. It's some of the back catalogue stuff that is ridiculously priced, especially the compilation cds, a lot of the recent Now cds are nearly £20 for crying out loud. As for woolies, they're not as good as they used to be. It's usually the back catalogues I go looking for. :( Woolies I just find simply obscure, some albums are like £8 and others are like £14, weird price scheme. :wacko:
February 13, 200718 yr The one in Horsham is closed, and there's a new Fopp open, but not on the site of MZ which is still closed. I prefer Fopp anyway, better deals and more versatile ^_^
Create an account or sign in to comment