PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
There are lessons to be learned from HMV scaling back on technology and refocusing on music.
The retailer told us it is cutting back on tablets to focus on core music, games and films. It’s been seen as a jack-of-all-trades in recent years, but perhaps a refocus is just what it needs.
HMV’s move contrasts with the rest of the market, however, where retailers like Tesco, Dixons and Argos are fighting for marketshare with their exclusive tablets, and even Samsung is getting involved in the growing children’s tablet sector.
Vendors have told us that PC stores could do better in the kids’ tablet market, but pricing can get fierce for children’s products at this time of year. Argos are particularly keen to avoid a “race to the bottom” and pricing products too low (read the PCR December issue or digital edition for the full interview).
With such competition in the tech arena (a little device called the iPad Air has recently launched), I don’t blame HMV for leaving other multiples to duke it out with each other this Christmas. Why teach an old dog new tricks when his original ones are perfectly fine?
Following your gut is sometimes better than following the pack, it seems.
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