FOPP (RETAILER)

'Fopp' is a retailer of music, film and books in the United Kingdom. From its origins as a one-man stall in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1981, there were over 100 branches
Fopp closes down its 105 stores
throughout the country in 2007. With the recent demise of Music Zone, Fopp became the third largest specialist music retailer in the UK in terms of store numbers (after HMV and Virgin Megastores). Fopp ceased trading and went into administration on 29th June 2007. It now exists as part of the HMV Group in six locations.
The name "Fopp" comes from the title of a song by the Ohio Players. Fopp can be found in ''The Scotsman's list of the 250 Biggest Scottish Companies.

Contents

Merchandising

Instore performances

Locations

Closure

Reopen

References

External links

Merchandising

Fopp operated a keep-it-simple approach to the pricing of its merchandise with most prices rounded to whole-pound figures. It built a reputation for reasonable prices on new release and non-mainstream catalogue CDs, DVDs and books. The company also had a policy called "suck it and see", whereby any purchase could be returned to the shop within 28 days for a full refund as long as it is as new. Many other CD/DVD retailers will not accept returned goods if security seals or plastic wrapping has been removed.

Instore performances

Fopp built a reputation for free live in store PAs from a broad selection of bands and musicians.

Locations

There were 50 Fopp stores and 37 outlets branded as Music Zone throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

Closure

Having taken over rival chain Music Zone following their fall into administration Fopp found themselves having cash flow problems. The company cancelled book deliveries in June blaming a change in location of warehouse from Bristol to Stockport (the old Music Zone warehouse).
On June 21st 2007 the company began accepting only cash transactions, stating 'card authorisation' problems as the cause.
On Friday June 22nd 2007 the company closed all branches across the company for 'stock taking' and said they were in talks with their bank. A week later the company announced it was a temporary closure in all its outlets and its online venture . Staff were informed on the 28th by management that they would not be receiving their monthly pay (just hours before payday).
On the 29th June 2007 they called in receivers after a last-ditch deal that would have allowed Sir Richard Branson a way to disolve himself of the loss making Virgin Megastores without the negative PR of closing down multiple locations, but this deal failed to win support from Virgin's main supplier. All the stores have closed and staff have been sent home, their monthly salaries unpaid.
The Fopp online webstore was taken down shortly after and replaced with the following message:
On 31 July 2007, it was announced that HMV would take control of the Fopp brand and its stores in London Covent Garden, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Manchester, Nottingham and Glasgow.^[1]

Reopen

The FOPP brand, has been purchased by HMV along with six of the stores in the following locations:

★ 'Cambridge', 37 Sidney Street.

★ 'Edinburgh', 3/15 Rose Street.

★ 'Glasgow', 19 Union Street.

★ 'Glasgow', 358 Byres Road.

★ 'Manchester', 19 Brown Street.

★ 'Nottingham', The Frontage, Queen Street.
Unfortunately the status of the remaining 50 stores is uncertain and they look unlikely to reopen thus only saving 70 of the 700 employees.
The chain operates independently of HMV preserving the FOPP brand name, and all six stores are now trading.^[2]
It was announced on 22 August 2007 that HMV would not be allowed to open the Fopp Covent Garden store after problems obtaining a lease from the landlord. The future of Fopp in London remains undecided.^[3]
On 24th August 2007, the Glasgow, Union Street and Edinburgh stores reopened. The Cambridge store reopened on 25th August 2007, and the Manchester store was relaunched on the 27th.

References

1. http://beardedmagazine.co.uk/viewarticle.php?id=46
2. http://www.beardedmagazine.co.uk/viewarticle.php?id=46
3. http://www.beardedmagazine.co.uk/viewarticle.php?id=53

External links

★ Official site

★ MySpace Page

★ Times Online 'Fopp calls in administrators'

★ Bearded Magazine Online 'HMV starts the buy-up of Fopp'

★ Article from ''The Scotsman'', 2004 - 'Fopp has finger firmly on public's musical pulse'

★ Bearded Magazine Online 'Fopp Fails to Open London Store'