Music Zone in Administration

Shaz79

Well they've now closed 30 odd stores and unfortunatly mines is one of them,
Im really sad about it coz i made really good friends there, it was heartbreaking saying goodbye to everyone, sad to think we're not gonna work together anymore,went into work yesterday morning just to be told i didn't have a job anymore, I still wish the best of luck to the rest of the stores hope it all works out.

Volvic

Music Zone were my favourite store when it first opened why I live. CDs, and DVDs were so cheap. Lately though it's climbing up there with HMV and Virgin. I never understood why they didn't sell online. The website is total tosh and is barely any use to anyone.

As for Virgin going tits up, Rick, are you off your nut??

highguyuk

Sorry to hear you lost your job Shaz - I know how it feels to be made redundant. Are stores still trading just cash only?

And yeah - not heard anything about Virgin. Would have thought they were doing quite well ...

Shaz79

Stores the last i knew should be accepting cards as well, the situation so far as i understand it they have closed 30 odd stores, the smaller and less profitable one's i think to make it better value for potential buyers for the company, they didn't accept cards for a couple of days because they had to get a new account which they have done i think its just cheques that they're not accepting for now.

Minimoo_2

All I've hear about Virgin is the megastores have been up for sale for years, nobody's bought them and they're still trading. As for Music Zone, it's going the same way as MVC. They closed the smaller, less profitable stores first, then the ones no buyers were interested in and so forth. Most were saved by Music Zone, but who'll save them?.

dachshund_2

I worked in one of the stores closed this week. Arrived as usual on Monday to be told we were no longer required. Nasty start to the new year.

Snugster

Slightly off topic but I was in a Musiczone yesterday asked a slightly scary looking assistant (tattoos/piercings/dreadlocks) for help - he was excellent, knew exactly where what I wanted was & took me to it (rather than waving vaguely towards the other side of the shop). :T
Best Wishes to all MusicZone staff.

Simon_H1986

I stumbled across this site whilst looking for information on this as i am very concerned about this, having read this thread i felt that i should post something, that and its given me a little chance to let off a bit of steam!

I am the Assistant manager of a Music Zone branch, and previously a member of staff at one of the MVC's fortunate enough to become part of this very successful chain.

There is nothing worse than having to go through administration. The first time i was unfortunate enough to have this experience was terrible. And for those who don't know, its no more fun the second time around. Realistically, its a large bundle of potentially life changing uncertainty.

That said, I would encourage all of you to not count us out, we are a very good business who fell apart for all of the wrong (and moreso unlucky) reasons, i have seen some of my friends become redundant already and again to stress my point, after doing all of this only a year ago, its awful to have to be doing this again.

I agree with Rocket Rick (who needs to send me some more posters! [kidding ] ), i have only been with the company for a year, but every hole that was present in MVC is not there in Music Zone, their directors are a very capable set of people who have steered our stores in the right direction and as managers they have given us room to breathe under pressure, (not to mention my nice xmas bonus!!) allowing us a certain amount of leway to get the job done over christmas. I have faith in Deloitte that they will find us a new home.

I can't say this officially, for obvious reasons, i stress this is my own personal opinion, but if we manage to survive this, ( i will be celebrating hugely with my staff as this will be occasion #2 we've dodged the bullet!!) then look out for us, as we will be re-defining our industry as we had already started to do so.

My absolute best wishes to all my friends in the former MVC's (and the MZ's even though i didnt know you) who have survived this round of cuts, and my sympathies to those who didnt (Plymouth, Fareham, & Cwmbran - you guys all know who i mean).

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If there are any specific questions about how we are continuing to operate trade, its not a problem, to highlight previous points:

Someone mentioned only taking cash and vouchers and not cards... we can take credit cards again now.

As for vouchers, Deloitte have not made the mistake that MVC adminstrators(who i wont name ) did, MZ vouchers are still redeemable.

Realistically, we are operating business as usual, and look forward to all your custom.

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My best wishes to all of my colleagues, in my store, in other stores and at HO.

Simon_H1986

BrentFalconer wrote:

Hi Rick

Just found this site and it's nice to see someone from Head Office communicating the situation to everyone!

I work at one of the Dorset Music Zones and I have to say we are reeling from the news. Having been through this with MVC makes it no easier to deal with, probably makes us more cynical, but we are all hoping that MZ pulls through.

Despite the lack of information coming down from Delloitte it's obvious to any ex-MVC team members that MZ are in a vastly better position than we were a year ago. Our store has just had the best Q4 we've ever had, the 21st - 23rd December alone produced takings that would take us 3 weeks to take usually.

MVC were always the underdog on the highstreet and their prices reflected their 'Southern' birth with higher prices than they would have liked. Music Zone was a revelation to most of us, cheap prices without resorting to the internet and a management team with a vision for the future.

It's difficult but we are used to battling through!

Thanks for the info and hope that we get back to business as usual soon!

Just read this one, it made me laugh, nice to see there are others on here who know their stuff!!!

I totally agree with you, i feel a lot more comfortable this time round, as MZ are in a better position than MVC were, by miles. Our store also, saw the best christmas sales in the last 3 years.

"Having been through this with MVC makes it no easier to deal with, probably makes us more cynical, but we are all hoping that MZ pulls through."

Hahaha, also true, us MVC guys are a pretty cynical bunch, but i agree with you, we're all counting on Delloitte!!

MrSaver

I went into Music Zone in stockport the other day, some good deals.

I also think that selling online would benefit them, and hopefully once they have got their current problems sorted they will branch into that region.