NEWS
RETAIL INTELLIGENCE Head to
www.mcvuk.com for daily market data and news. This week our Retail Biz section starts on p53
MBL hires GAME execs for retail push New recruits to help troubled distributor launch new consumer facing websites and High Street shops this year
by Christopher Dring A SMALL-SCALE retailer is on the cusp of
transformation after hiring two GAME veterans. Big Retail, the chain of entertainment stores operated by distributor MBL, recently welcomed David Webb and Steve Wilde to its ranks, MCVcan reveal. We understand MBL hopes to open several new websites and High Street shops this year, all of which will focus on DVD, music and games. Webb was former
divisional general manager at GAME and has been recruited as retail director. He has worked in retail for 25 years and joined Gamestation in 2001 as regional manager. He became director of central operations in 2005 and stayed on after GAME acquired the firm. Meanwhile, Steve Wilde has joined the firm as IT director. Wilde has held a string of IT roles at
companies including GAME, Gamestation and Barclays.
The new recruits are part
of MBL’s bid to diversify its business having lost its major distribution contract with supermarket chain, Morrisons.
The company admitted it would be significantly downsizing its operations after losing the contract. MBL’s relationship with the supermarket chain
accounted for 78 per cent of “ 4 April 22nd 2011
Former GAME and Gamestation execs David Webb (left) and Steve Wilde (right) will help MBL grow its High Street and online presence
MBL has hired new senior staff as it attempts to grow its small scale retail business.
its turnover during the last fiscal year. Redundancies are
currently being made and MBL is up for sale, with KPMG Corporate Finance seeking potential suitors. MBL’s push into retail follows last year’s
appointment of former The
Hut,
Play.com and Green Man Gaming exec Gian Luzio as ecommerce director. Luzio has since launched entertainment website
Bee.com, which he
manages. The company also runs the entertainment website for Sainsbury’s.
www.mblgroup.co.uk
WILL THIS BE THE BIGGEST VIDEO GAME OF 2012?
Mario and Sonic are set to return in what could be next year’s biggest video game. Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games is already cropping up on retail websites for Wii. Sega has yet to confirm the existence of the game, which would be the third Olympic outing for the mascots. MCVunderstands the game could arrive as early as this Christmas. The previous two titles are amongst the best-selling games on Wii.
www.mcvuk.com
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