Online retails saw a bump too, from 24.6 to 26.1 percent. Dedicated stores like GAME fell 35 to 33.9 percent. Woolworths left a big void.
Numbers, percentages… you love those kind of things right? Good. The demise of long-time retailer Woolworths had a major affect on the UK retail scene.
The Entertainment Retailers Association report noted that ”it became apparent in the run-up to Christmas 2009 that internet retailers and grocers had been the biggest beneficiaries of the demise of Woolworths. Internet retailing now accounts for around 30 per cent of video, games and music sales.”
The average price for a videogame in the UK last year was £21.34, which was a little less than 2008’s £22.99 - that’s right it fell by over a whole £. Shops like GAME and Gamestation averaged at £20.96, but the supermarkets were higher with £23.23.
Online outlets proved the cheapest at £19.29. It’s no surprise the supermarkets big boys want a much larger slice of the game sales pie - it’s big time revenue. They caused a stir when they undercut most with super low deals on Modern Warfare 2.
Videogames and milk purchases… together at last. Have you started to favour the supermarkets over the more ‘specialist’ retailers? Maybe you’re all Internet?
Source: GamesIndustry.biz
