Sunrise Records to take over 70 HMV locations
In January HMV, Canada’s biggest outlet for physical music sales, declared bankruptcy. Court documents show that the retailer was losing $100,000 a day. But those numbers don’t scare Sunrise Records president, Doug Putnam. Sunrise records plan’s to expand from it’s current ten stores by taking over 70 HMV locations across the country. Stores are planned to open this spring, after HMV liquidates and removes signage.
“It’s critical for Canada to have a physical media outlet. To not have that is culturally terrible. I don’t think it gets emphasized enough how culturally important music is. It’s a scary future to me if that goes away.” -Doug Putnam
One aspect of the industry that Sunrise is planning to emphasize, which you’ll notice was lacking in most HMV’s is vinyl. Nielsen Soundscan reported that in 2016, vinyl sales increased a whopping 29% over 2015. Surise Records is planning to stock it’s stores with roughly 20% vinyl, 30% c.ds, 15% dvds and 30% apparel and other products.
Sunrise has announced the following new locations, with more announcements coming soon
BC
Metrotown – Burnaby, BC
Orchard Park – Kelowna, BC
AB
Sunridge Mall – Calgary, AB
Marlborough Mall – Calgary, AB
West Edmonton Mall – Edmonton, AB (20,000 square foot store with performance stage)
Londonderry Mall – Edmonton, AB
Peter Pond Mall – Fort McMurray, AB
Park Place Mall – Lethbridge, AB
Medicine Hat Mall – Medicine Hat, AB
SK
Southland Mall – Regina, SK
MB
Kildonan Place – Winnipeg, MB
Polo Park – Winnipeg, MB
ON
Quinte Mall – Belleville
Stone Road Mall – Guelph, ON
Limeridge Mall – Hamilton, ON
Square One – Mississauga, ON
Place d’Orléans – Ottawa, ON
Heritage Place Mall – Owen Sound, ON
Pickering Town Centre – Pickering, ON
Station Mall – Sault Ste. Marie, ON
The Pen Centre – St Catharines, ON
QC
Les Galeries de Hull – Hull, QC
Place Fleur de Lys – Québec, QC
Promenades St-Bruno – Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, QC
Place du Royaume – Saguenay, QC
Centre commercial Les Rivières – Trois-Rivières, QC
La Grande place des Bois-Francs – Victoriaville, QC
NB
McAllister Place – Saint John, NB
Regent Mall – Fredericton, NB
“Is the business the same today as it was five years ago? Of course not, and it’s going to be very different in three years. It’s up to us to adapt and change.” -Doug Putnam
