M&S to expand on games after Xmas?

News

Andrew Wooden Jan 2 2008, 11:05am

Retailer to launch review of sector next year; Extension of games offering possible

Supermarket chain Marks and Spencer could be looking to increase the amount of space it gives games in the New Year – as the retailer prepares for an internal review of the sector’s performance.

The company’s games offering currently resides in various ‘technology stores’ dotted around the UK in larger outlets.
And the company has told MCV that after being part of the success of the market it will be looking to revaluate the level of floor space it gives to games after Christmas.

“We have a range of consoles and games in our gold technology stores and online, as part of our existing technology offering, and we will be reviewing our offer after Christmas,” a spokesperson from Marks and Spencer told MCV.

“With our move into technology and success in electrical business the gaming market was an obvious addition to our range.”

Marks and Spencer made a significant move into the video games space earlier this year, which many saw at the beginnings of a plot to take on supermarket giants Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s.

Any further expansion into the video games arena from the High Street firm will be likely to cause worries amongst specialist and independent retailers that the current software ‘price wars’ between generalist stores could be set to increase.

In MCV’s Retail Survey 2007, games independents cited the increased market share by the grocery giants as the biggest single threat to their business.