High street entertainment outlets start to fight back
The latest data from Kantar Worldpanel, for the 12 weeks ending 6 July 2014, shows that traditional high street names such as GAME and HMV are beginning to steal back share from the supermarkets.
Fiona Keenan, strategic insight director at Kantar Worldpanel, explains: “HMV appears to be making a comeback on the high street following a strong performance over the past quarter. It has increased its share of the entertainment market from 13.6% to 14.7%– a significant improvement on its record low of 10.7% following its administration last year. Performing strongly in video and music, it is winning some shoppers back from the grocers as well as increasing spend from its current shoppers by £3 over the past 12 weeks alone. Meanwhile GAME has continued to grow its share of the gaming market leading to a boost in its overall entertainment share, up 1.1 percentage points compared with last year.”
Amazon remains the entertainment market leader with a 21.8% share, primarily capitalising on the sustained success of the games market. Both Amazon and GAME – which collectively hold 52% of the market – are testament to growth through focusing on the lucrative games industry. High street and online retailer, GAME, has performed particularly well thanks to Gen 4 games, especially the industry’s highest value release, Watchdogs, taking over a quarter of all sales to date.
Fiona continues: “Despite not being one of the main entertainment retailers, Argos has recorded impressive results in this category over the past year, increasing its entertainment share by 41% to 2.6%. Similarly to Amazon and GAME, Argos’ success is largely linked to its performance within the games category. Argos had a strong Christmas in games, which was expected given its strength in gifting. It has managed to maintain its strong performance throughout the first half of this year and is now the fourth biggest gaming retailer with 9.1% share, behind GAME, Amazon and Tesco. The launch of Argos’ new digital stores concept in London this week is also likely to help drive its performance in the right direction.”
While the grocers remain strong in video and account for some 50% of video disc sales, their performance in entertainment overall has suffered. The supermarkets are losing shoppers to high street and pureplay retailers, resulting in year-on-year share declines. Across the big four supermarkets – Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons – almost one million fewer shoppers bought entertainment products over the past 12 weeks.
ENDS
Kantar Worldpanel Entertainment*Retailer Barometer - Spend Share %
12 w/e 07 Jul 13 / 12 w/e 06 Jul 14 / PPT Change
Amazon / 18.8 / 21.8 / +3.0
HMV / 15.1 / 14.7 / -0.4
Tesco / 16.4 / 14.6 / -1.8
Asda / 12.8 / 12.3 / -0.5
Sainsbury’s / 8.8 / 8.0 / -0.8
Game group / 6.0 / 7.1 / +1.1
Morrisons / 4.1 / 3.4 / -0.7
Argos / 1.8 / 2.6 / +0.8
Play / 3.0 / 2.2 / -0.8
Other / 13.2 / 13.3 / +0.1
* Includes physical sales of videos, games and music.
About Kantar Worldpanel’s Entertainment Retail Barometer
The Kantar Worldpanel Entertainment Retail Barometer is based on Kantar Worldpanel data for the 12 weeks to 6 July 2014. The barometer includes physical sales of videos, games and music. Kantar Worldpanel Entertainment is the leading provider of continuous consumer panel research, measuring the film, music and game purchasing trends of 15,000 demographically representative individuals in Great Britain.
All data is based on the value of items being bought by these consumers. Kantar will only support data that is published in the context in which we have presented it and our own interpretation of these findings, other interpretations may not be accurate and we cannot be held responsible for them.
About Kantar Worldpanel
Kantar Worldpanel is the world leader in consumer knowledge and insights based on continuous consumer panels. Its High Definition Inspiration™ approach combines market monitoring, advanced analytics and tailored market research solutions to deliver both the big picture and the fine detail that inspire successful actions by its clients. Kantar Worldpanel’s expertise about what people buy or use – and why – has become the market currency for brand owners, retailers, market analysts and government organisations globally.
With over 60 years’ experience, a team of 3,000, and services covering more than 50 countries directly or through partners, Kantar Worldpanel delivers High Definition Inspiration™ in fields as diverse as FMCG, impulse products, fashion, baby, telecommunications and entertainment, among many others.
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