Computer games chain ePlay has gone into administration and become the latest victim of the malaise affecting entertainment retailers on the high street.
The 13-store retailer traded in new and used computer games and had a portfolio of stores across the UK at locations including Bristol, Birmingham, Cheltenham, Milton Keynes, Gloucester, Southampton, Worcester and Oxford.
Administrator David Rubin & Partners has appointed property agency Stephen Kane & Company to handle the sale of the portfolio.
Stephen Kane & Company associate David McCosh said: “We are seeking a buyer for the retailer’s 13 stores and its head office property. We have had some interest already and are examining options for both group buys and selling off the stores individually.”
The collapse of ePlay follows in the footsteps of other DVD, music and games retailers, which struggled against booming internet sales and fierce competition from supermarkets.
Last week, Blockbuster bought 59 stores from defunct DVD retailer Choices UK, which went into administration in August. Choices UK had three businesses – retail, local and direct. Its local and direct arms were sold to Findel.
In June, independent music retailer Fopp went into administration. The retailer suffered from rising rents after it rapidly expanded, buying a glut of stores from Music Zone, which went into administration last year.
* Troubled music group CD Wow has been sold to Australian entertainment company Stomp. In May, CD Wow, one of the UK’s largest online entertainment retailers, was forced to pay£41 million to the British Phonographic Industry for breach of copyright.
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