Blockbuster UK is to start selling mobile phones, iPods and TV sets alongside the selling and renting of DVDs and games.
The news comes as the retailer’s US parent field filed for bankruptcy protection yesterday (Thursday).
Blockbuster UK commercial director Gerry Butler told The Times that the UK arm was not affected by the bankruptcy of its parent. Blockbuster UK managing director Martin Higgins told Retail Week the same thing this month.
However, Butler did not rule out future store closures.
This month the retailer trialled selling TVs in 10 UK stores, and will expand it to a further 25 branches soon. The retailer is also in discussions with mobile phone companies about selling phones in stores from next year.
“We believe that mobile phones will have a much bigger role in the entertainment world,” said Butler. “We already have a successful relationship with T-Mobile, offering Blockbuster rewards for their consumer base.”
The new look electronics stores will be based on a model used by Xtra-vision, a former Irish subsidiary of Blockbuster UK, which it sold last year.
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