UK retailer GAME files the intention to appoint an administrator, even if it will continue operating "as normal" while discussing possible solutions with lenders and 3rd parties.

The news follows the suspension of trading in GAME Group shares.

Reportedly Comet-buyers OpCapita made an offer to buy GAME (and take on £100M of debt), a bid rejected by GAME lenders.

Earlier this week the UK Press Associated reported GAME owes creditors, suppliers and banks something around £180M-- a sum it has to r Continue reading...

Metro predicts a "difficult" economy, price cuts and investments in future expansion will result in flat growth for 2012, as 2011 group sales decrease by -0.8% Y-o-Y to total €66.7 billion.

A "difficult" Christmas season caused Q4 2011 profits to drop by -13%. Metro 2011 EBIT before special items totals €2.4BN, a -1.8% Y-o-Y decline.

Sales for the retailer are down in German (-1%) and W. European (-3.1%) territories, while growing in E. Europe (0.4%) and Asia/Africa (11.2%).

Metro says it will Continue reading...

Best Buy names former Starbucks Chief Information Officer Stephen Gillett as executive VP and head of digital and global business services, starting from March 14.

The announcement arrives days after the departure of Geek Squad founder Robert Stephens from the retailer.

Gillett will be overseeing BestBuy.com and other e-commerce efforts, such as the integration of online sales with struggling brick and mortar outlets. His CV includes experience with Yahoo, CNet Networks and Sun Microsystems, as Continue reading...

Game is facing even more troubles-- the Sunday Times reports (via anonymous sources) the biggest videogame retailer in the UK is looking for a buyer, with the Rothschild bank acting as an adviser.

Meanwhile an official statement from the retailer neither confirms nor denies the speculation, instead saying the board is currently reviewing any number of solutions to resolve pending "issues."

In further Game-related news, the Independent claims US retailer GameStop (the biggest videogames retailer Continue reading...

Halfords CEO David Wild finds inspiration in Oscar winner The Artist, saying “the UK retail sector is experiencing a transformation as far reaching as the move from silent film to sound” when speaking on the future of retail at a Javelin Conference.

“[R]etailers must learn to adapt to a permanent new reality,” Wild continues-- the new reality in this case being the current era of online shopping, where customers use the internet to not only purchase goods, but also to compare prices within bric Continue reading...

Following the March 1st opening of a new flagship retail location in Amsterdam (at the Hirsch building, Leidseplein), Apple plans to open more European stores-- in London, Turin, and Stockholm.

The latest London Apple store will be in Harrods, and should open sometime around mid-March (between 12-19 March, according to 9to5Mac.com)-- possibly in conjunction with the rumoured iPad 3 UK launch date.

Meanwhile Italian website Macity reports a future Turin Apple Store (in Via Roma) will be "the most Continue reading...

UK retailer Maplin Electronics names John Cleland as new CEO, starting from March 2012.

Most recently Esporta (the fitness chain acquired in 2011 by Virgin) CEO, Cleland has extensive retail experience-- holding senior roles at Asda, Walmart Japan, Somerfield and B&Q.

The hiring reunites Cleland with current Maplin chairman (and ex-Somerfield chairman) John Lovering. The two (together with Paul Mason) turned Somerfield around before selling it to The Co-op in 2009.

Lovering says "He [Cleland] Continue reading...

According both MCV and Edge Online Game is closing down 43 UK outlets-- including 12 Game stores, 6 Gamestation stores and all 25 concessions in Debenhams stores.

The retailer is also closing down the Gameplay.co.uk site, and will migrate all customers to Gamestation.co.uk from March 2012.

The announcement follows the retailer's "Dedicated to Gaming" strategy-- where Game will reduce store count will pushing multi-channel and digital offerings. One part of strategy is an upgrade on in-store IT Continue reading...