An iconic music and leisure retailer has formally shut down all 50 of its shops throughout Australia because it tries to maintain up with the digital age.
On Sunday, the final two Sanity music shops closed doorways for good.
The firm will nonetheless promote its merchandise on-line because it focuses extra strongly on e-commerce as a income stream.
Sanity has been a staple for Australian music lovers for greater than three a long time, recognized for promoting CDs and DVDs.
Its final two shops, each based mostly in Queensland, at Brisbane and Bundaberg, shut down over the weekend.
In January, Sanity warned prospects that closures had been on the way in which, with all its remaining shops on the time set for the chopping block.
At its peak, Sanity had greater than 200 shops throughout Australia.
However, its golden age is lengthy behind it.
When Sanity shops in Far North Queensland closed early final 12 months, inventory was closely discounted.
In the previous few months, the corporate has been providing large bargains for punters, together with a 75 per cent off storewide sale to do away with the final of its merchandise in its remaining shops.
According to The Music, Sanity’s final retailer in Brisbane, within the suburb of Browns Plains, shut its doorways ceaselessly at 4pm sharp.
Ray Itaoui bought Sanity 13 years in the past and stated the model had little alternative besides to shut its bodily shops due to the way in which music consumption has modified.
“With our customers shifting to digital for their visual and music content consumption, and with diminishing physical content available to sell to our customer, it has made it impossible to continue with our physical stores,” Mr Itaoui stated in a press release earlier this 12 months.
“Our online business – sanity.com.au – will continue to operate, and will service the many loyal customers the brand has continued to be dedicated to over the decades.
“Our priority right now is to ensure each of our team members knows exactly what this means for their career and employment future.”
The first Sanity-branded retailer opened in 1992 in Doncaster, Melbourne.
Its founder Brett Blundy had really opened his first music retailer in 1980 underneath a special identify. He was simply 20 years previous on the time.
In 2008, the corporate launched on-line music subscription service LoadIt however was scrapped months after its launch.
In 2009, the model was bought to Mr Itaoui.
“The business prospered and remained successful for many years, thanks to the dedication and commitment of our entire team,” Mr Itaoui added.
“I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the Sanity team, past and present, and express my pride around their achievements, as well as thank them for their hard-work, dedication, and relentless commitment to ensuring they exceeded customer service expectations. Without this, Sanity would not have lasted as long as it has, and it’s this I am most proud of.”
Many Australians had been saddened by the information.
“This was the place I’d buy my CDs and CD singles from when I was a teenager,” one man from Canberra stated.
“I loved going in and seeing the top 20 albums of the week and the option of putting on the headphones to listen to an album before buying it. Ahh the memories. Thank you Sanity.”
A girl from Melbourne added: “This is so sad. I just bought CDs for Christmas presents from a store. Yes, people do still buy CDs. I will miss the record store experience.”
Some stated they weren’t stunned Sanity shops had been not viable.
“Glad the brand lives on through e-commerce, but sad to hear so many jobs will be lost. Unfortunately not all businesses can survive in this digital age we find ourselves in,” a Sydney man stated.
“Was only a matter of time. CDs & DVDs are ancient now thanks to Spotify & Netflix. Thanks for your service over the years helping me buy music,” a Victorian lady stated.
— With Chantelle Francis
