Music News - Real Groovy back in business
04 December 2008 - 0 Comments
Today Chris Hart, founding owner of Real Groovy and Marty O’Donnell, his long-standing business partner, can announce that the 27 year old Auckland business - Real Groovy - is back.
The Auckland store will join forces with the Wellington and Christchurch stores (purchased by local management) in order to bring the nation’s biggest retail chain, selling new, rare and second-hand music, back to its former glory.
As of 05 December 2008, it will be business as usual for customers of Real Groovy Auckland. The Real Groovy (Queen Street) store will be purchasing and trading consumer’s items and issuing and redeeming vouchers as well as credit notes. The Real Groovy website www.realgroovy.co.nz will also issue and redeem online vouchers and take orders.
The ‘Special Orders’ service will also resume, as well as the ‘Real Groovy Club’, where consumers will continue to receive points and bonuses when they are due. Insurance customers will also be able to have their insurance claims fulfilled. Concert tickets will be available to purchase.
Chris Hart, Joint Managing Director, for Real Groovy Auckland says:
“We said from the outset, that our personal preference was not to sell at all, and that if we could find a business partner with some capital, we would be here for another 27 years. It’s been bloody hard work by everyone concerned, but we’ve finally pulled it off.
“Since news of the receivership was released a few weeks back, we have been overwhelmed by the thousands of messages of support the store and staff have received daily, from people who feel part of Real Groovy.
“Customers, promoters, suppliers and music artists have either walked into the store or contacted us directly to pass on their support and we are sincerely grateful for everything that has been said and done to help us through this difficult time.”
As a result of receivership, Real Groovy Auckland has since been approached by a number of investors, but both Chris and Marty felt it important to choose someone with an absolute genuine love of music for the sake of their dedicated staff and for the brand.
To this end, a long-time customer, Ralph Brayham, who has known Marty for years, has offered up his support, and is excited about working with Chris and Marty in an iconic Auckland business.
Chris says “Ralph is a long time Real Groovy club member. When he first arrived from Canada he used to drive up from Tauranga and come to Real Groovy to get his music fix. He understands that Real Groovy is all about the best music, DVDs and games and no other music retailer in New Zealand has our range or expertise.”
“Ralph therefore has first hand knowledge and understanding of the sheer depth and breadth of our new and second-hand catalogue (of all formats - CDs, DVDs, 45’s, 78s, tapes and 12”vinyl); as well as our ability to track down rarities and imports from across the globe with our long-standing supplier relations and our practice of buying extensive private collections from America.”
“It is this deep catalogue that provides Real Groovy Auckland customers the ability to trade unwanted music for music they can discover and love and at a fast turnover.”
According to Chris, this is the unique strength of the business which they intend to consolidate and build on from now on.
Real Groovy’s sales have always had a low percentage of Top 40 and new CDs and as a result we will always compete on range, not on price. Our focus will be on diversifying our range into other areas and offering customers the very best of access to products they haven’t seen before.
“And those retailers who offer that depth of catalogue and a range of services – efficient customer ordering, the ability to trade and valued loyalty benefits, underpinned by a comprehensive online offering, are the ones that will best survive in the current retail climate. We intend to build on all of those facets that make Real Groovy unique”.
About Real Groovy:
Real Groovy opened in Mt Eden Road, Auckland, in early 1981. The Auckland store on Queen Street, where it presently operates, was opened in 1989.
Real Groovy Wellington opened in March 1999, Christchurch and Dunedin in September 2004.
Real Groovy ran into receivership (16 October 08). Real Groovy, Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland have subsequently been purchased by local management and re-opened. Real Groovy Dunedin will not re-open.
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