UK retailer Game Retail has warned of additional store closures in the near future, while also suggesting that a number a new stores could be opened.
“We are currently in negotiations with all of our landlords over leases,” a Game Retail spokesperson explained. “In the vast majority of cases we are reaching satisfactory agreements.
“In a very few cases this may not be possible and a handful of stores may close. Conversely, where we have positive negotiations we may well have the opportunity to open new stores.”
Affected staff have been informed, and the retail group expects to maintain its current 333-store footprint once the closures and openings have been completed. Presumably, there will be opportunities for staff from closing stores to move to new ones.
The group is currently in a dispute with the landlord of Game's flagship store on London's Oxford Street over unpaid advance rent.
In addition to the store reshuffle, Game Retail also hinted at a scaling down of its support centres in-line with its smaller retail representation.
“We are proposing some changes to our support centre structure to reshape Game Retail for success in our evolving markets,” the spokesperson added.
“We are proposing a reshaping exercise where we will invest in areas such as community, digital, pre-owned, CRM and brand, and we will make this possible by removing costs in some other areas.”
Game Group entered administration in March, closing 277 stores at the cost of 2,100 jobs.

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