The Death Of Tower Records - CLUAS Irish Indie Music

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Last Post 10/9/2006 8:59 PM by Gar

The Death Of Tower Records

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Gar

Veteran Member
Posts:1676

10/9/2006 8:59 PM
Not good news at all. http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/R_I_P_Tower_Records_19602006

Garret

Basic Member
Posts:244

10/9/2006 10:41 PM
poo

mp3hugger

New Member
Posts:35

10/9/2006 11:29 PM
They sold expensive CD's so it's hardly surprising. Their business model was stuck in 1993.

the watcher

New Member
Posts:16

10/9/2006 11:30 PM
quote: Originally posted by mp3hugger They sold expensive CD's so it's hardly surprising. Their business model was stuck in 1993. well said

Unicron

Veteran Member
Posts:1696

10/9/2006 11:44 PM
I believe that the one in Dublin is Irish owned and franchised out the Tower name so it probably means that it'll keep operating.

Gar

Veteran Member
Posts:1676

10/9/2006 11:45 PM
Their business model was focused on having a broader range of stuff on sale quicker than the other chain stores. Tower would usually be the first store to have imports, a wide range of magazines and albums that you can't seem to find anywhere else. Yes, some of their prices were high but only a few euro in some cases. The biggest problem that they faced was online competitors - they've been stumbling for quite a few years now but they have finally fallen face down. Still sad to see them go.

dermot_trellis

New Member
Posts:69

10/9/2006 11:46 PM
Will the two outlets in Dublin keep going as Tower, or change name? As music megastores go I don't mind them at all, better range and prices than HMV usually and reasonably friendly staff, some decent discount sales too.

Binokular

Veteran Member
Posts:1665

10/10/2006 12:06 AM
quote: Originally posted by Gar Their business model was focused on having a broader range of stuff on sale quicker than the other chain stores. Tower would usually be the first store to have imports, a wide range of magazines and albums that you can't seem to find anywhere else. Yes, some of their prices were high but only a few euro in some cases. The biggest problem that they faced was online competitors - they've been stumbling for quite a few years now but they have finally fallen face down. Still sad to see them go. ...stuck in 1993 as already said. It is sad in a way. What really bugs me these days how many "record shops" have moved away from selling music. Even the small ones. You'll find DVDs, Computer Software, Mobile Phones, mp3 players, Games consoles, roughly 4 different incompatible formats of video games, T-Shirts, posters, books, assorted tat, etc. After all that stuff is crammed into your average small town / suburban record shop, there really isn't much room for actual CDs and Vinyl. That sorta works if you a hooooj city centre Virgin Megastore, in a smaller shop it just means they do nothing particularly well.

palace

Basic Member
Posts:392

10/10/2006 8:31 AM
if the dublin branch ends up closing, i will be sad... because it is a good shop with good choice and decent prices... bad business model or not

Mully

Advanced Member
Posts:849

10/10/2006 8:40 AM
quote: Originally posted by dermot_trellis Will the two outlets in Dublin keep going as Tower, or change name? Music City seems to be on the way out too. The outlet in DL has a For Sale sign, with no mention of the retailer being unaffected.

raoul

New Member
Posts:79

10/10/2006 9:39 AM
I find cds are lot cheaper to buy in HMV than in Tower!! Neither are great though. Whilst in Barcelona this summer the first record shop I went into had loads of cds in it that I had found impossible to get at home.. cd heaven! What is everybody's favourite record store in Ireland? I used to love Final Vinyl on Camden Street, haven't been in it since it moved though..

Punchbowl

Basic Member
Posts:205

10/10/2006 10:46 AM
quote: Originally posted by raoul I find cds are lot cheaper to buy in HMV than in Tower!! Neither are great though. Whilst in Barcelona this summer the first record shop I went into had loads of cds in it that I had found impossible to get at home.. cd heaven! What is everybody's favourite record store in Ireland? I used to love Final Vinyl on Camden Street, haven't been in it since it moved though.. Road Records is an obvious choice. I rarely go in there looking for something specific, but use the fact that they only stock decent stuff to guide my choice. I did however purchase a Luther Vandross 12" there last week that made me feel a little funny inside. Other than Road, Dublin is sorely lacking. Tower will be a major loss if someone creeps in, I did enjoy their sales as the usually stickered bona-fide classics, as opposed to HMVs offerings which is generally made up of dodgy stock compilations.. Is Freebird still on the Quays?? I haven't ventured down there is a long time but I noticed a sign for same at the Secret Book and Music store on Wicklow St??

Punchbowl

Basic Member
Posts:205

10/10/2006 10:48 AM
quote: Originally posted by raoul I used to love Final Vinyl on Camden Street, haven't been in it since it moved though.. Where's it now?

roadhousemag

Basic Member
Posts:124

10/10/2006 11:06 AM
there are two outlets of free bird, the one in the secret book store and the old one on the quays, the two owners fell out so one split to wicklow street. road is fookin great. thing is room space is outrageous in this town so lots n lots of money is needed to set up and run a store in this crazy town.

Mully

Advanced Member
Posts:849

10/10/2006 12:36 PM
I read recently that Virgin are looking to come back into the city centre. Dundrum is their 'flagship' store, but is out in the 'burbs.

Protein biscuit

Basic Member
Posts:364

10/10/2006 1:09 PM
Yeah, think the Irish Towers are a franchise. They never have sales though or no decent ones anyway. Cheaper than HMV (there are some extortionate prices in HMV, last Isolee ablum was €28.49 for f**ks sake!) However, one problem i have with Tower is their lack of friendliness. Even on a basic enough level. I've been buying at least 1 CD a week in there for Gods knows how long and my relationship with them is still the same as the very first day i walked through the door. I buy on a less frequent basis in Road, at least 1 a month give or take, and it's a completely different story. I'll always have a chat about something with Julie, she'll ask how i got on with the last CD i bought and so forth. A much more pleasurable shopping experience. Oh and i'm pretty fond of City Discs too. Their 2nd hand CDs a above the norm and it's well stocked too.

THE DARK ONE

New Member
Posts:34

10/10/2006 1:11 PM
It sucks that it looks like the end of the road for tower, i think its a fairly decent record shop, they have always been in my opinion fairly priced, i i spend the most part of my wages on records cd's and dvds! plus it was/is the only decent place for bands to do instore performances. hopefully another record shop will take over the premises and please god it wont be turned into another bloody spar/centra mini market. i used to enjoy going into final vinyl but they never had and decent records, always the same crap! That mega store in barcelona is great, i found the place to be wall to wall with stuff ive never seen here, i have to say i picked up a few choice bargins there.