In the era of online streaming, internet downloads and Netflix, it seems like the market for DVDs and CDs is rapidly dying out. These days, more and more people are buying their music, movies and TV shows online. Netflix has become commonplace and renting a movie from a store is not even an option in many cities, let alone a common occurrence. Music also has moved to the digital era through iTunes and downloading. Yet somehow, despite the clearly narrowing market for CDs and DVDs, HMV has opened up a location in downtown Vancouver. HMV once had an enormous store on the corner of Robson and Burrard but that store had to close because of the declining demand for hard copy DVDs and CDs. However, only a few years later, HMV is opening up a store on Robson Street, claiming that the demand for physical DVDs and CDs is still very real. This is surprising because I don’t see the market for DVDs and CDs expanding anymore. People have become accustom to finding music and movies online. On top of that, HMV’s operations seem like they would be much more costly and time consuming than the operations of Netflix, for example. However, HMV has a unique strategy of differentiation seeing as it is now one of the very few stores that sells physical DVDs and CDs. Only time will tell how successful HMV’s strategy is.

works cited

Chan, Kenneth. “HMV Vancouver finds new permanent home on Robson Street.” Vancity Buzz Vancouver Events News Food Lifestyle and More. N.p., 3 Oct. 2014. Web. 4 Oct. 2014. <http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2014/10/hmv-vancouver-robson-street/>.