In a bid to re-assert its place within the film, TV, music and gaming markets, HMV has redesigned its main website and done away with the temporary site that has been up since its acquisition from administrators Hilco Capital in April. More editorially focused than its predecessor, the new site looks to utilise content to draw in larger audiences.
In a bid to re-assert its place within the film, TV, music and gaming markets, HMV has redesigned its main website and done away with the temporary site that has been up since its acquisition from administrators Hilco Capital in April. More editorially focused than its predecessor, the new site looks to utilise content to draw in larger audiences.
At first glance, HMV’s new site, which was created by Manchester-based agency Code Computerlove, has a much more sleek and modern layout, similar to rivals such as Pitchfork.
Thanks to a newly hired editorial team that is charge of managing the site, a better use of critical discussions of films and albums is also being made, probably in order to to garner back some respect from critics after HMV’s stint in administration. The company is also planning on making clever use of staff across its 142 UK stores, many of whom will be expected to make similar content* contributions in the future.
With a strip of its latest Tweets across the middle of the main page, the site is obviously attempting to make better use of social media support to stay on top of the latest industry goings-on, and is hoping to ensnare regular site-visitors with exclusive content featuring bands such as The Vamps, Beady Eye and Paul McCartney.
As reported by The Drum, HMV chairman Paul McGowan commented: “Everything we’re doing with HMV is focused on engagement, content and curation – all the things that HMV lost sight of in recent years.
“The passion within the business for the products we sell, the specialist knowledge and ability to recommend and guide our customers – from store staff to the team in head office – is second to none and the new hmv.com. brings that to the forefront.”
*Our only complaint is of the new site’s current top story, which offers a shining review of the recently released coming-of-age flick, ‘The Kings of Summer’, which this editor saw just a few days ago, and decided was probably the worst film of 2013. Anyway, moving on…
