TWICE is reporting that Sony has decided to close the doors on eight of its 10 remaining Sony Stores, leaving open only the Los Angeles and New York locations. However, the company also plans to add 100 additional Sony Experience shops to retail stores like Best Buy and specialty dealer showrooms.
From TWICE
Sony president Mike Fasulo said today that Sony will phase out eight of its remaining 10 company-operated Sony Stores, but will expand its retail footprint through the dealer channel by rolling out about 100 more Sony Experience in-store shops.
The eight targeted Sony Stores will close over the next fiscal year, leaving only its Los Angeles and flagship New York locations.
The move comes amid continuing corporate losses and an A/V business restructuring, and follows the decision in January to shut all 14 remaining Sony Stores in Canada.
It also essentially brings to a close a decade-long retail reign during which Sony became the 20th-largest CE dealer in the U.S.
But the company's retail legacy will live on through its approximately 400 Sony Experience store-in-stores. The shops are in more than 300 Best Buy stores and nearly 100 showrooms run by other retail customers including Video & Audio Center, Bjorn's, Starpower, P.C. Richard & Son, and ListenUp, Fasulo said.
The 100 or so additional installations will expand Sony's use of dedicated retail space "to improve and expand our national footprint," he said.
Additional Resources
• Sony's 2015 Bravia UHD TV Lineup Announced at HomeTheaterReview.com.
• Sony STR-DN850 7.2-Channel AV Recevier Reviewed at HomeTheaterReview.com.
