The way we consume music and film has changed dramatically over the past couple of decades. Where once music lovers would happily spend an hour or so browsing racks of alphabetically arranged vinyl they can now download the latest hits in seconds. As a result there are less than 300 independent record shops on UK high streets compared with 2,000 twenty years ago.
These increasingly rapid changes in technology have largely bypassed traditional retailers but now Tesco has launched a new way to buy CDs and DVDs in its stores. Discs on Demand give customers the opportunity to buy discs that can be printed and collected, complete with the original artwork and inlay sleeves.
The new initiative will see electronic kiosks in Tesco stores in which customers can browse an extensive library of music and film via a touch screen. Once they have selected a disc the purchase will be ready for collection in a matter of seconds. This method will allow customers to choose from a huge range of titles that would not normally be stocked in store.
In addition to increasing the number of discs available from hundreds to tens of thousands, Discs on Demand will also provide a wide range of computer software which can be purchased in the same way. Prices start from £2.97 for CDs and £5.97 for DVDs.
Rob Salter, Tesco’s director for entertainment said; “This simple system means we can offer an incredibly wide range of albums and movies without taking up space in stores.”
The kiosks are currently being trialled in just two stores in Maldon and Dudley and Mr Slater says that customer feedback from the outlets has been really positive. As a result there are plans to roll Discs on Demand out to many more of Tesco’s 2,900 UK commercial properties over the coming few months.
Do you think Tesco’s Discs on Demand will be a success or are the days of “hard copy” music and film drawing to a close? On the other hand are you the owner or a customer of one of the dwindling number of high street independent record shops? Share your thoughts with us below.
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