Retail Watchers

The asset purchase deal has fallen through. It seemed a bit too good to be true.
http://www.ibj.com/articles/63026-hhgre ... alls-apart

If a white knight doesn't emerge by then, it's all over
http://www.ibj.com/articles/63215-bankr ... -next-week

It's all over:
https://www.ibj.com/articles/63333-hhgr ... tting-down

This may sound like a shocking turn, but it has been confirmed HHGregg will return from the ashes after only three months. A firm by the name of Valor LLC has won a bid for the brand, besting none other than Sears Holdings for the enterprise. So far, in the coming month HHGregg is solely focused on launching an online shopping experience, backed by an 83k sq. ft. distribution center in New Jersey. They are reportedly also taking steps into physical retail, however that has yet to formulate and they will likely not return to their expansion-era area outside the Midwest for some time.
Source: http://www.indystar.com/story/money/201 ... 587248001/

Also, if you wish, be sure to check their Twitter feed. https://twitter.com/hhgregg There is some excellent art of their 2009-2011 mascot, HH (which has become a meme), which will be returning thanks to a successful retweet campaign by them. Check it out... if you're into that kind of stuff.

I wonder if this has the potential to work out, anyhow? They're far more scaled back and careful than the previous would have been in such a situation.

BatteryMill wrote:This may sound like a shocking turn, but it has been confirmed HHGregg will return from the ashes after only three months. A firm by the name of Valor LLC has won a bid for the brand, besting none other than Sears Holdings for the enterprise. So far, in the coming month HHGregg is solely focused on launching an online shopping experience, backed by an 83k sq. ft. distribution center in New Jersey. They are reportedly also taking steps into physical retail, however that has yet to formulate and they will likely not return to their expansion-era area outside the Midwest for some time.
Source: http://www.indystar.com/story/money/201 ... 587248001/

Also, if you wish, be sure to check their Twitter feed. https://twitter.com/hhgregg There is some excellent art of their 2009-2011 mascot, HH (which has become a meme), which will be returning thanks to a successful retweet campaign by them. Check it out... if you're into that kind of stuff.

I wonder if this has the potential to work out, anyhow? They're far more scaled back and careful than the previous would have been in such a situation.

I wouldn't hold my breath. Remember a few years ago when some investor was trying to bring back Circuit City?, Also 'Caldor' reappeared as an online retailer for like a couple weeks, and probably some others I can't think of right now. Most of these dead brands that reappear as an online retailer simply just don't last (although whoever is using the Service Merchandise and Montgomery Ward trademarks seem to still be kickin'). I don't think HHGregg overall had that much of a loyal following, or something to differentiate themselves to make this work.

They were a typically crappy appliance chain that most people dreaded visiting. A lot of their inventory, like large white goods, probably won't work on line, and others have plenty of competition online and off (the electronics). This seems pretty doomed.