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Chartbusters

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Chartbusters
Company typePrivate limited company
IndustryVideo rental
Founded28 July 1993; 31 years ago (1993-07-28)
FounderRichard Murphy
Defunct15 November 2010 (2010-11-15)
FateLiquidation
Number of locations
16 (2010)
Area served
Ireland

Chartbusters was an Irish video rental chain founded by former Xtra-vision chief executive, Richard Murphy.

History

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Chartbusters was founded by Richard Murphy following his departure from Xtra-vision in 1990.[1] His exit contract with the latter included a non-competitive clause that ran until 1994. Chartbusters was registered on 28 July 1993 as Chartbusters Limited. The chain rented out VHS/DVDs and games, and sold VHS/DVDs, computer games, cassettes and books. The first two locations opened in Tallaght and Blanchardstown.[2]

Stores

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Fire damaged premises in Stillorgan, 2011

The first store that opened was in Blanchardstown followed by the second in Tallaght,[2] both of which were classed as superstores and were reported to be generating £6,500 to £7,000 per week in 1994.[3] In 2003, stores began to offer stand tanning under the company's tan.ie branding in the outlets.[4][5] At the height of their popularity, in 2004, the chain had 52 stores across Ireland.[6] By 2009, there were 44 stores open.[7]

On 21 January 2011, a fire broke out in the vacant Chartbusters store in Stillorgan resulting in the adjacent restaurant and Mill House pub to be evacuated.[8][9]

Liquidation

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In 2009, Chartbusters' debts mounted to €20 million and they declared that they had gone bust, later going into examinership.[10][11] The company made an announcement that they were to cease trading on 29 October 2010 with the loss of 87 jobs.[12][13][14] The petition for winding up was struck out on 15 November 2010.[15]

References

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  1. ^ "Richard Murphy". Independent.ie. 10 May 2003. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b Lattimore, John (8 December 1993). "Murphy returns to take on Xtra-Vision". Irish Press. p. 22. Retrieved 20 December 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
  3. ^ Guerin, Veronica (3 April 1994). "Vouchers may cost Xtravision £6.5m". Sunday Independent. p. 2. Retrieved 20 December 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
  4. ^ "Chartbusters Home Entertainment". 23 June 2003. Archived from the original on 23 June 2003. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Home". 20 June 2003. Archived from the original on 20 June 2003. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Chartbusters Home Entertainment". 27 July 2004. Archived from the original on 27 July 2004. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Store locations..." 16 January 2009. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Diners forced to evacuate after fire outbreak". Independent.ie. 23 January 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Fire on Lower Kilmacud Rd. (Chartbusters)". boards.ie - Now Ye're Talkin'. 29 September 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Chartbusters goes bust as debts mount up to €20m". Independent.ie. 8 January 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Court told 17 Chartbusters shops to close". The Irish Times. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Chartbusters to cease trading". The Irish Times. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Chartbusters to close all 16 stores". RTE.ie. 29 October 2010.
  14. ^ "87 jobs are lost as Chartbusters shuts DVD stores". Independent.ie. 30 October 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Chartbusters Limited - Irish Company Info - Vision-Net". www.vision-net.ie. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
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