HMV has tried to allay fears that it may close one of its two Brighton shops in the coming months after reporting a slump in Christmas sales.
Up to 20 jobs – not including Christmas casuals – would be at risk in each store if the company did decide to rationalise in the town.
The fears were prompted by a public announcement about store closures by the company.
It said that group sales were down 10 per cent over the Christmas period and profits would be affected.
The parent company, HMV Group, also said that it was having trouble meeting the terms of a bank loan.
It told investors that business had been badly affected by the snowy weather and challenging trading conditions, with most of the big music and film releases timed for Christmas shoppers.
And it announced plans to close 40 of its 285 HMV stores across Britain with some expressing fears that one of the Brighton branches would be among the casualties.
HMV has shops in Western Road and Churchill Square in Brighton.
Safe
The company also owns Waterstone’s and plans to shut 20 of its 320 branches although the branch in North Street, Brighton, is believed to be safe from closure.
Sales figures for the bookshop chain were about the same as the year before.
Gennaro Castaldo, HMV’s head of press and public relations, said: “There’s no reason why you couldn’t have two stores within one town where they operate to different markets.
“Western Road appeals to students while Churchill Square attracts more mainstream shoppers and families.
“Brighton is a hugely important town for us and we hope to be there for a long time to come.
“Music is such an important facet of life in Brighton.
“We sponsor the Great Escape music festival and we see all sorts of synergies with that.”
He said that it was impossible to give cast-iron guarantees but Brighton remained a key market for the company.
