You won't believe which iconic Australian retail chain is closing stores nationwide
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Think about it: when was the last time you went out and bought a CD or DVD?
In a time where streaming music and movies can all be done at home, is there even a need to go out and visit a physical store anymore?
One retailer has sadly come to the same realisation and have made a heartbreaking decision.
The beloved and iconic Australian entertainment and music retail store, Sanity, will soon close its doors across the nation.
After more than 30 years, Sanity’s owner Ray Itaoui announced in a statement that 50 of its remaining stores are set to shut down by the end of April.
‘With our customers shifting to digital for their visual and music content consumption, and with diminishing physical content available to sell to our customers, it has made it impossible to continue with our physical stores,’ Itaoui said.
He confirmed that Sanity.com, the store’s online shop, will continue operating as physical stores across Australia close down.
‘Our priority right now is to ensure each of our team members knows exactly what this means for their career and employment future,’ Itaoui added.
‘Our team is also working hard to ensure every customer receives all orders they have placed with us, including all pre-orders, which will be dispatched through our online business if the store is closed by the time their order arrives.’
Many Aussies took to social media to express their thoughts over the saddening development.
‘This is so sad,’ a woman said. ‘I just bought CDs for Christmas presents from a store. Yes, people do still buy CDs. I will miss the record store experience.’
‘[I’m] glad the brand lives on through e-commerce, but sad to hear so many jobs will be lost… not all businesses can survive in this digital age we find ourselves in,’ a man added.
Another added: ‘Bummer. I was joking… that I was surprised Sanity was still a thing, [I’m] sad to see it closing down physically though.’
Many highlighted Sanity’s role in their younger years.
‘This was the place I’d buy my CDs and CD singles from when I was a teenager,’ one man said.
‘I loved going in and seeing the top 20 albums of the week and the option of putting on the headphones to listen to an album before buying it. Ahh the memories. Thank you, Sanity.’
‘[Oh my gosh] the early 2000s… walking into Sanity checking out all the new singles and albums. Listening through the headphones… Ohhh the memories. My kids will never understand,’ a mum shared.
Digital downloading and streaming services have seen an upward trend in recent years as people have become more aware of the wealth of entertainment available online.
The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) revealed for 2021, the total digital sales of music was a whopping $509.7 million.
In what could only be described as a stark contrast, physical sales for the same year only amounted to $56.1 million.
The closure of Sanity’s stores is likely to be yet another signal of the waning popularity of physical formats, as digital platforms continue to gain ground in Australia.
The first Sanity store opened in 1980 in Victoria and since then it branched out and welcomed thousands of music and film aficionados over the years.
At its peak, there were reportedly more than 150 stores nationwide.
What a sad day for Australian music and movie lovers — a household name for over 30 years is now set to close up shop!
In the comments, we’d love to hear your stories from your time spent in Sanity stores. What was your first CD or better yet, your first record? Share with us in the comments below!
In a time where streaming music and movies can all be done at home, is there even a need to go out and visit a physical store anymore?
One retailer has sadly come to the same realisation and have made a heartbreaking decision.
The beloved and iconic Australian entertainment and music retail store, Sanity, will soon close its doors across the nation.
After more than 30 years, Sanity’s owner Ray Itaoui announced in a statement that 50 of its remaining stores are set to shut down by the end of April.
‘With our customers shifting to digital for their visual and music content consumption, and with diminishing physical content available to sell to our customers, it has made it impossible to continue with our physical stores,’ Itaoui said.
He confirmed that Sanity.com, the store’s online shop, will continue operating as physical stores across Australia close down.
Sanity stores all across the country are closing down as the retailer focuses on its online operations. Image Credit: Reddit/u/simmocar
‘Our priority right now is to ensure each of our team members knows exactly what this means for their career and employment future,’ Itaoui added.
‘Our team is also working hard to ensure every customer receives all orders they have placed with us, including all pre-orders, which will be dispatched through our online business if the store is closed by the time their order arrives.’
Many Aussies took to social media to express their thoughts over the saddening development.
‘This is so sad,’ a woman said. ‘I just bought CDs for Christmas presents from a store. Yes, people do still buy CDs. I will miss the record store experience.’
‘[I’m] glad the brand lives on through e-commerce, but sad to hear so many jobs will be lost… not all businesses can survive in this digital age we find ourselves in,’ a man added.
Another added: ‘Bummer. I was joking… that I was surprised Sanity was still a thing, [I’m] sad to see it closing down physically though.’
Many highlighted Sanity’s role in their younger years.
‘This was the place I’d buy my CDs and CD singles from when I was a teenager,’ one man said.
‘I loved going in and seeing the top 20 albums of the week and the option of putting on the headphones to listen to an album before buying it. Ahh the memories. Thank you, Sanity.’
‘[Oh my gosh] the early 2000s… walking into Sanity checking out all the new singles and albums. Listening through the headphones… Ohhh the memories. My kids will never understand,’ a mum shared.
For many Aussies, Sanity was a vital figure growing up. Stock Image Credit: Pexels/Wellington Cunha
Digital downloading and streaming services have seen an upward trend in recent years as people have become more aware of the wealth of entertainment available online.
The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) revealed for 2021, the total digital sales of music was a whopping $509.7 million.
In what could only be described as a stark contrast, physical sales for the same year only amounted to $56.1 million.
The closure of Sanity’s stores is likely to be yet another signal of the waning popularity of physical formats, as digital platforms continue to gain ground in Australia.
The first Sanity store opened in 1980 in Victoria and since then it branched out and welcomed thousands of music and film aficionados over the years.
At its peak, there were reportedly more than 150 stores nationwide.
In the comments, we’d love to hear your stories from your time spent in Sanity stores. What was your first CD or better yet, your first record? Share with us in the comments below!
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