Sanity (music store)
| Industry | Retail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1980 |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia |
| Key people | Ray Itaoui |
| Products | Music, DVD's, & video games |
| Website | Sanity.com.au |
Sanity is an Australian chain of music and entertainment stores, owned by Ray Itaoui, CEO. Sanity has over 155 outlets in Australia. The brand specialises in the sale of CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray video games and related merchandise and accessories.
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[edit] History
From 1980, Brazin opened music stores under the Jetts brand name. In 1990, the Jetts stores were rebranded as Delta music stores. The Sanity concept and brand name was established and introduced to the Brazin music stores in 1993. Brazin Limited listed on the Australian Stock exchange in December 1997. In 1998, it acquired 27 music stores from Brashs Music on the demise of that chain and two music stores from Blockbuster, relaunching them as Sanity music stores.
In October 2001, Sanity Entertainment expanded into the United Kingdom via two related transactions with Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group, acquiring 77 Our Price Music stores for £1 and gaining the exclusive license rights in Australia for Virgin entertainment.
In November 2002, an additional 41 music stores were acquired from the Virgin Group in the UK. Brazin Limited sold the Sanity UK stores in 2003.
In October 2005, Brazin acquired the Australian operations of HMV. The HMV group's agreement with Brazin was to phase out the HMV brand in Australia by 2010. Most HMV stores in Australia had very high overhead costs and most were closed upon the end of the rental lease. The remaining stores were re-branded to Sanity.
In September 2009, Brett Blundy (owner of BBRC; formerly Brazin) sold the Entertainment Division of BBRC - Sanity/Virgin/HMV to the brand's CEO, Ray Itaoui, in a management buyout.
In mid 2010, Virgin Megastores were phased out by Sanity and closed.
On 7 August 2010, all Virgin Megastores within Myer ceased to operate under the Sanity Music brand and were either closed or converted back into a basic audio/visual department operated by Myer.
[edit] Ultimate Magazine and Sain
Ultimate Magazine is the official magazine of Sanity Entertainment, available for free through Sanity entertainment stores.
Sanity used to stock a free in-store magazine of a different format. Sain magazine was published monthly from 1998 to September 2006 by Sain Media and Publishing. It reached its 99th issue before being discontinued. For much of its life, it featured a flip-printing style; one half of the magazine was dedicated to movies and DVD releases, the other side to music. It was remarkably comprehensive for a free magazine, and contained less advertising than one would expect.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Brazin Limited website
