SWEET MUSIC
Iconic high street giant returns TODAY after 20 years – and shoppers are buzzing
We reveal more iconic store openings happening this year
AN iconic high street brand is making a return today after disappearing 20 years ago.
Classic record chain Our Price is officially relaunching online and fans can't wait.
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The record store was once a staple of the UK high street from the early 1970s until 2004.
The first store was on London's Finchley Road, and the brand had as many as 300 branches at its peak, making it one of the biggest music store chains in the UK.
Last week Our Price revealed it would be making a return as music lovers will once again be able to buy thousands of vinyls and other merch.
Shoppers can browse the catalogue online for now only, owners have not ruled out the return to physical stores at some point in the future.
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In a post on social media, the retailer said: "Countdown’s ticking and we’re pumped.
"And (if I’m honest) pretty jittery. We’re a crew of musos, DJs and enthusiasts reviving a beloved brand. We’re not exactly swimming in cash, so no flashy launch.
"We’re doing things organically, adding new lines every month. For us, it’s all about good vibes and keeping it personal."
Fans have been reacting to the news and are buzzing for the brand's return.
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One said: "We need more high street record shops, good luck for tomorrow and welcome back."
Another wrote: "I worked there for a number of years. Still dream about it."
A third commented: "Looking forward to the launch, best of luck guys."
A fourth posted: "Massive part of my life for so long, moved all over the country with Our Price."
While a fifth said: "Love it. Bought Oasis Definitely Maybe from our price Durham! Good to see you back."
A spokesperson said on Instagram that from today it has around 20,000 vinyl and some "very cool" T-shirts.
The site will also sell a range of hi-fi and audio equipment.
You can browse the website at ourprice.com.
The news today comes after HMV reopened its iconic flagship store in November last year - four years after it fell into administration.
HMV shut the store in 2019 after the retail chain tumbled into administration and was forced to axe stores and jobs.
The retailer was rescued from insolvency by Canadian Doug Putman’s Sunrise Records business.
OUR PRICE HISTORY
Our Price was first founded in 1971 by Gary Nesbitt, Edward Stollins and Mike Isaacs.
Over the first five years, the original six stores were branded The Tape Revolution and mainly sold CDs and eight-track tapes.
Then in 1976, the chain was rebranded as Our Price Records.
Later in 1988, it rebranded yet again as Our Price Music, before changing again to Our Price in 1993.
At this stage, it had over 300 branches across the UK and Ireland.
In the early 1980s, Our Price was the second largest retailer of records and tapes, after Woolworths as the largest.
Brand recognition was driven by pun-rich radio advertising built around the "Get Down To Our Price" slogan, which later transferred to TV too.
Our Price was bought by WHSmith in 1986 and sold to Virgin in 1998, who rebranded over 100 of the sites as Virgin Megastores or VShops.
The early 2000s saw Virgin sell off its own-brand stores, then named Zavvi, while the remaining 77 Our Price stores were sold to Brazin Limited for £2.
Following a steady decline in sales, the last Our Price shop closed in 2004.
Chains We've Loved and Lost
THE high street has taken a hit in recent years with more than half a dozen chains shutting vast swatches of stores between them.
Big brand names have crashed into administration leaving empty shop fronts in villages, towns and cities across the UK.
No Ordinary Designer Label (NODL), owned by Authentic Brands Group (ABG) and trading as Ted Baker, fell into administration in March after years of turmoil.
Administrators confirmed 15 stores would close in a blow to the high street.
The Body Shop collapsed into administration in February 2024 putting its almost 200 stores at risk of shutting.
Administrators have since earmarked 82 of its branches for permanent closure.
Sixty-six stores have already closed for good, including seven which shut with immediate effect in February.
Popular chain Cath Kidston, which once boasted hundreds of shops around the world, closed the last of its stores for good last June.
It first collapsed into administration in April 2020 with the closure of 60 UK stores and the loss of 908 jobs.
The brand was bought by Next after falling into administration again in March - but the sale didn't include the physical shops.
What other retailers have made a comeback?
It has been a tough time for retailers since Covid and the last few years have seen many vanish from our high streets.
The rising cost of living and expensive rents have all been playing a part in the demise of some of our much-loved high street names.
Toys R Us is among those who've managed to make a comeback.
The popular toy brand opened up nine new shops in 2023 after vanishing from the high street in 2018.
However, the new stores are slightly different as they are "shop-in-shops" and are located inside WHSmith stores.
Last year much-loved retailer Wilko fell into administration and closed all of its shops, leaving Brits heartbroken.
However, a glimmer of hope was given when the brand name was scooped up by The Range, in a £5million deal - meaning the name would live on.
Customers were overjoyed after learning the store was being relaunched online, and even more so when in a surprising turn of events, physical branches started to open up again.
Locations have since popped up Plymouth, Exeter, Luton, St Albans and Rotherham.
In October last year, Paperchase also made a return after closing all of its 134 shops and concessions earlier in the year.
Fans of the brand were devastated when the retailer disappeared from the high street in April after falling into administration.
However, supermarket giant Tesco stepped in and bought the rights to the brand and then went on to launch it in some of its stores.
A total of 261 Tesco stores now stock Paperchase products - we have the full list here.
M&Co, previously called Mackay’s, fell into administration for the second time in two years in December 2022.
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Fellow retailer Yours Clothing bought the M&Co brand and intellectual property.
The retailer launched a new M&Co website in June 2023 and The Sun exclusively revealed its plans to open up physical stores starting in May 2024.
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