Sony reported today it will shutter 20 of its Sony Stores and clarified that 1,000 of its previously announced 5,000 layoffs would take place in the company's Sony Electronics unit.
Sony did not state when the stores would close, but the move will leave the electronics manufacturer with 11 locations nationwide. The stores to be closed are in Tyson and Pentagon, Va.; University Village, Wash.; Galleria Dallas and San Marcos, Tex.; Forum Shops, Nev.; Dolphin and Boca Raton, Fla.; Menlo Park, N.J.; Las Americas, Camarillo, Gilroy, Century City, and Valley Fair, Calif.; Aurora, Ill.; Wrentham, Mass.; Pleasant Prairie, Wisc.; Cherry Creek, Colo.; Comcast, Penn. and Central Valley, N.Y.
The remaining stores will remain open are:
Fashion Valley | San Diego, CA | |
University Town Center | San Diego, CA | |
South Coast Plaza | Costa Mesa, CA | |
Stanford | Palo Alto, CA | |
Flagship, Sony Plaza | New York, NY | |
Roosevelt Field | Garden City, NY | |
Walt Whitman | Huntington Station, NY | |
Mall at Millenia | Orlando, FL | |
Aventura | Aventura, FL | |
Houston Galleria | Houston, TX | |
The Americana at Brand | Glendale, CA |
Sony first opened its stores as a product showcase venue where consumers could come and see the latest and greatest Sony products with the actual selling of devices being a secondary consideration. Over the years the stores have morphed into a more traditional retail outlet along the lines of an Apple Store, but they have struggled.
The staff layoffs were first announced during the company's Feb. 6 earnings announcement when it stated 5,000 people would be let go globally.
"While these moves were extremely tough, they were absolutely necessary to position us in the best possible place for future growth," said Mike Fasulo, President and COO of Sony Electronics. "I am entirely confident in our ability to turn the business around, in achieving our preferred future, and continue building on our flawless commitment to customer loyalty through the complete entertainment experience only Sony can offer."
In the wake of these moves the company said it will focus more energy on its premium priced products along with digital imaging line, high-resolution audio, and professional solutions - while leveraging its strengths in hardware, content and gaming.
Sony announced earlier this month that it was selling off its Vaio computer business to a new company created by Japan Industrial Partners. The deal is expected to close by July 1, terms and conditions of the acquisition were not released.
