While the fate of its smartphone business may still be up in the air, Sony has decided that it will close all 14 Sony Store retail locations in Canada. The stores currently offer a wide range of Sony products including unlocked Sony smartphones, the Sony SmartWatch line and wearables as well as a range of electronic products that includes audio components and televisions. Sony’s online store will be unaffected by this decision.
The company first made the announcement today in a memo to employees and later confirmed the news with a statement to The Ottawa Citizen:
“Over the next 6 to 8 weeks we are closing our Sony Stores in Canada and will redirect all of this business through our national network of Sony retailers, our online store … as well as through our Sony-trained Telesales team.
Our network of Sony authorized retailers offer a full range of Sony products and will be supported by our in-store Merchandisers and Product Trainers on an ongoing basis in order to ensure that our past customers have continued access to knowledgeable Sales consultants who can support their ongoing Sony electronics needs.”
With Sony expecting to record a loss of US$1.9 billion (about CA$2.27 billion) in its current fiscal year (ending in March), it is unlikely to be the only such announcement to be made by Sony in the upcoming days and weeks. Sony is also mulling the sale or formation of a joint venture for its mobile division as well as its TV business. Other cuts and restructuring efforts are also likely.
Source : The Ottawa Citizen