New Golden Discs store "signifies commitment" to Athlone
"Moving with the popular music culture trends" has helped to maintain the presence of Golden Discs as Ireland's largest and most popular music and home entertainment retail chain.
Fresh from opening its brand-new and expanded store on the first floor of Athlone Towncentre, Golden Discs CEO Stephen Fitzgerald said the the new retail space signifies a commitment from the company to local music fans.
Golden Discs first opened its doors in Athlone Towncentre in 2012 and such is the consumer demand for its extensive range of services, the decision was taken to relocate to a larger retail unit.
"The new retail unit is two and a half times the size of our original space in Athlone Towncentre. The move comes in direct response to surging customer demand for greater choice, more variety, and the full Golden Discs experience under one roof. It is a positive development for our business and signifies our commitment to Athlone," Mr Fitzgerald said.
The new store showcases one of Ireland’s largest selections of vinyl and CDs, spanning timeless classics, hot new releases, and exclusive fan favourites. Music lovers can also browse a premium line of turntables, speakers and headphones, making it the perfect destination for both seasoned collectors and first-time buyers.
Beyond music, the Athlone store is ramping up its film and pop-culture offering with an extensive catalogue of DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K titles, alongside a bold new range of merchandise, apparel, and collectables. From t-shirts and baseball caps to Funkos, mystery bags, and hard-to-find fan gear, there’s something to excite every generation of music and movie fans.
"Relocating to a larger store has enabled Golden Discs to increase its extensive product offering and as Christmas season approaches we expect our store to be a one-stop shop for all your music and home entertainment needs," Stephen said.
The advent of vinyl records continues apace with Golden Discs offering those who prefer a turntable enhanced sound quality an extensive catalogue of releases from generational to new music artists.
"The vinyl format has been a major plus for the business. In fact, vinyl album sales from older artists can be more popular than new releases but the benefit from buying vinyl records is ultimately the sound quality which our customers always comment favourably upon," Stephan added.
While music is a primary focus for sales at Golden Discs, the brand continues to expand its popular culture merchandise offering for its loyal customer base.
"We move with the popular trends and have seen huge double digit growth particularly with our in-store range of collectables. We want to meet the needs of our customers so that is always to the forefront of our business model," Stephen said.
Keeping "on trend", Golden Discs will launch a suite of merchandise products in tandem with the Netflix launch next month of Stranger Things. The US science fiction series returns for its fifth series and its popularity resonates with fans who want to purchase merchandise associated with the show.
"We will have a range of merchandise on sale in store to meet the demand of Stranger Things fans. It is vitally important to move with the popular culture trends at all times and at Golden Discs that is a primary focus for us," Stephen stated.
Stephen complimented the staff working at the Athlone store whose experience and music knowledge plays a key role in the success of the business.
"They continuously display a level of in-store agility to meet the demands of our customers. Our staff are very passionate, they are continuously aware of the changing pop culture trends and are always willing and ready to pass on music and home entertainment advise when required to do so," Stephen stated.
Boasting seven decades of business, Golden Discs has made an indelible mark on the Irish pop culture market.
"Many people purchased their first album in Golden Discs and we have continued to build on that connection with our customers. Thankfully, the Golden Discs brand continues to resonate. When you walk into a Golden Discs store you can be guaranteed great customer service and a range of popular culture products certain to appeal," Stephen concluded.
With this major Athlone Towncentre expansion, Golden Discs continues to cement its position as the go-to destination for Irish music, film, and pop culture fans, a true celebration of sound, style, and everything in between.