 Logo as of 2004 | |
| Company type | Private limited company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video rental |
| Founded | 28 July 1993 |
| Founder | Richard Murphy |
| Defunct | 15 November 2010 |
| Fate | Liquidation |
Number of locations | 16 (2010) |
Area served | Ireland |
Chartbusters was an Irish video rental chain founded by former Xtra-vision chief executive, Richard Murphy.
Chartbusters was founded by Richard Murphy following his departure from Xtra-vision in 1990. [1] His exit contract with the latter included a non-competitive clause that ran until 1994. Chartbusters was registered on 28 July 1993 as Chartbusters Limited. The chain rented out VHS/DVDs and games, and sold VHS/DVDs, computer games, cassettes and books. The first two locations opened in Tallaght and Blanchardstown. [2]
The first store that opened was in Blanchardstown followed by the second in Tallaght, [2] both of which were classed as superstores and were reported to be generating £6,500 to £7,000 per week in 1994. [3] In 2003, stores began to offer stand tanning under the company's tan.ie branding in the outlets. [4] [5] At the height of their popularity, in 2004, the chain had 52 stores across Ireland. [6] By 2009, there were 44 stores open. [7]
On 21 January 2011, a fire broke out in the vacant Chartbusters store in Stillorgan resulting in the adjacent restaurant and Mill House pub to be evacuated. [8] [9]
In 2009, Chartbusters' debts mounted to €20 million and they declared that they had gone bust, later going into examinership. [10] [11] The company made an announcement that they were to cease trading on 29 October 2010 with the loss of 87 jobs. [12] [13] [14] The petition for winding up was struck out on 15 November 2010. [15]