Wegmans to Replace Video Departments with Redbox Kiosks
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. here has said that all of its in-store video rental departments will close within the next six months to make way for Redbox video kiosks.
After two decades of renting videos, Wegmans made the decision to rethink the business in the face of the availability of new technology.
"There are so many choices out there today, [including] online rental services like Netflicks, Movies on Demand, Pay Per View," Wegmans spokeswoman Jo Natale was quoted as saying by a Rochester TV news station.
Stores in the Rochester area and Canandaigua, N.Y. already feature the kiosks, which offer up to 500 new DVD releases, each for $1 a day. Customers can also order DVD rentals online and pick them up at their nearest Wegmans kiosk. In the Canandaigua store the newly freed-up space will be used to enlarge the Nature's Marketplace organic and natural food section.
Over the past year 11 of the chain's video rental departments closed, with the remaining 40 slated to close by October.
Associates who work in the sections will be reassigned to other store positions, the retailer said.
After two decades of renting videos, Wegmans made the decision to rethink the business in the face of the availability of new technology.
"There are so many choices out there today, [including] online rental services like Netflicks, Movies on Demand, Pay Per View," Wegmans spokeswoman Jo Natale was quoted as saying by a Rochester TV news station.
Stores in the Rochester area and Canandaigua, N.Y. already feature the kiosks, which offer up to 500 new DVD releases, each for $1 a day. Customers can also order DVD rentals online and pick them up at their nearest Wegmans kiosk. In the Canandaigua store the newly freed-up space will be used to enlarge the Nature's Marketplace organic and natural food section.
Over the past year 11 of the chain's video rental departments closed, with the remaining 40 slated to close by October.
Associates who work in the sections will be reassigned to other store positions, the retailer said.