END OF AN ERA: Sanity closing stores as customers go digital

Music retailer Sanity, which thrived in the heyday of the CD and DVD, has fallen victim to the online entertainment revolution.

Once reportedly having as many as 200 stores across Australia, the once-mighty retailer plans to close its 50 remaining shops by end of April. There are four left in WA: Geraldton, Maddington, Mandurah and Morley.

But owner Ray Itaoui has vowed to keep Sanity’s online business going and fulfil all orders made at its physical shops, destroyed by the success of online music and movie services.

Mr Itaoui said in a statement that it was “impossible to continue” with Sanity shops as customers shifted online and there were less physical products to sell customers.

“Our priority right now is to ensure each of our team members knows exactly what this means for their career and employment future,” said Mr Itaoui, who bought the business 13 years ago from founder Brett Blundy.

“With Brett Blundy building Sanity from the ground up in 1980 – going on to become one of Australia’s most respected and recognisable retailers – the Sanity brand became synonymous with the go-to place to get anything that mattered in the world of music.”