Sanity set to shut all stores

National music and entertainment retailer Sanity will close all of its 50 stores across the country, including four in Western Australia.

Sanity announced today that all of its "bricks and mortar" stores, including in Geraldton, Maddington, Mandurah and Morley, will close by the end of April.

The business was founded by Brett Blundy, starting with one store in 1980, and was acquired by iRetail group owner Ray Itaoui 13 years ago.

Mr Itaoui said Sanity’s online business would continue to operate.

“With our customer shifting to digital for their visual and music content consumption, and with diminishing physical content available to sell to our customer, it has made it impossible to continue with our physical stores,” he said.

“Our priority right now is to ensure each of our team members knows exactly what this means for their career and employment future.

“Our team is also working hard to ensure every customer receives all orders they have placed with us, including all pre-orders, which will be dispatched through our online business if the store is closed by the time their order arrives.”

Despite the news, Mr Itaoui said the business had prospered and remained successful for many years.

“There is so much to be proud of … the Sanity brand became synonymous with the go-to place to get anything that mattered in the world of music: from vinyl, to CDs and DVDs, hardware, accessories, and of course face to face advice on everything musical,” he said.

“I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the Sanity team, past and present, and express my pride around their achievements, as well as thank them for their hard-work, dedication, and relentless commitment to ensuring they exceeded customer service expectations.

“Without this, Sanity would not have lasted as long as it has, and it’s this I am most proud of.”

The closure of Sanity’s 50 Australian stores was in line with the lease expiry of each of the locations, according to the company’s statement.