Michael Bublé tussles with Harry Potter and Call of Duty for Christmas honours Entertainment retailers expect to sell at least 60m gifts this festive season

Stores take delivery of nearly 300 truckloads of videos, DVDs and games

21 November 2011: Entertainment retailers expect to sell at least 60 million videos, albums and video games destined to be given as presents this Christmas,according to the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA).

In preparation for the Christmas rush, UK stores will take delivery over the next three weeks of around 300 forty-foot-truckloads of CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs and games.

ERA estimates that if all the entertainment products expected to be sold as gifts were laid end-to-end, they would stretch 6,465 miles - more than the distance from London to Tokyo.

In the unlikely event you were to weigh them, ERA estimates they would come in at 6,971 tonnes - just short of the weight of the Eiffel Tower.

And for those needing gifting inspiration, ERA has surveyed its members, representing more than 7,000 physical and digital outlets, for their top tips for presents this festive season, ranging from the Harry Potter DVD Box Set to Michael Buble's Christmas CD and the record-breaking video game Call of Duty - Modern Warfare 3. 

ERA Director General Kim Bayley said, "Entertainment retains its crown as the most universal Christmas gift. There truly is something for everyone."

Market statistics bear this out with ERA projections - based on 2010 market trends - suggesting the Christmas gifting season will shift:

·        12m CDs

·        15.1m Videogames

·        and a massive 32.2m Videos on Blu-ray and DVD.

Said Bayley, "The numbers suggest that almost every member of the UK population will receive an album, video or videogame this Christmas. It's more than two per household. It is an extraordinary number."

Source: Entertainment Retailers Association, based on a survey of member companies

ENDS

 For further information contact Steve Redmond on 07770 924720