Chartbusters

Chartbusters was an Irish video rental chain founded by former Xtra-vision chief executive, Richard Murphy.

Chartbusters

Logo as of 2004
Company type	Private limited company
Industry	Video rental
Founded	28 July 1993; 32 years ago (1993-07-28)
Founder	Richard Murphy
Defunct	15 November 2010 (2010-11-15)
Fate	Liquidation
Number of locations	16 (2010)
Area served	Ireland

History

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]

Stores

Fire damaged premises in Stillorgan, 2011

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]

Liquidation

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]