EzyDVD, founded in Adelaide, Australia in 1999 by Jim Zavos, is Australia's largest online and off-line specialist DVD retailer. As of 2007 EzyDVD had 59 retail stores across Australia, around half being franchise stores. The main headquarters and online distribution warehouse for the chain was located in Adelaide, South Australia until 2009 when the headquarters was moved to Sydney and the warehouse facility to Queensland.
In December 2008, EzyDVD entered into voluntary receivership due to unsustainable debt and trading losses.[1]
In January 2009, EzyDVD was purchased by the Franchise Entertainment Group (FEG) in a deal believed to be worth around $10 million[2].
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Founded in March 1999 by Jim Zavos, EzyDVD quickly grew to encompass over 70 retail stores around Australia with the main headquarters and online distribution warehouse located in Adelaide, South Australia.
In 2005 Brazin Limited, at the time a company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, acquired 50% of EzyDVD. During 2006 Brazin's majority shareholder Brett Blundy purchased all outstanding shares in Brazin and folded Brazin into his private company BB Retail Capital. An indepent expert's report prepared by Deloitte and dated 1 December 2006 valued Brazin's 50% share of EzyDVD at between A$1.4M and A$1.9M, indicating that the value of 100% of EzyDVD at that time was in the range A$2.8M to A$3.6M.
The current health of the relationship between Mr Zavos and Mr Blundy is unclear. However, on 27 Feb 2007 a change in the owners' shareholdings of EzyDVD was registered, suggesting that Mr Zavos may have resumed full control of EzyDVD.
On 12 July 2007 the entrepreneurs' website smartcompany.com.au published an extensive interview with Mr Zavos. This interview highlighted Mr Zavos' plans for a very substantial expansion of the 'bricks and mortar' outlets commencing in 2007. The expansion will be delivered by converting existing independent video rental stores into franchised EzyDVD stores. These stores will combine both rental and DVD sales sections and be decked out in EzyDVD livery. No mention was made of Brazin, BB Retail Capital or Mr Blundy in the smartcompany article, suggesting that Mr Zavos is now very much in the driver's seat at EzyDVD.
In late September 2007, EzyDVD acquired a stake in ASX listed video on demand company ReelTime Media Ltd
In March 2008, EzyDVD announced it had appointed a new CEO, Mr Barry Taylor. Mr Zavos would remain involved in the business in a business development capacity. In July 2008, it was announced Mr Barry Taylor had resigned and that a new CEO, Mr Stefan Moro, had been appointed.
Also in 2008 an advisory board was formed by Mr Zavos. Mr Steven Trigg, CEO of Adelaide Crows Football Club was given a seat on the board.
In December 2008, EzyDVD entered into voluntary receivership due to unsustainable debt and trading losses.[3]
In January 2009, EzyDVD was purchased by the Franchise Entertainment Group (FEG) who took on the brand name, franchise network, online business, stock, plant and equipment and the company-owned stores[4].
EzyDVD, as stated on its website, has now franchised many of its stores to the public for sale. Some stores have done well being franchised but it has come apparent that most franchised stores are not making the sales they expected, and so some of these stores have now been closed due to trading losses. The bricks and mortor stores of Ezydvd are now few and far between with only 8 listed on the Ezydvd website and of these a number also pending closing their doors. FEG seems to be focusing their attention towards their online presence and is allowing the stores to close with little involvement.
The EzyDVD Website (see external links) claims to be Australia's largest online DVD store, as well as purportedly being recognised as Australia's #1 DVD destination[5]. It has a large library of all genres of DVD and Blu-ray Disc, and boasts reputedly the largest forthcoming release list of any online retailer. The website's logo often changes according to a particular holiday or event (this originated on the Google website), such as in the example on the right for Easter. The site features new release information, a separate Blu-ray section, individual category pages, advance future release notification functionality, numerous specials, exclusive offers (including the company's exclusive Collector's Tin packaging), and regular "Beat the Bomb" time-limited specials.
In 2007 EzyDVD started and launched its new online store, EzyGames. The site specialized in console games including Sony PlayStation PSP, PS2 & PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and PC games. They also sold PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo consoles or hardware and accessories. The site was owned and operated by EzyDVD and was compatible with EzyDVD in that user accounts were the same for both sites. Following the company's purchase by FEG, the future of EzyGames is suspected for it to be merged into the EzyDVD.com.au website. This is hinted in the "coming soon" section allows for the filtering of formats to Blu-ray, etc., but now shows PSP, DS, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii and PC.
The original retail stores were typically in locations such as shopping centres (e.g.: Westfield Chatswood).
EzyDVD Ultimate outlets are larger stores that have more room for more specialist movies, such as those of the Arthouse or Foreign genre and new technology, including Blu-ray Disc.