Virgin Our Price kicks off retail restructure

Virgin Our Price is restructuring its marketing department to bring its two music retail brands closer together, following the departure of marketing manager Dave Alder.

Alder left last Friday to begin a year’s sabbatical for personal reasons, after working at Virgin for more than 11 years.

He had been marketing manager for the past five years.

Marketing director Neil Boote says there are no immediate plans to replace Alder.

Promotions manager Siobhan Chatburn also leaves next week to join the marketing depart ment at Blockbuster Video.

Boote, who was appointed marketing director last month, replacing John Laidlaw.

He says that the marketing department will be reorganised to co-ordinate the Virgin and Our Price brands better.

The two companies merged in June last year.

Boote hopes a restructure will reduce the duplication of tasks that has resulted from the merger. Details have yet to be finalised and Virgin Our Price will unveil the new structure in January.

Virgin Our Price is rolling out two Christmas advertising campaigns this year, following a successful first half of the year when the company’s UK sales rose by more than 15 per cent by volume.