TMD winds down Oldham office in distribution rejig

The traditional model of games distribution suffered a further blow following Telstar's decision to close its Oldham office housing Telstar Multimedia Distribution (TMD).

TMD, formerly known as Thornley Distribution, is to be absorbed into the group's HQ in Middlesex from 1 April. Vaughan Bendall, Telstar operations director, told CRN the group is scaling down traditional games consoles and beefing up its range of multi-media software.

According to industry sources, TMD recently offloaded its stock of Atari Jaguars at a loss. The distributor bought 1,000 machines from Rumbelows when it closed in February 1995. Beatties bought the remaining 750 consoles earlier this month at a trade price that will allow the chain to sell them profitably for between #50 and #70, according to Beatties' buying director Arthur Smith.

The future is uncertain for the Ratcliffe family who founded and ran Thornley. Marketing and sales director Louise Ratcliffe and her brother David aren't thought to be relocating, but are still on Telstar's pay-roll, said Bendall. Managing director Frank Ratcliffe is holding talks with Telstar, but a letter received by TMD customers late last week was signed by Graham Lambdon, managing director.

Telstar acquired Thornley Distribution in January 1995 and rechristened it TMD in September. The Xclusive erotica software line, which TMD signed up in September, recently caused complaints from the music and games wings that the titles were tarnishing Telstar's image. (CRN 26 February).

Though it will no longer be the sole distributor, Bendall said Telstar would continue to supply Xclusive software to retailers, following successful sales through HMV.