Look & Listen
Look & Listen was a South African retailer specializing in music, films, games, consumer electronics, and related merchandise.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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History
Look & Listen began in 1969 when Rob Ziegler opened the first store in Hillbrow, Johannesburg's central business district. The retailer emerged as a specialist destination for recorded music and subsequently broadened its offer to include films, games, consumer electronics, and merchandise. Its stores reflected the changing technologies through which entertainment was sold and consumed, including long-playing records, cassette decks, compact discs, and DVDs. For much of its history, the business depended on customers visiting physical locations to browse and purchase packaged entertainment. This model was well suited to the period when music and films were primarily distributed on tangible formats. Look & Listen's stores consequently became associated with a broad entertainment assortment rather than a single product category. The business operated across South Africa and maintained a significant store network during its mature period. The spread of online music services, digital video distribution, internet retail, and piracy created structural pressure during the 21st century. Consumers increasingly obtained entertainment without purchasing physical discs or visiting specialist stores. These changes undermined sales of the formats that had supported the retailer and made it more difficult to maintain a large bricks-and-mortar estate. Look & Listen attempted to participate in online retail, but its online store operations were discontinued on 12 February 2013. Later that year, reports indicated that the company was considering a restart after partnering with Mondia Media. In June 2013, the retailer was reported to have 28 stores across South Africa, showing that the physical network remained substantial even as the business model was under pressure. The deterioration continued. In June 2014, Look & Listen entered business rescue. Its store count had fallen to 19, with 14 locations described as unprofitable, and the company was reported to employ 280 people. The business-rescue process marked a major turning point from expansion and format-led retail toward attempted restructuring and contraction. By May 2017, the closure of the last store at Hillfox Value Centre in Roodepoort, Johannesburg, was reported as imminent. The available reference does not provide a confirmed final closure date, details of a successor business, or evidence of continuing operations after that report. The brand is therefore best documented as a historically significant South African entertainment retailer whose physical-store model was severely disrupted by the transition to digital distribution, while its ultimate legal status remains unconfirmed.
- 2017
Final-store closure is reported as imminent
[1]The planned closure of the last store at Hillfox Value Centre in Roodepoort was reported in May 2017.
- 2014
Business rescue begins
[1]Look & Listen entered business rescue after its store network declined to 19 locations, including 14 described as unprofitable.
- 2013
Online store operations are discontinued
[1]The company discontinued its online store operations on 12 February 2013.
- 2013
Possible online-store restart is reported
[1]Reports in June described a potential online-store restart following a partnership with Mondia Media; the retailer was reported to operate 28 physical stores.
- 1969
First Look & Listen store opens in Hillbrow
[1]Rob Ziegler opened the first Look & Listen store in Hillbrow, Johannesburg's central business district.
Products and positioning
A specialist South African entertainment retailer combining music and film sales with games, consumer electronics, and merchandise. Its historical proposition centered on convenient access to physical media through a national store network, later challenged by digital distribution and online entertainment services.
Physical music media
Music recordings
Music was a core part of Look & Listen's historical retail proposition. The business sold successive generations of physical formats, including LP records, cassette-based products, and compact discs. These products made the retailer a destination for customers seeking packaged recorded music before online services and digital delivery became dominant.
Home entertainment
Films and DVDs
The retailer sold films and other video entertainment, particularly on DVD. Film products complemented its music assortment and helped establish Look & Listen as a broader home-entertainment specialist rather than a narrowly focused record retailer.
Video games
Games
Games formed part of the stores' wider entertainment assortment. The available reference identifies games among the products sold, but does not specify particular platforms, franchises, or exclusive ranges.
Consumer electronics
Consumer electronics
Look & Listen also sold consumer electronics alongside music and film media. This category supported the brand's role as a destination for home entertainment, although the available material does not identify specific product models or proprietary hardware lines.
Entertainment merchandise
Merchandise
Entertainment-related merchandise was included in the store assortment. The reference material does not provide a detailed breakdown of the merchandise categories or licensed properties involved.
Brand decisions
2014
Entry into business rescueStrategyBackground
The store network had contracted to 19 locations, with 14 reported to be unprofitable, amid sustained pressure on physical entertainment retail.
Action taken
Look & Listen entered business rescue in June 2014.
Aftermath
The company continued to contract, and closure of its final store was reported as imminent in 2017.
2013
Discontinuation of online-store operationsStrategyBackground
Online music services, piracy, and changing digital consumption patterns were placing pressure on the physical-media retail model.
Action taken
Look & Listen discontinued its online store operations on 12 February 2013.
Aftermath
Later reports said the company was considering an online-store restart after partnering with Mondia Media.
2013
Attempted online-store relaunch with Mondia MediaStrategyBackground
After closing its online store, the retailer sought a possible route back into digital commerce while continuing to operate a large physical-store network.
Action taken
The company partnered with Mondia Media and was reported to be considering restarting online-store operations.
Aftermath
The available material does not confirm whether the relaunch was completed or commercially successful.
Recent events
- 2017
Closure of Look & Listen's final store reported as imminent[1]
Other
In May 2017, reports said that the closure of the brand's last store, at Hillfox Value Centre in Roodepoort, Johannesburg, was imminent.
- 2014
Look & Listen enters business rescue[1]
Bankruptcy
In June 2014, Look & Listen entered business rescue as its physical store network fell to 19 locations, 14 of which were described as unprofitable. The company was reported to employ 280 people.
- 2013
Look & Listen discontinues online store operations[1]
Other
Look & Listen stopped operating its online store on 12 February 2013.
- 2013
Look & Listen considers relaunching its online store with Mondia Media[1]
Other
Reports in June 2013 said the retailer was considering restarting its online operations after partnering with Mondia Media. The company was reported to have 28 physical stores in South Africa at the time.
Sources1 sources
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