Sound Control closes 10 stores
MusicRadar, Sun 4 May, 11:18 am BST
Sound Control, the UK’s largest musical instrument retail chain, has gone into administration.
Appointed administrators Deloitte has shut 10 stores and closed down the company's internet and telesales operations. Sixteen stores remain open. With a £50m annual turnover, Sound Control is the UK’s biggest UK-based retailer, employing 336 people. Now, 163 employees will be made redundant.
John Reid from administrators Deloitte said: "Following a review of the group's operations, the administrators have made the difficult decision to close 10 of the group's trading locations and bring to an end its telesales and internet sales activities. These changes to the group's operations have resulted in 163 redundancies with immediate effect. The administrators welcome interest in the business and assets of the group and are already in discussions with a number of interested parties to explore a possible sale.
"However, at the same time as they explore sale options, the administrator will continue to trade the remaining 16 stores."
The branches closed are those in Derby, Glasgow, West Hull, Kirkcaldy, Leeds East, Manchester City, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Preston and Southampton.
Sound Control is based in Dunfermline, Scotland, and also operates stores under the name Media Tools, Turnkey and Soho SoundHouse.
What do MusicRadar users think about this?
By Michael Leonard
User comments (6)
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The list of stores closed is on the MI Pro website:
www.mi-pro.co.uk
It looks as though the credit crunch is mainly to blame. HBOS could hardly appeal for a few billion pounds from its shareholders and then expectthem to maintain a debt of tens of millions.
'Twas the bank pulled the plug – SC was a perfectly tenable business -
Agreed 2 out of 3 of ZZ Top have beards but you'd have to describe their attitude as "baaad" - not quite the same thing!
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it's a damnshame. the guys at my local branch have always given me a great deal on whatever i've bought, especially the roland stuff. Where's it all gonna end?
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ZZ Top have beards and a bad attitude and they don't hate music...
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They didn't say whether they're losing trade to competition, or just because nobody can spend on instruments once the fuel bills and poll tax has been paid. I suspect the latter because their prices weren't OTT and they had a good range of kit plus if you can't flog stuff online where can you flog it?
Should suit New Labour. They always hated music with a Taliban-esque vehemence (evidence: the changes to the "Licencing Laws", plus previous Home Secretaries have had a beard and a bad attitude). -
Very sad to hear this news. Does anyone know which stores are closing?
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