THE country's largest musical instrument retailer, Sound Control, has suddenly closed the doors to its Southampton store after the company went into administration.
Staff were notified yesterday the large city centre shop was one of several of the firm's 26 national outlets being shut with immediate effect.
The 15 members of staff - all but one full time - are among 163 workers who have been made redundant.
Sound Control, which has an annual turnover of £50m and 338 employees nationwide, was formed when the first store opened as a local hire company in Dunfermline in Scotland, in October 1980.
Selling musical instruments and recording equipment, the business expanded to open stores across the country, including those under brand names Media Tools, Turnkey and Soho Sound House.
In 2000 the business was expanded to include online retail sales, which has also now closed as a result of the financial problems.
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The Southampton branch, on the large former Safeway supermarket site opposite Debenhams, opened three years ago.
One worker at the shop told the Daily Echo the staff were left stunned at the sudden closure.
"We've not really been told anything, so it's just all been a bit of a shock," he said.
"We were just told to leave the premises immediately because the company has gone into administration.
"We've all got mortgages and rents to pay, but they've said none of us will be eligible for redundancy pay."
Sound Control yesterday applied for administration through Deloitte, citing increased competition from online sellers.
Trading is to continue at 16 stores while a buyer is sought, but with the closest outlets being in London and Bristol there is no chance of the Southampton staff being relocated.
The news of Sound Control's difficulties comes at an increasingly worrying time for all high street retailers.
Sales fell sharply in April compared with the same month last year, according to findings announced by the Confederation of British Industry.
More than half - 52 per cent - of all retailers questioned in the latest Distributive Trades survey said sales volumes were lower than 12 months earlier, and just 25 per cent said they were higher.
While there may be mitigating factors, including the early Easter and comparatively poor weather this April, the survey is further evidence of shoppers tightening their belts amidst increasing talk of a wider economic downturn.
Posted by: Noi-Face-Noi, Winchester on 12:17pm Thu 1 May 08
**** shame. Good shop with some nice equipment. It was good that you felt comfortable to try out their gear as in some shops you ca nbe made to feel uneasy unless your Hendrix or John Bonham!! All I would say was it was always busy but not with buyers but people chosing it as a hangout!! That's no way to run a business.
Whatever replaces it will last the run of the mill 2 years before closing. Possibly another £1 shop!!
**** shame. Good shop with some nice equipment. It was good that you felt comfortable to try out their gear as in some shops you ca nbe made to feel uneasy unless your Hendrix or John Bonham!! All I would say was it was always busy but not with buyers but people chosing it as a hangout!! That's no way to run a business.
Whatever replaces it will last the run of the mill 2 years before closing. Possibly another £1 shop!!
Posted by: sainth, Southampton on 12:22pm Thu 1 May 08
It may have been full of kids, but it is still not nice turning up for work to be told you are unemployed with no redundancy. Hope they all get jobs asap
It may have been full of kids, but it is still not nice turning up for work to be told you are unemployed with no redundancy. Hope they all get jobs asap
I went in there a couple of weeks ago to buy some strings for my axe and the shop looked like it had been burgled...now I see why.
It's a shame, not many large music shops around
I went in there a couple of weeks ago to buy some strings for my axe and the shop looked like it had been burgled...now I see why.
Posted by: Noi-Face-Noi, Winchester on 3:50pm Thu 1 May 08
I think Christoff knows exactly what he's talking about!!!
If current bands used terminology like "axe" then the state of modern music wouldn't be soo bad.
I think Christoff knows exactly what he's talking about!!!
If current bands used terminology like "axe" then the state of modern music wouldn't be soo bad.
Posted by: AMS, southampton on 5:54pm Thu 1 May 08
R.I.P [bold]Soundcontrol[/bold] ! [bold]The Academy of Music &[/bold] [bold]Sound[/bold] remains open for Full time, Part time and private music tuition. Find the Academy entrance on the side of Soundcontrol opposite the Bargate carpark.
R.I.P Soundcontrol ! The Academy of Music &Sound remains open for Full time, Part time and private music tuition. Find the Academy entrance on the side of Soundcontrol opposite the Bargate carpark.
Posted by: Bus Driver, Southampton on 7:50pm Thu 1 May 08
It's a shame that they came to southampton. Destroyed a EXCELLENT music store in the east street centre, forcing them to close.
Then go out of business themselves.
JUSTICE.
It's a shame that they came to southampton. Destroyed a EXCELLENT music store in the east street centre, forcing them to close.
Then go out of business themselves.
JUSTICE.
[quote][bold]neil peart[/bold] wrote:
"strings for my axe"!!!! jesus mate do you live in the 80's or do you just not know what your talking about????? [/quote] rock on dude, rock on.
neil peart wrote:
"strings for my axe"!!!! jesus mate do you live in the 80's or do you just not know what your talking about?????
[quote][bold]neil peart[/bold] wrote:
"strings for my axe"!!!! jesus mate do you live in the 80's or do you just not know what your talking about????? [/quote] Of course he knows what he's talking about man.
neil peart wrote:
"strings for my axe"!!!! jesus mate do you live in the 80's or do you just not know what your talking about?????
Posted by: Benny Fitt, Thornhill on 8:19pm Thu 1 May 08
[quote][bold]neil peart[/bold] wrote:
"strings for my axe"!!!! jesus mate do you live in the 80's or do you just not know what your talking about????? [/quote] I must confess, it does not strike a chord with me!
neil peart wrote:
"strings for my axe"!!!! jesus mate do you live in the 80's or do you just not know what your talking about?????
I must confess, it does not strike a chord with me!
Posted by: Michael Paine, Nosey Neighbour on 8:26pm Thu 1 May 08
I was one of the 163 workers that were made redundant and i feel ****. I love Sound Control and the truth is that they owe Roland UK a hell of alot of money and could potentially bust Roland UK because of that. Bad investments in Academy Of Sound, and keeping open the wee **** branches which made little or no money have raked up millions of debts. I really hope they find a buyer soon and keep this company going.
I was one of the 163 workers that were made redundant and i feel ****. I love Sound Control and the truth is that they owe Roland UK a hell of alot of money and could potentially bust Roland UK because of that. Bad investments in Academy Of Sound, and keeping open the wee **** branches which made little or no money have raked up millions of debts. I really hope they find a buyer soon and keep this company going.
Posted by: Anon, Southampton on 11:42am Fri 2 May 08
Great! another empty shop in Southampton! It'll probably be a good few years before they get another shop in there or even worse, some idiot will decide that it's perfect for flats. Please... NO MORE FLATS!
Great! another empty shop in Southampton! It'll probably be a good few years before they get another shop in there or even worse, some idiot will decide that it's perfect for flats. Please... NO MORE FLATS!
Posted by: Noi-Face-Noi, Winchester on 11:50am Fri 2 May 08
[quote][bold]Benny Fitt[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]neil peart[/bold] wrote: "strings for my axe"!!!! jesus mate do you live in the 80's or do you just not know what your talking about????? [/quote] I must confess, it does not strike a chord with me![/quote] Don't 'fret' over it dear boy!! I think you've been 'strung' along by the shear 'scale' of things!!
Still a d@mn shame though.
Benny Fitt wrote:
neil peart wrote: "strings for my axe"!!!! jesus mate do you live in the 80's or do you just not know what your talking about?????
I must confess, it does not strike a chord with me!
Don't 'fret' over it dear boy!! I think you've been 'strung' along by the shear 'scale' of things!!
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