Long-time music store A&B Music Supplies, a fixture in the entertainment equipment and sound scene, is to close its Sheraton Mall outlet at month-end and operate solely from its main store at 12 Webster Industrial Park, Wildey.
It has also revealed plans to expand in other areas as part of major restructuring and consolidation plans it said were triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.
Managing Director Norman Barrow said the near eight-week shutdown of businesses which started at the end of March was a major blow to the company.
The renowned sound engineer and member of the defunct Sandpebbles band said: “When the okay was given to re-open, we were only able to reopen 50 per cent of our business as the Rental Department, through which we provide services for concerts, shows, meetings … remains closed as they are no events taking place, including Crop Over, and they are not likely to restart in any major way for at least the next 12 months. Additionally, the hotel sector that we provide sales and services to also remains closed.”
Barrow noted that since re-opening the Wildey store when businesses were given the green light to resume operations, its performance has since forced the company to take decisive action.
He said: “Our projections for the next 12 months and the fact that our business is down 40 per cent for the year so far as compared to last year, the company has to reduce its operating costs as the only means at a chance of survival.
“As a result, we have been forced to announce that we will be closing our store in Sheraton Mall at the end of June and will only operate from our main store at 12, Webster Industrial Park, Wildey.
Barrow announced a three-day relocation sale at Sheraton Mall beginning on Thursday with a storewide sale of 25 per cent and other selected discounts of up to 70 per cent.
But he disclosed that new plans were on the horizon for the more than 45-year-old company, as he expressed optimism about future prospects.
He said: “We plan to develop a mega-store at Wildey and have recently launched the A&B Music Learning Centre, which is a collaboration with Music Angels violin school and currently has a role of approximately 70 students who are doing online classes. Tutoring in other instruments will commence when schools are allowed to re-open.
“We will also be launching our online store in July through which customers will be able to purchase online and either collect or utilize our delivery service.”
