NWB - Community Blog

01 May 2008

Sound Control go into administration

Filed Under : Gear

Posted By : Scott - Metalleeka | Comments : 23

Received this email yesterday which was a bit of an eye opener.

Received this email yesterday which was a bit of an eye opener.
There is no mention of this on the Sound Control website.

"After many months of speculation and rumour it has been revealed today, 30th April 2008, that Sound Control, including Turnkey, have gone into administration.

At least 10 stores have already closed and unfortunately 100+ staff have been laid-off. At this time we have no further information, but what is quite clear is that any new or existing orders are unlikely to be fulfilled.

We take customer service very seriously at Dolphin Music, so in view of the demise of Sound Control, we will be increasing staffing levels this week & this weekend to ensure that we can meet the increased demand.

In view of the serious impact these events could have on customers who have placed orders in good faith, Dolphin Music would like to offer an advice service to any worried Sound Control or Turnkey customers. Anyone seeking advice on how to cancel a Sound Control or Turnkey order and ensure that they receive a refund should call the number below and one of our advisors will be happy to assist.

Any customers planning to make a purchase from Sound Control or Turnkey are equally welcome to call Dolphin Music and we will match or better the price offered by them.

For Sales or Advice please call Dolphin Music Sales: 0844 815 0888

Finally, the Dolphin Music team would like to express sympathy for all the staff that have lost their jobs as a result of these unfortunate events."

Comments

# Posted by Scott - Metalleeka - 01/05/2008, 15:05 (GMT)

Here is the official statement

Apr 30 2008
John Reid and Bill Dawson of Deloitte, the business advisory firm, have been appointed Administrators of Sound Control Holdings Limited (“Holdings”) and certain of its subsidiaries (“the Group”) following applications to the courts by the Group’s Directors.

The Group operates from 26 stores across the UK, under the brand names Sound Control, Media Tools, Turnkey and Soho Sound House, and is the largest musical instrument retailer in the UK. It has a turnover of £50m and 338 employees nationwide.

The Group has been impacted by increased competition from the internet and the directors had been pursuing a strategy to sell the business. This did not prove successful and accordingly they sought the appointment of John Reid and Bill Dawson as Administrators.

John Reid said: “Following a review of the Group’s operations the Administrators have today 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, selling high quality musical instruments to the public.”

The Group's head office is based in Dunfermline and has various trading locations throughout the UK."

# Posted by Andy Mack - 01/05/2008, 15:23 (GMT)

JEEEEEEESUUUUUS!

This is where I was supposed to be getting my free guitar from!!!!

BOOOOGER no wonder they are not getting back to me!!

# Posted by Andy Mack - 01/05/2008, 15:52 (GMT)

I wonder if any of the top brass have already been sacked- I ave been sending regular (every other day) to the marketing chap but he has not got back to me for ages!!!! ARSES!!!!

# Posted by BLACK PILATE - 01/05/2008, 15:59 (GMT)

Alright all,

I work for Deloitte so know a bit about this. The Manchester city centre store is one of the ones to be closed, the one in Salford will remain open.

Rubbish shop in my opinion anyway.

Rock on.

Rich
BLACK PILATE

# Posted by Andy Mack - 01/05/2008, 16:25 (GMT)

Soundcontrol had agreeed to send me a Schecter Banshee Guitar (it was located in the Birmingham store) and I was just waiting for it- come on Black Pilate I assume Andy Gillespie the Group Marketing Directer is no longer with the company (Soundcontrol) so I am trusting you to get it sorted!!!!

I wish!!!

# Posted by BLACK PILATE - 01/05/2008, 17:06 (GMT)

It's on it's way mate.

NOT.

# Posted by ATLANTA ROOTS - 01/05/2008, 19:49 (GMT)

maybe that's why they went bump...giving too many guitars away..LOL

# Posted by Emma Forman - 01/05/2008, 19:51 (GMT)

Do you know what is gonna happen to the two sound control stores in glasgow?

# Posted by mr.nwb - 01/05/2008, 20:34 (GMT)

In an ironic twist I'm kind of glad sound control is closing down. It might mean some of you folk will clicky on me Dolphin Music ads :-)

Saw Sound Control in Edinburgh the other day, nobody in. Says it all really.

# Posted by Andy Mack - 01/05/2008, 20:40 (GMT)

I did not like soundcontrol- not nice staff generally!! Although we did manage to get a good deal on a Warick bass rig- they said they would match any price- so my mates music shop printed off a price at a great loss for it and we took it- they matched it with very sad looks on their faces- perhaps it is my fault!!!!

# Posted by Andy Mack - 01/05/2008, 20:41 (GMT)

cant believe I am not getting my geetar tho!!

# Posted by Scott - Metalleeka - 01/05/2008, 20:43 (GMT)

I got my first ever guitar 14 years ago at SC in Glasgow, so I'll always have a wee soft spot for them, but in fairness, they've been trying to compete with the likes of GAK and Soundslive in the uk for the last couple of years, but with the arrival of the likes of Thomann.de it was always going to be hard to keep the prices as low. Considering the amount of money I have spent on music equipment in the last 10 years, not a single penny has been spent in sound control. Kind of says it all really.

# Posted by mr.nwb - 01/05/2008, 20:45 (GMT)

To be honest some of the best deals I've seen are from Rimmers Musics online store. www.rockingrooster.co.uk

As most of the stores are NW based, its easy to pop in if ya amp/guitar/cymbals e.t.c break and still under warrenty.

# Posted by Roj (Black Rose) - 01/05/2008, 21:57 (GMT)

Always found Sound Control easy to deal with (Salford branch)so a bit p....d that they haVE gone bump. Sign of the times eh

Roj
TWIN LIZZY

# Posted by BLACK PILATE - 02/05/2008, 09:28 (GMT)

Retained Stores:

Birmingham
Bristol
Edinburgh
Glasgow (City)
Leeds (City)
Leicester
London
London (Turnkey/Soho Soundhouse)
Manchester (Salford)
Norwich
Sheffield
Dundee
Newcastle
Stockton
Stoke
Dunfermline

Closure Stores:

Derby
Glasgow (West
Glasgow (West) - Tele/internet sales
Hull
Kirkcaldy
Leeds (East)
Manchester (City)
Milton Keynes
Nottingham
Preston
Southampton

# Posted by Andy Mack - 02/05/2008, 09:54 (GMT)

I use Rimmers it is my local store and they are very helpful- The one in Leyland anyway- I have used GAK- IMUSO and Thomann.de as well as The Music King recently-

I did get one of my guitars from Soundcontrol= my Schecter Ultra III but the Bigsby was broken and it had been on display there for years- I got it for £180- two days after I got it fixed it I was offere £300 for it- love it though wont sell-

The Strings I use were £7 at soundcontrol too!! At Rimmers they are only £3.95 - £4.50 so Soundcontrol were their own worst enemy - was expensive-!!

They promised me a guitar too the bastard- why couldn't this have happened in a few weeks!!!!!

# Posted by Andy Mack - 02/05/2008, 13:56 (GMT)

Trying to get an Ibanez now!!!!!!

# Posted by The Sanity Clause - 02/05/2008, 15:52 (GMT)

Soundcontrol treated their staff really badly right up to sacking them without notice!

# Posted by Regenesis - 02/05/2008, 16:12 (GMT)

treating staff badly leads to lack of motivation to lack of sales to lack of company etc i know this is probably not the main reason for closing but if the staff new they compnay was in trouble they may have made a difference to the end result, ever the optimist !!!!!
sorry to he lads at sound control oh and the girls.

# Posted by The Imposters - 03/05/2008, 01:27 (GMT)

Never liked the way they did business .......... but sad for the guys who are losing their jobs ...... YOU CAN BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR THAT THE DIRECTORS WILL BE WALKING AWAY WITH A STASH IN THEIR POCKETS THOUGH !!!!!!

# Posted by Andy Mack - 03/05/2008, 23:55 (GMT)

The main man quit a few months ago- now he is charge of Gibson UK!!

# Posted by The Imposters - 04/05/2008, 01:07 (GMT)

Hmmmmm ......... The last post by TFE says everything doesnt it ????, fail at one Company and youre put in charge of another !!!, wonder if Gibson UK will have financial problems soon ??? lol

# Posted by Kingpin (Keith) - 28/05/2008, 23:31 (GMT)

The problem with SC was that they advertised their prices at WAY over prices you could get online anywhere else £1049 tagged for an SG standard, they are all over the net for £800 even the online shop was dear. They only ever wanted to sell you what they had in,mention anyother make that you wouldnt mind trying...I asked if A could try a vetta 11 combo they wanted a deposit of £250 as they didnt have one in stock and they would have to transfer one from another shop. My 2nd word was "off" for customer service try andertons online...superb !

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