One step ahead of the game
Tavistock Sound and Vision, is one of the late Michael Peters’ companies, renowned for their customer service and retailing excellence. Paul Mead, managing director of Tavistock, told Anna Ryland how during the age of the internet, a local independent can stay at the heart of its community.
P aul Mead, managing director of
Tavistock Sound and Vision and Michael R. Peters is not a stranger to receiving industry awards. In June 2008, he collected the IMA Best Customer Service Award on behalf of the Michael R. Peters store. This year Tavistock Sound and Vision won the title of the Best Small Consumer Electronic Retailer.
The origins of Tavistock date back to the 1930s when it operated as a bicycle shop in the centre of Bedford. In 1982, Michael Peters who ran Michael R. Peters store next door bought out his competitor but never amalgamated the two companies together. “For many years
people in Bradford didn’t know that he was the owner of both shops,” explains Paul Mead. “Michael Peters did this initially to uphold the differences in the way both business were run and to keep the competition between the staff in two stores.” Tavistock is a consumer electronics retailer while Michael R. Peters deals with both CE and DA brands. Between two shops – they support five major CE brands. “Even now the management culture in both shops is distinctly different,” adds Paul. Paul Mead started working in Tavistock in the early 1980s as a part-time Saturday assistant, while still at school. In 1985, he
20 The Independent Electrical Retailer January 2012
became a shop manager. After the death of Michael Peters in 2007 Paul was appointed the MD of the group. Tavistock sells only Sony and Panasonic products and deals with both manufacturers directly. Custom install is an increasingly important part of the business. “Custom install is a king at the moment – it gives independents a good margin as it’s not difficult to manage.” The group has 13 employees. Tavistock has five members of staff and it shares delivery and service engineers with Michael R. Peters. “I work with wonderful people,” says Paul. “The majority of them have been with us for a very long time.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44