No. 146 • JULY 2012 •
WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK
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MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PROFESSIONAL FOR EVERYONE IN THE MI BUSINESS 20 Swing low-down
We go Stateside to talk to accessories manufacturer String Swing
22 Eden project
A look at Marshall’s plans for the Eden bass amp range
24 45 not out
Yamaha celebrates 45 years of its groundbreaking drum business
32 MIRC 2012
Full line-up for this year’s retail conference and expo
FCN forced to wind down After months of rumours surrounding its future, falling sales force MI distribution veteran to call it a day BY RONNIE DUNGAN
DISTRIBUTION veteran FCN is currently in the process of winding down the company after failing to find a buyer or fresh investment in the firm. Rumours have been
circulating in the trade for some months about the firm’s status and the recent loss of key lines such as harmonica brand Lee Oskar and recorder line Aulos, to Barnes & Mullins, following hard on the departure of Rocktron and
“
Lorenzo and Kimbara guitars, Kent percussion, FZone, SierraGuitars and the most recent addition, Eleuke electric ukuleles. The Crowbrough-based
firm was established in 1965 when two smaller family firms united. Fletcher, Coppock and Newman was based in Shelton Street in Covent Garden, and was the first UK company to import guitars from Japan. Both the Newman family and the Coppock family had several generations working in the business at
The business model relies on a minimum level of sales and in the last few months it has become unsustainable Julia Thompson
GHS to Strings & Things has done little to quell talk that FCN is going out of business. There are several
remaining lines currently distributed by the firm including – Tycoon Percussion, K&M Stands, Dixon Drums, J.Michel brass and woodwind, Misi pickups and pre-amps, TKL cases, Panland steel drums,
that time. In 1974 it moved to Tonbridge, and again in 2001 to a new purpose-built warehouse in Crowborough. Commerical director, Julia
Thompson, told MI Pro: “Like a lot of companies that are in a similar position right now, sales have fallen recently. We have been adjusting our business model, cutting our overheads to try and cope
THOMPSON: “The only solution is to perform an orderly wind-down of the company.”
with that decline and we’ve re-budgeted for those lower sales. But what has happened since then, mainly driven by the recession, is that sales have become even lower still. “To cope with that we’ve
cut prices, cut our margins, offered discounts and extended credit where we can, in a bid to establish some equilibrium. But the business model relies on a
minimum level of sales to make it work and in the last few months it has become unsustainable. The decline in sales has acccelerated faster than we can cut costs. “So we came to the
conclusion that the company either needed to be part of a bigger business or get some new investment. But unfortunately we have had absolutely no interest, so the
only solution is to perform an orderly wind-down of the company and we’re currently working our way through that.” The firm is looking to sell
off its remaining stock and is inviting retailers and suppliers to come and take at look at what remains. Anyone interested in
finding out more can contact the company on 01892 603730
Profitable Headphones. DT 770 Pro.
polaraudio.co.uk exclusive UK Distributor
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