RETAIL NEWS
New Absolute Music superstore taking shape
Poole-based retailer’s new 34,000 square foot HQ with studio and rehearsal space nears completion.
BY ADAM SAVAGE
THE BUILDING process for Absolute Music’s new 14,000 square foot superstore is entering its final stages, with the retail premises due to open its doors before the end of this month (July). The new retail outlet will offer
large individual sections for acoustic guitars, keyboards/synths, an extensive guitar showroom, a studio, rehearsal and teaching complex, DJ/live zone, drum and piano departments and much more. Combined with the studio complex and warehouse, the whole site will cover around 34,000 square feet. The retailer already has its new studio facility up and running, which used to belong to Bournemouth
54 July 2012
College, although the department is also set for a complete overhaul. Sales director Andy Legg, who has
been one of the key players in the move, says it has been a gradual procedure, but they remain on schedule. “We’re getting there slowly but
surely. It’s about 2/3 of the way through and we’re still looking to open in early to mid July,” Legg revealed. “It’s about four miles away from our current site and we’re looking at opening it in a couple of phases. “The main shop will all open in
one hit, or ‘phase one’, while the studio complex and piano department will follow in ‘phase two’.”
The decision to move comes as a
result of Absolute outgrowing its 4,300 square foot Nuffield Road premises, with there being little room to upgrade the current building.
“
The main shop will be open in one hit, or ‘phase one’, while the studio complex and piano department will follow in ‘phase two’
“That site is a bit limited for space
as there isn’t much room to expand outwards and it’s a bit out of the way, with limited parking,” said Legg. “Plus we couldn’t go upwards as there are power lines in the way.” As well as being over three times
larger, the new store will allow Absolute to deal in new product categories and offer considerably more than it currently does in other sectors. “We’re getting a drum department for the first time and even though we sell DJ gear at the moment, we will now have a whole area for it, which we’re combining with PA as they go together pretty nicely,” Legg commented. “Everything else is set to grow in size as well.” Completing the set-up is a
dedicated studio monitor room designed by acoustic consultant Andy Munro – the only one of its kind, according to Absolute.
An exact opening date for the
new-look store is yet to be confirmed.
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