SEVENOAKS SOUND & VISION Retailer Profile
20
Designed for modern living Manufacturers, he believes, have also become much better at recognising changing lifestyles. Rather than focusing solely on traditional hi-fi separates, many products now sit at the centre of the modern home, integrating televisions, streaming services and vinyl playback into a single system.
Mr Bicknell believes the changing role of
hi-fi in the home has also influenced product design. In the past, visitors could often tell what someone was interested in simply by looking at their CD collection or shelves full of films. Today, much of that has disappeared as music, films and books have moved to streaming services and digital platforms. “You want your amplifier to say something about you because you haven’t got a CD collection anymore,” he says. “If you watch your films on Netflix, read your books on a Kindle and stream your music, you haven’t really got anything in your house anymore that says anything about you.” Instead, he believes consumers are once again looking for products with personality, helping to drive demand for stylish speakers, amplifiers and turntables. “People are trying to put fun speakers and fun amplifiers back into their systems because it says something about them as a person.” It’s a shift that, in Mr Bicknell’s view, helps explain why manufacturers have started rethinking their product ranges. Rather than designing traditional hi-fi separates for enthusiasts alone, brands are creating systems that sit comfortably at the centre of modern living spaces and work seamlessly with TVs, streaming services and vinyl alike. “NAD was one of the brands having those conversations long before anyone else,” Mr
Bicknell
says.
“Putting HDMI
into stereo
amplifiers doesn’t sound particularly revolutionary now, but when they first did it, it changed the conversation. Suddenly people could connect their television to a proper stereo system instead of automatically buying a soundbar.” He also credits brands such as Bluesound for helping redefine music streaming within the premium audio sector. “They’ve worked hard to create products that fit into the way people actually live today.” The resurgence of vinyl has undoubtedly helped introduce younger audiences to specialist audio, but Mr Bicknell says another format has quietly been enjoying a revival too. “We’re actually selling more CD players than we’ve ever sold,” he says with a smile. “People often assume it’s just a temporary trend, but it doesn’t seem to be. Customers are becoming much more considered about what they buy and they want to understand the differences between products.”
That curiosity is another reason why demonstrations remain such an important part of the Sevenoaks experience.
“If someone wants to know why one CD player costs £150 and another costs £1,000, we can show them. That’s much easier to explain when you’re sitting in a demonstration room listening to the difference.”
Looking ahead The Sutton Coldfield opening also forms part of a wider period of investment for the retailer. Alongside the new West Midlands showroom, Sevenoaks is in the process of bringing its long-established Kingston
franchise into
company ownership, with refurbishment plans already in place.
“We’ve got an appetite to open more locations,” Mr Bicknell reveals. “We’re keeping our powder dry and waiting for opportunities.”
to let Sutton Coldfield
the right
While he admits political and economic uncertainty has encouraged a degree of caution. “We’ve just got
and Kingston settle in first. Once the market becomes a little more stable, we’d absolutely like to continue expanding.” For now, though, the immediate priority is ensuring the new showroom becomes firmly established within its local community. Looking back on the opening weekend, Mr Bicknell believes the early signs are extremely encouraging. Existing customers have returned, new customers have discovered the retailer and the team has picked up exactly where it left off in Solihull. Ultimately, he says, success won’t simply be measured by sales, but by the experience customers have every time they visit. “Retail is about creating an experience, and you can’t do that online in the same way,” he says. “Whether someone comes in to do their research before buying, or leaves with a complete system that day, what matters is that they leave knowing they’ve chosen the right solution.”
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