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Digger: How did you get started with Ace Music Stands? 

Paul: I used to run and play in a band.  One of the guys was a professional musician and ran a Big Band (The Cat Pack). He wanted some lightweight music stands, but he couldn’t find anybody in this country to supply him. He came to me and said “you’re a bit technical, can you sort these out for me?” I looked into it and came up with what he wanted.

Digger: Were they available elsewhere? 

Paul: I’ve heard mention of them in the US but they would have proved twice the price with the import tax & shipping etc. 

Digger: I thought you were going to say China. 

Paul: No, I don’t know anybody in China who’s making them. I think customers like the opportunity to discuss their requirements with us, and we can make sure they are happy with their order.

Digger: So you’ve cornered the market? 

Paul: I’m not sure about that but we have helped lots and lots of bands in the UK, Scotland, Ireland and the EU.

Digger: I suppose it’s new technology that’s made all this possible? 

Paul: With the graphics it has, for sure. And with the lightweight material we use. The old way was heavy wooden stands, with painted artwork that often chipped and scratched off.

Digger: It’s amazing that you can have a 20/25 or even 40 piece band and one person can carry all the stands. 

Paul: Absolutely, I can carry twenty and probably a few more but two people can manage forty easily. One person would have a great deal of trouble trying to carry three or four wooden ones. 

Digger: Can these stands be used for any other purposes or promotions? 

Paul: Yes, we do have a few ideas in the pipeline and will be getting them on our website soon.

Digger: What do you enjoy most about what you’re doing? 

Paul: It’s helping people out. Giving them a good look for their band.  Everyone just loves to have a job go really easy whatever it is. We're helping customers get from the old-fashioned wooden way into a more modern, simpler smarter, easier and quicker way. 

Digger: What sort of feedback are you getting from clients? 

Paul: They love it.

Digger: I suppose because the product has got a long life you don’t hear from them much after that? 

Paul: We’ve had a few customers that have come back for a 2nd or 3rd set for other bands they have. Repeat business is always good. To date we’ve never had any items returned. 

Digger: What does the Internet mean to your business? 

Paul: I suppose it means a lot to us. Although we have done paper advertising as well. Nearly all our business is through word of mouth and the Internet. 

Digger: According to the outgoing boss of Marks and Spencer 50% of business will soon be generated by the Web. Who are your best customers? 

Paul: Predominantly medium to large bands, because they rotate musicians that have to read the charts. Small bands seem to learn their music off by heart. But we have supplied to single member artists up to bands with 30 members. 

 

 

 

Digger: Is it steady business or peaks and troughs? 

Paul: It is steady to busy just as you would find. 

Digger: Where do you see Ace Music Stands going in the future? 

Paul: We hope to get stronger. On the website, I want to push the bespoke side a little more. And I will be looking at branching out into other products that I have been working on.

Digger: It’s a great way of advertising, like the bass drum skin advertises the name of the band. 

Paul: That’s what it’s all about. We have got our name on the front of one band that we are sponsoring. We’ve done some high-flying clients, not that one client is more important than any other. We have supplied the BBC big band and we were asked to quote for the Nelson Riddle trust. But all our customers are equally important to us.

Digger: You never know, it might generate some work down the line. 

Paul: You never know.  The fact that we’re getting regular enquiries in this climate means we’re not too unhappy. I had to turn a client away today because we’re going on holiday and I didn’t want to let them down as they needed delivery guaranteed a day or so after we get back. I hate turning business away, but I’d rather that than let the customer down. And with our product, it’s like cars – not everybody likes the same make of car, and you just accept that we’re not for everyone but I’ve never had anyone come back to us complaining, only people ordering more.

Digger: Are the graphics  a full-colour process? 

Paul: You can have from one to as many colours as you like.

Digger: Is it a lamination process? 

Paul: No, it’s a single colour or up to two or three colours.  You can lay the different vinyls one on top of the other. If you want something that’s got colour blending, it’s called a print and then we do put a clear coat over it just to protect it. We always try and get over to customers what we will do, so they are happy with their order before they place it. Customers spending hard earned money want to know they are getting a good job that looks good, lasts and is a good price. 

Digger: Paul, thanks for explaining about your business and all the best for the future.

Paul: Thanks David.