How a popular Banbury music shop has celebrated 25 years of success by adapting to change

Banbury music shop One Man Band is celebrating 25 years in business this week - following some significant changes since it started back in 1995.

And in the age of the internet stores, the business has proven that adapting to change is the key to success.

Managing director David Cooper said: “It’s been an amazing 25 year journey and the input of the staff over the years has helped us adapt to the changing climate.

"Many of our current team have been with me for between 15 and 20 years sharing the enjoyment and seeing the growth and success of our business unfold”

David set up the business back in 1995 in Church Walk Banbury- with his mum helping out on Saturdays when it was busier.

He now employs 10 staff and trades from a large warehouse, and showroom facility behind B&Q in Canada Close, Banbury.

David started learning about the industry from the age of 15 in 1982 when he got a Saturday job in a small Banbury music shop, Glenn Derges Musical Instruments, while still a student at Banbury School.

The business started to struggle but he enjoyed it so much that he continued to go in unpaid, most days after school and in school holidays.

When he left school they put him on the government YTS youth training scheme and he then progressed to full-time staff nine months later.

After six years in Glenn's shop David left the music industry to sell cars for seven years before setting up his own general music shop - One Man Band.

The business has gradually grown and the store expanded into bigger premises twice, stocking over 250 guitars, 30 flutes, saxophones and clarinets, 10 different drum kits, and all the Yamaha digital pianos and keyboards.

But, as the internet developed, the store then began to experience a decline in business as people's buying habits changed - and in 2014 David and store manager Chris Hammond went to an MIA trade conference at Whittlebury Hall to look for new ideas.

One of the speakers emphasised how being found on the internet was very difficult and videos were a great way to get you found due to Google putting them to the top of the results page as people loved watching videos rather than reading text.

This was the turning point for the store and David and Chris set about developing ideas for videos and decided that offering help and advice on getting the best out of top-end keyboards would be a great way to engage with new customers.

They set up a channel on Youtube called “Tyros Tipsters” and bought the website domain with the same name and then started making and uploading videos the following day.

Sales went through the roof as new customers got on board. People from all over the world now knew their name.

David added: "In 2016 Edna Halliday, owner of Whitley Bay Organs in Newcastle sadly passed away, she had built up one of the most successful businesses in the country selling organs, keyboards and digital pianos based in the North East and One Man Band was lucky enough to acquire her business and continue her legacy.

"Edna’s son Jamie Halliday now works closely with the business both in a consultancy role as well as servicing and delivering instruments In 2017,

"One Man Band stopped selling guitars and general instruments in it’s White Lion Walk premises to focus on its new business model selling just new and pre-owned digital pianos, keyboards, and organs."

In 2018 One, the business relocated to its current much larger premises in Canada Close. It also has a warehouse up in Newcastle.

David said: "In the last 25 years, buying habits have changed significantly and One Man Band has adapted to the changes now making it one of the UK’s leading keyboard instrument dealers."