Bringing a host of high-tech audio equipment to the tranquil and stunning Victorian Hepworth Arcade, in the Old Town of Kingston Upon Hull, is PMC retailer, Fanthorpes Hifi.
While not going back quite as far as the arcade itself, Fanthorpes has been operating from this perfect example of a Grade II Listed building since 1948, when Arthur and Laura Fanthorpe first opened their shop selling army surplus radio equipment. The range of products may have changed, but the high levels of service and commitment to giving the best advice to its customers hasn’t – that’s why the business is thriving 60 years on.
Today the business is run by Marc Fanthorpe, who has been in charge for ten years, having originally cut his business teeth in the IT industry, which is a very good grounding for the modern hi-fi industry. Where a web presence is essential, so many products are internet enabled and the installations depend upon a really good understanding of networks.
Marc grew up surrounded by a mass of old radio equipment, “Our garden was literally full of copper from old radios and assorted other bits and bobs.” Modern audio equipment now lines the shelves of Fanthorpes, with particular favourites of Marc’s being the PMC fact.12s and the Innuos Zennith streamer, which makes it really easy to listen to his favourite music, including country music from the likes of Townes Van Zandt and Gillian Welsch and industrial music. These two completely contrasting styles perfectly demonstrate the versatility of the PMC’s – speaker that play the music as it’s meant to sound, regardless of genre
Choosing the PMC brand for Marc and his team was easy, It was a trip across the M62 to the sadly missed Manchester hi-fi show a few years ago. Where they heard the then just released Tom Jones Album, “Praise and Blame”, playing on PMCs. They knew as soon as they heard the system, making the best sound at the show, that they had to stock PMC.
The team at Fanthorpes never rests. When not serving customers in the shop, they can be found at hi-fi shows up and down the country, demonstrating the products they stock and meeting new people, many of whom go on to be long-standing customers. They are quite happy to conduct a home demonstration wherever their customers might be. It’s all part of (literally) going the extra mile to serve the needs of the customer. They’re knowledge hungry and trying to better themselves and their audio knowledge, but never want to be seen to be hi-fi snobs. Being approachable is key to the way Fanthorpes operates – ‘it’s a northern thing’ that certainly works for this gem of a retailer that puts the culture into the City of Culture 2017.
Visit thier website for more information: https://www.fanthorpes.co.uk/
