Going the Extra Mile for our Customers
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Owning a business is not for the faint hearted. There are good times, of course, and opportunities, but there are also times when you need to have dogged determination to keep marching on.
Simon Burton has, by his own admission, put his heart and soul into Home Media, Kent’s leading hifi specialist. And as he looks ahead to the 30th anniversary of the day the showroom first opened its doors, he is in no doubt that excellence in knowledge and customer service have been key to its success.
Simon’s love of music goes back to his childhood. At age eight, he was gifted three Blondie albums, ‘Plastic Letters’, ‘Parallel Lines’ and ‘Eat to the Beat’ by his aunt. By 12, he had his first hifi separates which he upgraded over time using cash earned from his Saturday job. He first started work in the audio industry in 1991, for an Essex-based AV retailer, followed by 2 years with an audio specialist in Surrey, before his appointment as store manager at the Union Street showroom in Maidstone, in 1996. He left two years later to pursue a career as a sales representative for loudspeaker specialists KEF – but when the opportunity arose in 2002 to buy Home Media, he simply could not resist.
“I had my doubts,” he admitted. “I questioned whether I had the capability to make it work. I knew I had to deliver, I had to smile and stand tall.
“You need to be there for your customers and your staff.”
The recession of 2008 hit Home Media, as it did many other businesses. But Simon dug deep. He had a resilience born from personal experiences.
“When I was 18, I had a motorbike accident, suffered multiple compound fractures in my right leg and was in hospital for three months, resulting in over 2 years recovery time. I have limped ever since. Going through that experience and living with a physical disability gives you a strength and determination which carries through to business. It has taught me resilience.”
Simon was understandably devastated when colleagues Ben and Martyn died from cancer in 2016 and 2017.
“It was an awful time for their family and friends,” he said. “You grow to love each other and often spent more time together than with your loved ones. It was very traumatic.”
The Home Media team work closely together. John Sanderson joined the team in 2014 and has a lifelong passion for cinema and all things relating to home automation. Simon’s son, Chris, joined in 2018, with his career a natural succession of his love of music.
While keeping at the cutting edge of hi-tech home entertainment equipment is vital for the business’ success, Simon also puts its longevity down to traditional values such as excellent customer service.
“Honesty and transparency are also important for establishing relationships. We have customers who we have known for years. They come in to talk to us still and we look out for each other. Our team are passionate about music and movies and the equipment to play it on. That same passion and enthusiasm is passed on to our customers who visit our showroom.”
Customers are welcome to visit Home Media’s HQ in Union Street, Maidstone, or browse the website shop here. Get in touch with our friendly team of audiophiles on 01622 676703 or via sales@homemedialimited.co.uk
