Greater London Enterprise Awards 2021

35 | Greater London Enterprise Awards 2021 KMR Audio supplies professional recording equipment and support to the audio industry. Their customers include recording studios, artists, recording engineers, producers and mastering engineers. We find out more following the firm’s recent success at the Greater London Enterprise Awards 2021. KMR Audio is a leading supplier of professional recording equipment for studios and audio professionals across the UK. They also deal with educational facilities and private enthusiasts, as well as providing UK distribution of a wide range of boutique equipment to other retailers in the sector “Our company is unique in that we have stuck firmly to our aims since we established in 2003,” begins Keith Malin, Managing Director. “A lot of our rivals have diversified and tried to go after different markets. However, we have been laser-focussed on recording studios and music and have benefitted hugely as our customers know that we’re not distracted with other things. If you have a recording studio or want to set one up, this is what we do, 100% of the time.” KMR has amongst the largest collection of demo equipment available in Europe for clients to audition before purchase. Keith explains, “We carry all the major brands as well as hard-to- source boutique brands and go out of our way to search the globe for new and interesting gear manufacturers. We love nothing more than unearthing new products to present to our clients. We are staffed with experienced industry experts and pride ourselves in advising our clients to find the best solutions for their needs – backed up with dedicated technical support and a friendly, “can do” attitude. All the sales and tech team are major audio enthusiasts and understand our clients’ needs profoundly.” KMR is situated in North London, allowing the company to deliver to many facilities on the same day. Keith expands, “We are keenly aware that our customers rely on the equipment they purchase from us to keep working – often to tight deadlines - so service and support is also a critical part of our business model. This is a niche business and profit margins are often quite tight, so with similar pricing available from our competitors it is often the Best Nationwide Recording Studio Equipment Supplier 2021 ‘added value’ of customers trusting us to support them when they’re in a tight spot that makes the difference between a sale coming our way or going to a competitor.” Being in London is hugely important to KMR as it gives the company an edge over its competition. Keith expands, “Although clients travel large distances to visit our showroom (we’ve had people travel from South America, Asia and Australasia to be here), being on the doorstep of so many London recording studios allows us to maintain a close relationship with our clients, as well as getting goods to them quickly” Covid-19 continues to impact many businesses during this time, including KMR. However, Keith describes this as a ‘double-edged sword’ stating, “The demand for the equipment we sell has increased massively over the past 18 months. The closure of venues and the lack of live music has forced musicians into the studio and, in this respect, we’ve never been busier. However, the pandemic has had a profound effect on supply chains, and whilst this isn’t unique to our industry, it has increased delivery times so the difference between demand and supply has widened to a concerning degree.” Consequently, the key for KMR going forward is to work closely with suppliers so the business can plan stock requirements well in advance and continue to make equipment available during this period. “Even though our clients want products that are often handmade in small quantities or built to order, the retail culture these days means that people want to receive their orders almost immediately. We continue to strive to make this as much of a reality for our customers as possible.” Over the last eighteen years, KMR has established itself as an incredibly reliable company, a reputation that makes it the first choice for so many audio professionals. “Clients know they’re going to get treated well here and we’re going to do what we say we’re going to do,” says Keith. “This is a founding philosophy of ours and is of critical importance to us. Therefore, everyone here has been chosen for their reliability and a natural inclination to not let people down. Our customers expect us to go the extra mile – and we do.” Looking ahead, KMR is currently upgrading the systems that run its business, giving the company greater insight into business trends and allowing the team to do less admin and freeing them for more productive work. Keith expands on the future plans of the company by stating, “In the next couple of years we will move out of our current location. While Whetstone has been our home since our foundation in 2003 and is beloved by many of our customers, we have simply outgrown it. We have big ambitions to have the best premises in the industry; a thoroughly welcoming space where we can have huge amounts of equipment on demonstration and can house all our stock for sale too. The next few years are going to be transformative for our business.” Company: KMR Audio Ltd Name: Keith Malin – Managing Director Email: sales@kmraudio.com Web Address: www.kmraudio.com Jul21422