B&W: a British success story

[matt49]

I guess events in SW19 yesterday have put me in a mood to celebrate British success, so I thought I'd post this.

There’s an article in the FT today about the success of UK ‘niche’ export manufacturers. A number of examples are given, including B&W. According to the article, B&W’s annual sales are £140m, of which 35% are in the US and 30% in Europe. B&W have 50% of the global share of speaker sales over $2000. The factory in Worthing produces 1000 pairs of the 800 series per month.

It may be that it's increasingly uneconomic to build lower and mid-range hi-fi separates in the UK, but at the upper end things are different. (Oh and so much for passive speakers being 'dinosaurs' …)

Matt

Disclosure: I have no connection with B&W and I haven’t liked the B&W speakers I’ve heard.

 

[stevebrock]

I imagine Rega, Linn & Naim have bigger export markets outside of the EU

Its good news, it enables them to still R&D as well as manufacture here in the UK which keeps our economy healthy

I love a British company, am proud to buy British too but sometimes not always possible

 

[Deleted member 2457]

I guess events in SW19 yesterday have put me in a mood to celebrate British success, so I thought I'd post this.

There’s an article in the FT today about the success of UK ‘niche’ export manufacturers. A number of examples are given, including B&W. According to the article, B&W’s annual sales are £140m, of which 35% are in the US and 30% in Europe. B&W have 50% of the global share of speaker sales over $2000. The factory in Worthing produces 1000 pairs of the 800 series per month.

It may be that it's increasingly uneconomic to build lower and mid-range hi-fi separates in the UK, but at the upper end things are different. (Oh and so much for passive speakers being 'dinosaurs' …)

Matt

Disclosure: I have no connection with B&W and I haven’t liked the B&W speakers I’ve heard.

B&W are my favourite speakers.

 

[John Duncan]

B&W’s annual sales are £140m

The factory in Worthing produces 1000 pairs of the 800 series per month.

so much for passive speakers being 'dinosaurs'

.

 

[matt49]

B&W’s annual sales are £140m

The factory in Worthing produces 1000 pairs of the 800 series per month.

so much for passive speakers being 'dinosaurs'

.

And to think that B&W started with two men tinkering in a backroom with speakers that they sold by word of mouth! Have you ever come across another British success story like this, JD?

 

[byakuya83]

Congratulations to them.

The flame bait is unnecessary.

I'd be interested to see how much the dock systems and headphone contribute to overall turnover.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

B&W are my favourite speakers.

Hi gel

I would never have guessed

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[CnoEvil]

I am delighted that B&W are doing so well.......though Kef are better.

 

[floyd droid]

I am delighted that B&W are doing so well.......though Kef are better.

Many a true word is spoken (typed) in jest.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

B&W are my favourite speakers.

Hi gel

I would never have guessed

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[matt49]

I am delighted that B&W are doing so well.......though Kef are better.

No disagreement from me re. KEF.

And no doubt the article could have used KEF as an example (or indeed Rega or Linn or Naim: see @stevebrock above), but for me the killer stat is that B&W have half of the global market in speakers over $2000. It may not be a huge market, but that's still quite an achievement.

Matt

 

[steve_1979]

It's always good to see British manufactures doing well. It must be tough competing which the Chinese manufacturers.

B+W make some of the smartest looking speakers around too. I expect that this has had no small part in their success.

 

[matt49]

B+W make some of the smartest looking speakers around too. I expect that this has had no small part in their success.

Just goes to show how personal these things are: I've always thought the models with the separate, top-mounted tweeter were a real dog's breakfast aesthetically.

Maybe that's just me.

Matt

 

[BigH]

I am delighted that B&W are doing so well.......though Kef are better.

No disagreement from me re. KEF.

And no doubt the article could have used KEF as an example (or indeed Rega or Linn or Naim: see @stevebrock above), but for me the killer stat is that B&W have half of the global market in speakers over $2000. It may not be a huge market, but that's still quite an achievement.

Matt

Most Kefs are made in China so maybe not.

 

[BigH]

B+W make some of the smartest looking speakers around too. I expect that this has had no small part in their success.

Just goes to show how personal these things are: I've always thought the models with the separate, top-mounted tweeter were a real dog's breakfast aesthetically.

Maybe that's just me.

Matt

I agree not just the tweeters but overall, I find they look dated and ugly (800s), the CM1s look good. Probably suit the Chinese/USA markets though.

 

[altruistic.lemon]

I am delighted that B&W are doing so well.......though Kef are better.

No disagreement from me re. KEF.

And no doubt the article could have used KEF as an example (or indeed Rega or Linn or Naim: see @stevebrock above), but for me the killer stat is that B&W have half of the global market in speakers over $2000. It may not be a huge market, but that's still quite an achievement.

Matt

Most Kefs are made in China so maybe not.

As opposed to certain other speakers which are made in Indonesia - does it matter anyway?

 

[DocG]

I've always thought the models with the separate, top-mounted tweeter were a real dog's breakfast aesthetically.

Your dog had an expensive taste! :shifty:

 

[eazyryder]

Good for bowers&wilkins keep up the good work.

Big fan of b&w fantastic musical speakers.

i am running the 685s on a naim nait 5i, beautiful sound (even though the amp is twice the price)

Enough said.

 

[matt49]

Your dog had an expensive taste! :shifty:

and a very big and indigestible breakfast!

 

[BigH]

I am delighted that B&W are doing so well.......though Kef are better.

No disagreement from me re. KEF.

And no doubt the article could have used KEF as an example (or indeed Rega or Linn or Naim: see @stevebrock above), but for me the killer stat is that B&W have half of the global market in speakers over $2000. It may not be a huge market, but that's still quite an achievement.

Matt

Most Kefs are made in China so maybe not.

As opposed to certain other speakers which are made in Indonesia - does it matter anyway?

Yes, if you are talking about British manufacturering, it does.

 

[matt49]

As opposed to certain other speakers which are made in Indonesia - does it matter anyway?

Yes, if you are talking about British manufacturering, it does.

... which was the point of this thread ... :doh:

 

[altruistic.lemon]

The B&W top sellers are manufactured in China, as are KEF, who only make the reference series locally. Monitor Audio, another British company, also manufacture off shore, as do Mordaunt Short, Creek, Quad and the rest of the IAG brands.

All British success stories are Linn, Naim and Rega.

 

[ellisdj]

Whats amazing about the B&W 800 range is that its basically the same speaker cabinet as was deisgned in about 1990.

So thats 23 years of manufacturing from one lot of tooling (probably not one but you know what i mean).

Thats credit to a great design thats lasted but also credit to a great business model

When you see a proper set of 800 floor standers in the flesh they are a thing of beauty - photos do not do them justice at all.

There was some at the Bristol show - not playing just for display - not as big as they look / you imagine but stunning things when you think they are just speakers.

 

[manicm]

The B&W top sellers are manufactured in China, as are KEF, who only make the reference series locally. Monitor Audio, another British company, also manufacture off shore, as do Mordaunt Short, Creek, Quad and the rest of the IAG brands.

All British success stories are Linn, Naim and Rega.

Indeed the entire 600 series is made in China, the OP ignored that. Wonder when they're gonna replace it, the current range is now older than the previous 6 series. I'll bet it'll be something special.

 

[steve_1979]

B+W make some of the smartest looking speakers around too. I expect that this has had no small part in their success.

Just goes to show how personal these things are: I've always thought the models with the separate, top-mounted tweeter were a real dog's breakfast aesthetically.

Maybe that's just me.

Matt

What about the look of these?