Journey of starting a hobby speaker company!

[Blacksabbath25]

Colin you do not have to justify your self to anyone what your doing is good , honest , and a lot of passion in what you do which in my book is bloody good in this day an age because in the uk it's hard to start anything like this and at least you have the guts & the drive to do something like this good luck to you and keep it going

 

[steve_1979]

Colin you do not have to justify your self to anyone what your doing is good , honest , and a lot of passion in what you do which in my book is bloody good in this day an age because in the uk it's hard to start anything like this and at least you have the guts & the drive to do something like this good luck to you and keep it going

+1

This is a great thing you're doing here and it deserves encouragement. Ignore what Spiny says.

 

[chebby]

I am one bloke in a 4Mx4M log cabin in my garden ...

That is pretty big by UK specialist hi-fi manufacturing standards.

This is the 'mighty' Sugden factory ...

clicky

Yes, that's all of it

 

[spiny norman]

That is pretty big by UK specialist hi-fi manufacturing standards.

This is the 'mighty' Sugden factory ...

clicky

Yes, that's all of it

Exactly the point I was making.

 

[Al ears]

Also enjoying the journey. But do be careful with percentages: if you were charging 100% less than anyone you'd be giving them away, and then there would be a sorry tale. I wouldn't want that to happen!

Best wishes.

.

I would, I'd have two.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

I am one bloke in a 4Mx4M log cabin in my garden ...

That is pretty big by UK specialist hi-fi manufacturing standards.

This is the 'mighty' Sugden factory ...

clicky

Yes, that's all of it

Not sure how that can be "all of it". They have 6 employees, a machine shop for loudspeakers and assembly. Not sure what point is being made here though.

 

[chebby]

Not sure how that can be "all of it". They have 6 employees, a machine shop for loudspeakers and assembly. Not sure what point is being made here though.

Sugden factory ...

http://neophonics.com/?page_id=1350

I guess the speaker manufacture/assembly is outsourced.

The point being made is that IQ Speakers is still claiming to be some little 'hobby' outfit and not a proper manufacturer (especially not one that needs to pay for proper advertising like all the other companies that are supporting this website to keep it free of charge).

We have other industry members here (from Naim, Hendon Designs, Rega, Arcam etc.) who - by and large - have kept to forum rules regarding marketing and self-promotion. One member, pushing his two -man active loudspeaker company, tried to get away with it and got banned. (Amongst other reasons.)

However, you are here at a time when there are no longer any moderators or admins paying attention to the site or it's rules. Make hay I suppose.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

I am still trying to date those old black & white photos. Irrelevant I know but since you brought up the comparison I expect Sugden and others are beyond an odd guy in a shed. I think we understand the point some are making and there is maybe a fine line between a commercial business and a hobby/business. I am not sure I recognise much advertising in IQ's threads but many still like the updates so no harm done IMO.

 

[Xanderzdad]

I think we understand the point some are making and there is maybe a fine line between a commercial business and a hobby/business. I am not sure I recognise much advertising in IQ's threads but many still like the updates so no harm done IMO.

Agreed - I find IQ really interesting and wish all the luck. Keep showing us pictures and your plans.

 

[iQ Speakers]

Sugden HQ! One of the nicest things about my Sugden A21SE was the parcel label tied with string around the binding post with Built By, Tested By, QC by all in different inks! I left it on when I sold it 3 months later! Lovely product by the way real honest enineering it was built bautifully. Thanks for the support guys, today has been a bad day milling wise with the new machine. Teathing problems and getting to know how it interacts with tools, speeds etc. If ever I run a 100% off sale I'll let you know! You all know what I meant*man_in_love*

 

[chris_bates1974]

I don't understand why anyone has an issue with this thread... It's one thread, is upfront and honest about what it is, and the last time I checked wasn't on a compulsory thread reading list.

keep it up please, I'm enjoying it....

And actually, I wouldn't mind similar threads from anyone manufacturing or distributing, perhaps in a dedicated area of the forum. Some I would read, and some I wouldn't. But I wouldn't complain about any of them.

 

[Xanderzdad]

I don't understand why anyone has an issue with this thread... It's one thread, is upfront and honest about what it is, and the last time I checked wasn't on a compulsory thread reading list.

keep it up please, I'm enjoying it....

And actually, I wouldn't mind similar threads from anyone manufacturing or distributing, perhaps in a dedicated area of the forum. Some I would read, and some I wouldn't. But I wouldn't complain about any of them.

Ohh, that sounds good - and a lot more interesting than many other threads....

 

[chebby]

I am still trying to date those old black & white photos.

I have a very large sized version of one of those photos and they are not 'old'.

Two of the employees are working on current version A21SE amplifiers.

Compare a crop here ...

... with the back of an A21se ...

And working on a 'Bijou' box ...

 

[Vladimir]

I wish more manufacturers had their presence on this forum. Unfortunately they only stop by as a PR intervention when someone is bashing their brand and products. If stevebrock didn't destroy half of Rega's production output, we would have never seen Paul Darwin circulate this forum and getting a headache(s). If I didn't poo on the venerable KEF LS50, Jack Oclee-Brown would have never bothered visiting with a bucket of ice.

 

[chebby]

It makes me want to buy a Sugden now

I especially liked the company founder's sentiments regarding magazine reviewers!

"Good as life was my reputation relied on good reviews of the product by little boys, reviewers, scribbling in the Hi-Fi magazines."

 

[plastic penguin]

Agree - it's good to see the cubs battling it out against the lions. That's the problem, the little guy doesn't stand a chance. The big companies like Arcam, Cyrus, IAG... will always have monopoly over the Leemas, Sugdens and (possibly) Regas of this world. Much less smaller one-man sets like Colins are really just picking up the crumbs.

A few years ago there was a thread about how many people would start their own hi-fi retail or distibution business. IIRC most contributors, including yours truly, would avoid it like the plague. That said, I can only admire people like Colin.

 

[chebby]

...will always have monopoly over the Leemas, Sugdens and (possibly) Regas of this world.

Rega are huge relative to the subjects of this discussion. Just over 100 employees at last count and they have thousands of items going out the door every month. (Sales of 2000 turntables per month quoted in April 2015.)

 

[plastic penguin]

...will always have monopoly over the Leemas, Sugdens and (possibly) Regas of this world.

Rega are huge relative to the subjects of this discussion. Just over 100 employees at last count and they have thousands of items going out the door every month. (Sales of 2000 turntables per month quoted in April 2015.)

Hence why I put "possibly" in the sentence. But in the grand scheme of things Sudgen and Leema are pretty much in the niche end of the hi-fi market. Less so for Rega...

Rega retailers are still at a premium: There's only one (Infidelity Hi-fi) that specialise in Rega in my area.

 

[iQ Speakers]

I am still trying to date those old black & white photos.

I have a very large sized version of one of those photos and they are not 'old'.

Two of the employees are working on current version A21SE amplifiers.

Compare a crop here ...

... with the back of an A21se ...

And working on a 'Bijou' box ...

I need to buy one of those for my PCB manufacture, but they are around £400, they bend and cut resistors from a taped role you can do about 1000 resistors in a minute, I needed about 200 tops today.The highlight of my day was a new heater for the cabin and some compessed air can to blow out bits in the finished amps! The other thing electronics builders want is IPA spray and Servosol spray cleaner. I think its more a Jesus I have just finished building this so I'm going to celibrate my acheviemnt by spraying it in stuff and its easy!

I think it would be a fab idea if small guys shared there info and Journey. Only problem is when you open yourself up like this you expose yourself to the best and the worst of the internet. People you would not want to share time with at the pub. And people who you met that inpire and humble you.

 

[chebby]

Rega retailers are still at a premium: There's only one (Infidelity Hi-fi) that specialise in Rega in my area.

I've only one Rega stockist in town too. How many do you need?

Remember that the UK is only a tiny market for this kind of gear (specialist, separates hi-fi).

Companies like Rega are aiming squarely at exports for most of their sales ...

http://www.rega.co.uk/news/rega-research-ltd-receives-the-2015-queens-award-for-enterprise.html

(They got a gong for it from the Queen which impresses a lot of export customers.)

 

[chebby]

The other thing electronics builders want is IPA spray ...

I prefer it bottled...

 

[Blacksabbath25]

The trouble is that anyone wanting to start something like what Colin's doing would have to tie there own savings or borrow of there house as banks do not like lending money out in the uk unless it's high turnover company . Everyone as to start somewhere and doing what Colin does can be a risk to him and his family but hopefully he will be a success in what he does but you can not slate a man for trying to be something that takes guts and something he is passionate about this man is small fry comparing him against big companies like arcam were they employ a very big work force with very big overheads and let's face it arcam and all the big brand name companies do not give two monkeys about the customers only the money they make I say good luck to Colin in his quests and I have no issues with this blog

 

[iQ Speakers]

Now I've had a few of those! Great to see micro brewers suceeding (though not this brand)

 

[steve_1979]

And actually, I wouldn't mind similar threads from anyone manufacturing or distributing, perhaps in a dedicated area of the forum. Some I would read, and some I wouldn't. But I wouldn't complain about any of them.

+1

So long as the forum doesn't get spammed with adverts disguised as faux posts and advice then it would be great if the hifi companies showed us what they're up to. If they get some free publicity in exchange for taking the time to share info and pics with us then good for them IMO.

 

[Vladimir]