Kenny’s Music

"...delighted with the service and when our gas contract runs out, I'll be asking them to help out with that as well."

• Location: Scotland
• Sector: Retail
• Saving: £560
  

Not many people would be brave enough to start their own business in the middle of a recession but Kenny Graham has started two: Kenny's Music in Castle Street, Dundee and in Elgin Street, Dunfermline.

Kenny took the plunge in June 2008 when Sound Control, the company that had previously owned the stores and where Kenny had worked for 17 years, went into administration. I knew there was an opportunity for good independent music shops with a focus on customer service, said Kenny. Kenny is now in the business of making music dreams come true and is proud to stock more than 100 different guitars, including legendary brands Fender and Gibson, not to mention keyboards, amps, drums and everything else that makes a big noise!

You have to work extra hard in a recession - it's critical to offer great customer service and keep overheads down, says Kenny. We try to help every customer who walks through the door in Dundee and Dunfermline but we've also noticed a rise in our website orders from Europe because of the weak pound - Ireland, France and Holland in particular. Kenny has looked to cut his overheads where possible and as a member of RETRA, the trade association for electrical retailers, was advised to get in touch with Make it Cheaper, the business energy comparison and switching service.

I was going to be paying £1,500 a year with my old supplier but with the switch I'm now only paying £942 which really is music to my ears. I'm delighted with the service and when our gas contract runs out, I'll be asking them to help out with that as well.