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NEWS DISTRIBUTION Sutherland Perri’s world of leather offers new What do you do when your rock ‘n’ roll dreams die? If you’re Anthony Perri, you set up a business manufacturing leather guitar straps, take the US by storm and then head for the UK Burns units AS WITH MANY of us in the set up Perri’s Leathers in 1998. world of MI, the realisation that “Knowing that I could never make SUTHERLAND TRADING will use we are probably not going to it in such a tough industry, I put the BMF to give dealers hands-on make it as professional my thoughts together and time with new Sonic and Jet-Sonic musicians is a difficult one to brainstormed ideas on how I models, as well as new Stonebridge deal with. And most of us come could have a career that still acoustics by Frantisek Furch making to the conclusion that working involved the music industry,” said their first UK appearance. in and around musical Perri. “I came up with the idea of Crafter Slim Arch guitars are, instruments is a good substitute leather guitar straps. I felt that I Sutherland claims, ‘so individual that for fame and glory. could offer the public something they have no price competition’, Such is the story of Anthony special by creating unique designs while the new Sonor drum sticks, Perri from Concord, Ontario, who that companies have never seen handmade in America, are all at before.” And with the help of “good prices with great profits”. family and friends, that is exactly The firm is also giving a world “Once retail what he did. premier to the new Bosphorus saw our In another time honoured effect cymbal and two new Farfisa fashion, once Perri had designed PERRI (AND MRS PERRI): Into leather in a big way keyboards that are unlikely to find designs and and made his first straps, the designs, it was very easy to get company now employs some 21 discounted. So, you can still make next job was to get out to the the ball rolling,” he explained. staff, but is still looking to grow. profit in this market. our pricing dealers and find some people to The company now sells its One of the company’s main One last tip from Sutherland, if sell them. “At first it was very distinctive guitar straps in many targets is to establish a dealer you see the new Black Pearl amps they were on difficult to persuade stores to retail stores around the world, network in the UK. from Genz Benz, it’ll cost you board.” sell our products but once they with the help of major retail PERRIS LEATHERS: +1 905-761- money because you’ll want one. saw our pricing and distinctive chains, like Guitar Center. The 8549. SUTHERLAND: 029 2088 7333

DISTRIBUTED LINES Panic, TC! HEADLINE: 01223 874301 Bigging up Retail Up PRS, Damage Control

AMONG the new exhibitors at as well as links to equipment SOUND TECHNOLOGY: 01462 the BMF this year will be Retail or sheet music sources from 480000 Up, a new Internet developer hundreds of suppliers. Apple Logic, Digitech, Fishman, that is attempting to create The business was set up by Hartke, Music Key, Parker, websites and web based Bee Bantug, a marketing and Samson, SSL Duende, Taylor, TL communities aimed at helping advertising strategist who Audio, Washburn the independent MI retailer by adopted the use of the Internet increasing its online presence back in its infancy as an ideal MUSIC SALES: as well as underlining the way of optimising business, Wise, Hal Leonard, Campbell PANIC MUSIC SERVICES has concept that a bricks and and Gordon O’Hara, a financial Connelly, The Sparta Florida been appointed sole UK service mortar shop is essential. marketing expert. Music Group, Bosworth & Co., centre and spares distributor for Retail Up has been enjoying Between them, they are Chester Music, Novello & Danish manufacturer TC some success in the US and is convinced that they can Company, J. Curwen & Sons, G Electronic with immediate effect. hoping to repeat that in the UK. establish a network of retailers Schirmer, Edition Wilhelm It is added to other prestigious The basic concept is the and suppliers that can create a Hansen and Unión Musical manufactures including, establishment of an level playing field for the Ediciones Novation, Ampeg, Crate, Mackie, individually tailored website for independents struggling to General Music, Lem, Engl, THD, each store, that can be used in shopping or information cope with the onslaught of PERRI’S LEATHERS: PJB and Allen & Heath. the shop as a browsable source. Shops can upload their etailers and multiples. +1 905 761 8549 PANIC: 01954 231348 catalogue, or remotely as a entire inventory onto the site RETAIL UP: 01903 222684 Perri’s instrument straps Shure goes for SHURE: 020 8808 2222 Shure, Phonic, QSC, Sound Performance Sound Tech’s Red alert Devices SHURE Distribution, the only SOUND Technology stand will models of seven classic The pedal was developed by KEYNOTE MUSIC: dedicated mic manufacturer at be seeing red this year – in the sounds, with 14 variations, the Eddie Kramer, senior production +353 1 456 9533 BMF, is launching the shape of the latest in Digitech’s pedal enables players to sound modelling consultant (and world- Distrubutes a variety of lines for Performance Gear wireless Artist series of footpedals, the like the Queen axe man from a class recording engineer) Ireland, as well as for the UK and systems, which with RRPs starting Brian May Red Special. massive variety of the band’s hit together with Brian May, Ireland at £215, Shure expects The expression pedal contains songs. Whether it is We Will Rock modeling the sounds with May’s considerable interest. You or the own gear. The pedal also includes PANIC MUSIC: 0 1954 231348 The four packages, headworn, guitarist is after, it is a proprietary guitar knob that re- Exclusive service for the UK for instrument, vocal and lavalier all here. voices your guitar to sound like Ampeg, Novation, TC Electronic, are all available in single or dual Brian's legendary Red Special's General Music, Crate, PJB, Engl, TC channel versions. Burns Tri-Sonic pickups. Helicon, THD. European service SHURE: 020 8808 2222 SOUND TECH: 01462 480000 for Novation, Allen & Heath

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