As one of Manchester's most loved family businesses, Forsyth Music Shop has welcomed customers through its doors for decades. Founded in 1857 by brothers James and Henry Forsyth, the business has been located at its home on Deansgate since the 1890s. It goes without saying that this music department store has earned its status as a city centre institution.
"When he came to Manchester, he said 'why don't you set up a shop and help me run my new orchestra?' kind of thing, so that’s how we started really. Our history is very entwined with the Hallé Orchestra, for fifty odd years it was managed by Forsyth's from our premises." In the time it's been there, we've moved from horse and cart to the car, from gas to electric, the business has survived WWI, WWII - and more recently the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Emma said: "We have lovely staff photographs going way back, with ranks of men with bowler hats on, as the staff were all gentlemen back then.
"With Covid, we never stopped trading, we even delivered a cello on a bicycle. Through thick and thin, we always find a way to carry on." "Pianos last a long time, but they don’t last forever and the family have since moved away. But because they bought the piano from us, they came back to us and asked us to restore it for them for the next generation of their family - and that was just such a lovely thing.
Many members of staff have been with the business for decades. And while Emma says she has seen a decrease in footfall post-lockdown, the business continues to thrive and evolve. They recently reintroduced regular concerts in their piano showrooms, as well as teaching. For Emma, the key to their success and longevity is "continuity."
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.