Community UK Limited Opens Its Doors in Scotland

Jul 6, 2005 8:00 AM

L-to-R: Alan Lochhead, sales manager, Community UK Limited; Stuart Thomson, Europe and Middle East market manager, Community Professional Loudspeakers; Stuart Cunningham, general manager, Community UK Limited.

Community Professional Loudspeakers established Community UK Limited to handle the distribution of its products in the United Kingdom and Ireland beginning the first of July.

HSL Productions previously handled distribution. Simon Stuart, managing director of HSL, comments on the change: “Our core business is production, which has grown very rapidly over the past few years. With greater investment in people and equipment, and many more systems out on major shows and events than ever before, it has been difficult committing the resources to the distribution of Community that this diverse brand deserves.

"Our relationship with Community enabled us to discuss matters openly to find the best way forward for both parties. I think the establishment of Community UK is the right decision for both of us. HSL will continue to be a major user and supplier of Community, without the distribution being a limitation on our resources for our core business. We wish them well and look forward to playing a strong part in Community’s future success.”

Community UK is based in Glasgow and headed by Stuart Thomson, Community’s Europe and Middle East market manager. “HSL has given us a really strong base on which to build,” says Thomson, “but establishing Community UK is still a major step, and I am really pleased to be taking on the challenge. Although Community believes in independent distribution as a rule, a strong U.K. market is important to our growing European success, and as a result, Community was fully supportive of the investment.

"Our thanks obviously go to Simon and the team at HSL for their past and future support, and we look forward to giving our dealers and installers the very best products and service in the future.”

Alan Lochhead, a familiar face in the U.K. pro audio industry since 1978, will continue to manage field sales. Lochhead will be supported by the third key member of the new Community UK team, Stuart Cunningham, who was previously employed at Linn and Tannoy. Cunningham will provide internal sales, service, and technical support for customers. The team’s focus will be on the highest level of customer support with good stock levels and fast delivery.

For more information on Community UK, visit www.loudspeakers.net.