... the people worth listening to - Supplement written and compiled by Sharon South for Goodmans Loudspeakers Ltd, and produced by Monitor Publications Ltd, Berkeley House, 66 Station Road, Hayling Island, Hampshire POll OEL. Tel: 0705-466118.
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1985 saw Goodmans celebrate their 60th Anniversary, and a new decade begin, a new decade which heralded a dramatic expansion of their trading activities, across a wide area of consumer electronic products and relocation to a new head office, factory and warehouse sites.

A significant landmark for any manufacturing company, but one of special importance to Goodmans, who despite adverse conditions, have dramatically diversified and more importantly survived successfully.

Edward Newland was the founder of Goodmans, after the First World War, he moonlighted in the evening to recondition ex-army earphones.

Such enterprise led to the production of loudspeakers in 1931 and a move to a larger factory in Wembley.

On his death in 1955, the company were consumed by Robinson Rentals in 1958, by Radio Rentals in 1963, and after Plessey acquired a 20% stake and renamed the company Goodmans Loudspeakers, came the acquisition by the Thorn EMI group.

During the seventies, Goodmans built up a commanding position in the hi-fi electronics market in addition to their loudspeaker manufacturing activity.

But, when the group experienced tough trading conditions in the audio manufacturing sector, Goodmans were in a perilous position.
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In 1981 the company lost 3/4 million £ on a £4.6 million turnover and reduced their staff by more than half to 210.

At this point, Terry Bennett, who had joined Goodmans as Commercial Director in 1980 (18 months later he became Managing Director) began to market the manufacturing-biased company out of the crisis.

By identifying a UK market for car loudspeakers and a market in which to sell speaker cabinets on an OEM basis, Goodmans showed a profit of £ 100,000 on a £5.4 million turnover, a mere 12 months later.

• Anmerkung : Ein viel zu dünner Ertrag (oder Profit) für 5,4 Milionen Pfund Umsatz.

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At the same time, Thorn EMI announced changes in its main board structure and future thinking regarding Goodmans' role within the group, which gave Bennett the first thoughts of a management buy-out.

By the end of May 1983, after talking to fellow directors, he decided to make an approach to the main board about the prospect of a buy-out.
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Having spent time over the factory's Christmas shut-down to draw up a business plan, Bennett and his team put together proposals which were accepted by Thorn EMI.

Exactly one year after the buyout, Goodmans were ahead of the projections they had outlined in the business plan.

During 1985 the company increased their range of consumer electronic products which led to an expansion in sales of over 65%, and moved to new premises with the factory newly located at Solent Road, Havant, and a brand new head office just opposite in Marples Way.

Goodmans are anticipating a turnover of £13 million and increased profitability, a far healthier position than that of the early eighties and proof that Goodmans know firmly where they are going.

Further expansion is planned for 1986 and having celebrated their 60th Anniversary last year, Goodmans have every reason to look optimistically into the future.
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pricture
The directors of Goodmans Loudspeakers Ltd