When Carl Houlton, Head of Installations, reflects on a life spent at Bang & Olufsen, he does so with a measure of pride and a good deal of satisfaction.
“I started in 1984, but I still like coming here every day, twenty five years on. I’m in love with the brand, and I still enjoy the challenge. The systems we install are often quite large, on occasion they spread over up to a dozen rooms, and I like the idea that we can provide something really special for people throughout their homes.”
People are often fearful of ‘big’ installation projects, but Carl reassures “My job, and the job of the people around me, is to give them their very own Bang & Olufsen experience, without the clutter and cables you normally associate with electronics. My team and I are very experienced, and very thorough with every project we undertake.”
Carl oversees installation for Bang & Olufsen of Lincoln and our sister stores in Sheffield and Leicester. How does he view the future of the brand in an ever changing technological world?
“I don’t concern myself unduly, because I know that, for as long as we maintain our commitment to excellence, we will be here, and we will continue to prosper. There is nothing ephemeral about this brand, and that’s why Bang & Olufsen is nearly ninety years old…”
“The job’s a dream…”
Installer Mike Smith understands, perhaps better then anybody, what it is to be a Bang & Olufsen customer, and the value of what we do. Mike is a member of the installation team here, but started out as a customer.
“I’d always wanted to own some Bang & Olufsen, always loved the brand and the products. Believe it or not I bought a BeoSystem 4500 from this shop almost 20 years ago, and I still have it, still use it every single day. I can honestly say that it’s the best thing I own; timeless, faultless, beautiful…”
How did Mike come to work for the company?
“My wife was working here at the time, and loved the place and the people. I’d always got on really well with the guys here, and often popped in just to say hello and to have a coffee. A position came up nearly ten years ag, I thought about it for about two minutes and said yes.”
It’s 8.30 am and Mike’s colleague Carl Houlton, twenty five years a Bang & Olufsen man, is calling. Time to get down to business;
“The job’s a dream. Great people, all about quality, no compromise, perfect. Can I go now? I’ve work to be getting on with!”
It's all about quality, no compromise…