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With a much larger parking area and more accessible location,
Concept has consolidated its position as one of the finest music
shops in the city, if not the country. This position was not
attained by luck or chance, a sincere love for music and a genuine
commitment to customer service has long been Concept’s credo, and
no one embodies that belief system more than Concept head honcho
and all round nice guy Graham Hoskins. While the ever present
‘bottom line’ is always a consideration in running a music shop,
Graham says, “It’s gotta be fun”.
Part of the fun of walking into Concept Music is seeing some of
the world’s greatest brand names and models hanging on the walls
and sitting on display on the shop floor. Having listened to their
customers, Concept have provided a range of choices for the
prospective instrument/equipment buyer, stocking gear from well
known, established music companies as well as some of the newer,
‘boutique’ manufacturers. Guitars like Fender, PRS, Ibanez and
Gretsch can be plugged into amps like Marshall, HiWatt, Ampeg and
Laney. If acoustic guitar is your bag, then you can’t go past the
famous Martin acoustics or that legendary Australian, Maton.
Effects pedals and signal processors abound at Concept, with Boss,
Electro-Harmonix, Marshall, Morley and more, ready to sweeten or
alter any tone at the stomp of a button. As well as all the brand
new stock, there is also quality checked second hand gear, so you
never know what amazing ‘pre-loved’ deal you may find with each
visit.
Concept Music is one of the few music stores in town to offer
expertise in orchestral instruments. String, brass and woodwind
instruments and accessories are available, as well as information
and advice on all facets of buying, maintaining and servicing the
instruments. To round out Concept’s service to the industry, they
maintain a healthy relationship with other shops and wholesalers,
referring customers when the need arises.
In addition to serving the music industry, Concept has worked with
local government and the Education Department in bringing music to
the children and promoting music programs. While equipping the
pros with state-of-the-art gear, Concept remains ‘beginner
friendly’, supplying entry-level instruments and other equipment
to individuals and organisations. Being able to supply such a
range of gear and options to such a range of people is part of
Concept’s main commitment, service. This brings us back to the
Concept credo, a fair indication of Graham Hoskins’ commitment to
a music industry that he has been a part of for so long.
A
trombone player himself, Graham has a self-confessed love for
guitars, especially acoustic guitars. While the trombone may not
seem the most ‘rock and roll’ of instruments, Graham has played
with such musical luminaries as John Farnham, The Bee Gees and The
Supremes. Qualifications established. The Hoskins touch is all
over Concept, most noticeably with the sales staff. Graham’s rules
are simple, “Don’t give a customer any advice you wouldn’t give
your best mate”. What this amounts to is that at Concept, the
customer won’t be pushed into buying something they don’t want or
don’t need. There are no ‘commission salesmen’ pushing a product
to meet budget, so the whole experience of buying a musical
instrument becomes a rewarding and pleasurable one, the way it’s
supposed to be. Another interesting (if quirky) touch to the shop
interior is the ‘Rogues Gallery’ of old, rare, oddball, and
sometimes downright ugly guitars that decorate the wall behind the
sales counter. There are some instruments on that wall that make
Gollum look like Britney Spears. Really. Go look. The commitment
doesn’t stop at the shop front either. This year, Graham Hoskins
was elected President of the Australian Music Association (AMA),
being the first West Australian to be elected to the executive
committee of the AMA, and the first retailer to become President.
A fitting honour for one who has given so much.
2005 sees new models, new brands, and a new look for Concept, with
new displays and signage, a new paint job, and even a new website
(see below). One thing will never change at Concept, however, as
long as Messr Hoskins is at the helm. People come first.
www.conceptmusic.com.au
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