Brighton music shop launches crowdfunder to keep stores open

Hobgoblin Music – which was established in Crawley in 1976 and has a branch on Queen’s Road in Brighton – has launched a crowdfunder to keep its shops on the high street.

The music chain, which sells acoustic and folk musical traditions, aims to raise £190k, in exchange for a 9.5 per cent equity stake in its business, to ensure the continued success of its stores.

Although the company also sells online, it is committed to keeping its stores open.

Funds raised will be used to drive increased sales through the purchase of fast-selling, high-margin stock, leading to a “sustainable increase in profit margins”.

The 1978 Hobgoblin catalogue, showing the original Crawley shop (Image: The Argus) Hobgoblin Music was established in Crawley in 1976 by husband and wife Pete and Mannie McClelland, who were frustrated by how few interesting or unusual musical instruments were readily available, despite high demand from musicians.

The couple first set up a market stall and then opened their first shop in a barn, going on to open stores across the country.

Almost 50 years later, the company is now managed by Pete and Mannie’s daughter Nicola Rain and employs over 50 musicians as sales staff across the country.

After closing their Crawley store 11 years ago, Hobgoblin opened their Brighton store. Manager Louie Rew-Shaw has worked at the shop for seven years.

“Having physical shops helps to keep the traditional music scene alive”, he said.

“Sussex is a folky place, but I have definitely seen the folk scene build in Brighton in the last few years.”

Although the shop specialises in folk instruments, since the closure of Gak, Louie says “we have been getting more metalheads too”.

The company wants to retain its stores (Image: The Argus) “As a kid I remember going into music shops and being terrified to touch anything. We have always wanted Hobgoblin to be this friendly, folky place and for it to be a community.

“When you order online – especially if you’re a beginner or you’re ordering something new – it could end up being the wrong thing.

“We want people to be able to try before they buy and be able to speak to staff with specialist knowledge. We also do repairs and sell second-hand instruments for people.”

The company has nine shops in Leeds, London, Bristol, Birmingham, Brighton, Canterbury, Southampton, Edinburgh and a franchise in Manchester as well as a central warehouse and mail order business in Sussex.

Sir Paul McCartney described the Hobgoblin in London as one of his favourite music shops and said it is like “walking through heaven”.