Changing the world’s business, one note at a time
Q: What are some of the challenges faced by SMEs/your company in today’s changing business environment?
A: As the largest importer and sole distributor in Malaysia for over 80 world renowned musical instruments and sound reinforcement manufacturers; we are inevitably subject to foreign exchange fluctuations and fulfilling the whole value chain of various target market segments. The challenge is to create a market niche as the most diversified musical instruments and sound reinforcement system as a retailer and distributor i.e. that offers widest selections in terms of pricing and choices i.e. multiple brands over offering players at different levels and proficiencies.
Q: how can companies stand out in this competitive landscape?
a: Establish a strong and reputable branding by adopting innovation to invigorate the brand in the minds of the customers. As a retailer and wholesaler, besides offering great products with various price points there is a greater need in creating more value in the buying experience.
In addition to our strategic showroom locations and being the largest musical instruments showroom, Bentley Music Group offers various music educational activities in store with the inclusion of social media penetrating the market.
Q: What are the goals/principles/values/visions that have guided the growth of your company?
a: With the slogan “strive for excellence” to be the market leader where our business mission focuses in the education and entertainment market (edutainment) segment and vision is to be the most diversified music and sound retailer and distributor in the musical instrument and sound reinforcement system in Malaysia.
Our growth plan is to continue offering customers more selections and multiple brands over a complete range of instruments.
For Bentley Music retail, we are looking to expand with new outlets opening within the next five years and expand our product distribution and franchise educational services network to members of Asean countries.
Q: Customers are increasingly expecting more than just good products and services, how important is sustainability in your operations?
A: Our showroom offers customers a comfortable environment and lifestyle experience coupled with in-store product demo by product specialists and guest artists’ appearances at our retail showroom i.e. free music-related events such as clinics, workshops, launches, and mini artist performances.
And we have built a 400-seater performance venue which has been actively organising events. In addition, we are actively engaging with our customers online through our social media channels. In 2017, we launched our own online e-commerce distribution.
Q: With standards improving, how do you benchmark against the industry?
a: Bentley Music Group is leading the musical instruments and sound reinforcement system industry standards.
We are the only musical instruments and sound reinforcement system company certified by the Malaysia Book of Records as the “Largest Musical Instruments and Sound Reinforcement showroom” in 2014.
In 2017 we were awarded the McMillan Woods Global Awards for Musical Instruments & Sound Reinforcement Excellence as well as the ASEAN Retail-Chains & Franchise Federation’s for Asean Outstanding Business Award (AOBA) for International Leading Brand – Malaysia and Singapore in the distribution of Musical Instruments and Sound Reinforcement.
As per our music academy division, Bentley Music Academy was awarded the SME Brand Excellence Award Platinum Business Awards 2017 by SME Malaysia for the Platinum Business Awards (PBA).
In 2018, Bentley Music received the recognition for “Professional Sound Specialists” at the MRCA Councils’ Installation Night and a recipient of the Brand Laureate Prominent Brands Awards for “Retail- Musical Instruments & Sound Reinforcement”.