Promise of ‘UK firsts’ at major show for hi-fi fans
THE latest in home cinema and laser TV technology will be revealed at a huge expo in Cornwall – including some kit that has not been seen in the UK before.
The Cornwall Hi-Fi Show will feature products ranging from traditional twochannel electronics, speakers and audio to Sonos multi-room systems and a range of the latest TVs, including OLED (organic light-emitting diode) and large-screen laser TVs from Sony, LG, Panasonic and HiSense.
The free-to-enter event, at Wadebridge’s Royal Cornwall Showground on October 8 and 9, is being organised by South West electrical retailer HBH Woolacotts.
It proved a huge hit in 2018 and 2019, but had to be cancelled – along with others of its type nationally – in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic.
But with at least 500 people expected to visit the showground’s Pavilion Centre between 10am and 5pm each day, HBH Woolacotts director Chris Hemmerle said: “The eclectic mix of products will ensure that there is something there to suit every customer.”
He added: “It will be really good. No one has done a show for two years because of the pandemic, so for a lot of products this will be the first time they have been seen. We should get a lot of UK firsts and first public showings.
“We were gutted last year – we had planned the show. But the Royal Cornwall Showgrounds were really accommodating. We have worked with them before and they are great.”
Exhibitors at this year’s event will include KEF, Monitor Audio, Arcam, Cyrus, Roksan, Dali, Ruark Audio, REL, Sonos, Sony, Panasonic, LG, Hisense,
Ruark, QED and many more.
“There have been global stock shortages and supply issues, so some brands have not been able to attend,” Mr Hemmerle said. “But we still have a great selection and it should be a great couple of days.”
He said the average browsing time at the 2019 show was 90 minutes per person, and added: “People were interested and stuck around. This is for anyone with a passion for music, sound, TV or home cinema.”
Mr Hemmerle said there would be exclusive offers, promotions and discounts, and he added: “They can redeem them in-store, online or at the show.”
Family-run HBH Woolacotts is based in Bude, Cornwall, but has nine stores, and warehousing, throughout Devon and Cornwall and employs about 160 people.
This year it teamed up with a Plymouth social enterprise to recycle electrical goods as it stepped up its efforts to protect the environment.
The company linked with Collectrical CIC, a not-for-profit organisation that reuses white goods, computers, laptops and other electrical items.
HBH Woolacotts has made an active effort to become more sustainable and environmentally friendly, from the partners it works with to the processes it employs, and has dramatically reduced its impact on the environment and is looking to improve further.
Visitors to the Cornwall Hi-FI Show can pre-register, and have a chance to win a Sonos Roam speaker, by visiting www.cornwallhifishow.com