Each week we ask small businesses key questions.
Here we speak to Pete Murray, owner of Celtic Chords traditional music shop in Stonehaven.
How and why did you start in business?
I was born in Somerset but my family moved abroad when I was young, as my father was in the Air Force.
I always had an interest in the forces, especially flying, but rather than follow in my father’s footsteps I chose to join the Navy, studying navigation and naval architecture before spending three years at sea as a junior deck officer.
After leaving the Navy I was pursuing a career in yacht design and boat-building when, in 1979, I visited Aberdeen and was immediately impressed by the vibrant city life and the wealth resulting from a booming oil industry.
I decided to settle there and, thanks to my naval background, had no problem finding a job in the oil industry. I went on to spend 24 years working for oil companies, both in Aberdeen and abroad, as a commercial analyst.
Having taken early retirement from the oil industry in 2003 I needed another challenge in my life.
As a part-time musician and lover of handmade traditional acoustic instruments, I recognised there was an opportunity to blend business with my love of traditional music by opening a new niche shop in the area – and so Celtic Chords Traditional Music Shop was born.
How did you get to where you are today?
I was fortunate to find a great shop for sale in Stonehaven and spent two months redesigning the interior with the help of a joiner friend, Ron Spark, to create a shop with a special ambience.
I subsequently stocked it with selected acoustic instruments, books and CDs, all of Celtic traditional genre.
The shop has steadily grown in popularity over the years and receives lots of support from both local, national and international musicians. It also attracts many tourists looking for Celtic and Scottish music CDs and books, and even the occasional Scottish-made instrument.
I suppose my success is down to my passion for the products I sell – something also shared by my staff, who are all musicians in their own rights – and my interest in the people who buy and play them; that and a determination to give the best service and value.
Who helped you?
I put a detailed business plan together, had it endorsed by my local Bank of Scotland and opened a business account for Celtic Chords.
With the help of Web Integrations, a Stonehaven-based web design company, I built a database-driven website that attracts orders from right round the world.
Business Gateway was also very helpful, giving both advice and a small grant for computer equipment.
I joined the Federation of Small Businesses just after I started out, and greatly value the voice it gives smaller businesses with government bodies and the wealth of essential businesses information, help and support it provides for people like me.
What has been your biggest mistake?
On the whole the business has run and grown very smoothly although our website development and maintenance might not always have kept pace with the latest e-commerce trends.
What is your greatest achievement?
We are very grateful for the endorsements from customers at home and abroad for the uniqueness and ambience of our shop, and our friendly service. We also feel privileged to have become the sole supplier of some of the best handmade stringed and free reed instruments anywhere in Scotland.
If you were in government, what would you change?
I would like governments – local and national – to play more proactive roles in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, and for corporation tax and business rates to be set at a fairer, more sustainable level.
What do you still hope to achieve?
To grow internet-driven export sales and build on our reputation as a centre of excellence for handmade acoustic instruments.
What do you do to relax?
I love sailing on the west coast and playing traditional music with friends in pub sessions.
What are you reading, listening to or glued to on TV?
The last book I read was Keith Richards’ autobiography and I’m currently enjoying Planet Earth II on TV.
What do you waste your money on?
Sailing. I’ve just bought a boat.
How would your friends describe you?
Hopefully laid back, friendly, dependable and with a good sense of humour.
What would your enemies say about you?
Hopefully, laid back, friendly, dependable and with a good sense of humour.
What do you drive and dream of driving?
I normally drive a Land Rover Discovery but when the sun’s shining in the summer months I dream of driving a classic Triumph TR3, with the top down.