Reidy's Home of Music, Blackburn

PAUL Nuttall has just overseen the biggest transformation in the 90-year history of family firm Reidy’s Home of Music.

The company has relocated from its old Penny Street site to a brand new state-of-the-art 6,500 square foot superstore in Nab Lane at the heart of Blackburn’s university campus and learning zone.

His grandfather Ed Reidy would still recognise the dedication to spreading the message about music, and providing enthusiasts in the town, across the North-West and the nation with the best instruments to play it. That was what led him to found the original shop in 1922.

The new superstore features a massive wall of guitars — possibly the world’s largest,.

It also has a state-of-the- art Yamaha Homeworld for the famous keyboards; a live stage for in-store performances and a special Fender Room of the electric guitars favoured by dozens of the globe’s greatest rock stars.

Sheet music, orchestral instruments, drums of all types and a dedicated educational department are also available to provide a range of products from youngsters and beginners to the choosiest of experts.

Managing director Mr Nuttall said: “The key to the success of Reidy’s Home of Music has always been the quality of personal service extended to its customers.

“We offer the largest selection and stock of everything anyone musical could ever possibly need - from penny whistles to guitars, drums, pianos, orchestral instruments and studio equipment.

“Our in-store stage provides a venue for stars from all over the world to come and play and involve the local community in the wonder of music.

“We regularly hold expert artist master classes and workshops.”

Riley's Butchers, Crawshawbooth

RILEY’S Butcher’s is a new business giving a modern twist on 150 years of family meat history.

Founded in December 2009 when Geoff and Paula split from the family abattoir and farm, their shop in Crawshawbooth, Rossendale, offers the traditional best in the ancient trade with new products and on-line sales and deliveries to meet the modern day lives of their busy customers.

The shop sells meat from the best of local Lancashire and Cumbria producers, including delicacies like salt-marsh lamb from the family farms and abattoir, along with a growing range of deli products, hassle-free oven ready dishes, specialist wines and brandies, ceramics and giftware.

Despite a tough year for retailers in 2011, the firm had its best Christmas ever - selling five times more than it would in a good week - and found £50,000 to expand production with a brand new kitchen and bakery.

Riley’s also invest heavily in itss staff team of 12 with two new apprentices - one of whom, 19-year-old Ryan Healy, was nominated by his college for International Young Butcher of the Year.

The company is also heavily involved in the local community and charities raising more than £8,000 to help restock the village pre-school after Crawshawbooth and its community centre home was devastated by floods in June’s rain deluge.

Joint owner Paula Riley said: “We offer Lancashire on a plate.

“We bring something different to the traditional butcher’s shop with our innovative produce and quality shopping experience.”

Whalley Wine Shop

AT CHRISTMAS 2009 Tom Jones was unemployed having just lost his job as a wine shop manager.

Today he is the proud 27-year-old owner of a booming business that has seen sales rise by 20 per cent in the last 12 months.

Instead of drowning his sorrows, he raised the capital to buy the premises and found The Whalley Wine Shop which, despite stiff competition from existing outlets in the village, now has a regional and local reputation for providing traditional vinous excellence allied to the latest social networking and hi-tech marketing techniques.

With a team of four passionate about wine in his own image, Tom is determined to make wine buying pleasurable and simple for every customer - from the novice buying their first special bottle to the experienced connoisseur looking for something unusual and exceptional.

The next stage is to open an online shop to bring Whalley Wine Shop’s range of fine vintages, everyday bottles, Champagnes, premium spirits, local real ales, world beers and ciders to a national audience.

As well as exploiting his website, facebook, twitter and email to boost his King Street business, Tom has also launched a case club for regular free mixed bottle deliveries, a “by the glass service” enabling customers to try fine wines at an affordable cost on the premises before they buy, and a new “Red Room” for the best of red wine from different regions of the world.

He is also looking at opening a wholesale service for local restaurants, pubs and hotels after being awarded “Independent Drinks Retailers of the Year” in February.

Tom said: “At the start of 2010 I was unemployed but I now have a successful thriving business despite the recession.

“I reopened the store in April 2010 within five months of it closing and was one of the first Threshers outlets in the country to do so.

“We have an ever- increasing loyal customer base both locally and further afield. My aim is to bring a youthful vibrancy to the industry and show that it’s not all about supermarkets, price promotions and online websites.

“We work hard with our suppliers to ensure we find wines that are interesting, different and not stocked by our local competition.”