Michael Statham, who has been running Zouch Audio in Ashby town centre for almost three decades, is calling it a day - but the business will continue in new hands.

Moira-based Michael told Ashby Nub News the story behind the company and how it has built up a regular customer base spanning the Midlands.

He ran a market stall selling records from Hinckley Market and had a home based business called MJS Hi-Fi before starting Zouch Audio from The Old Coach House, just off South Street.

Michael said: "I've been in this place for 27 years, coming here in August, 1995.

"Prior to that I worked from home as MHS Hi-FI in Barwell.

"I had a customer in Ashby who spent a lot of time with me. A good customer, who I still see.

"I told him I was thinking about looking at some premises, and he said: 'There's a place in Ashby'.

"After viewing it, and looking at the excellent links to the rest of the Midlands, I decided to set up Zouch Audio.

"I started out selling records on Hinckley Market, but it was an interest in music and finding better ways to play the music which eventually led me to dealing with higher end Hi-Fi from home.

"My keen interest in this continued with new products at Zouch Audio.

"Lots of newcomers to the market brought their products for Zouch Audio to appraise. They appreciated my honesty which I like to think helped in developing products."

Zouch Audio was started at a time when vinyl records appeared to be disappearing in favour of CDs.

However, Michael stayed true to his customers who still wanted to play their 12-inch records.

He added: "All the way through we've sold turntables it's kind of our forte.

"There is definitely a demand for it.

"That's why we carry at least 10 types in store with more coming on board with the new owners."

Michael says he has a reputation for giving fair and sound advice and opinions - not only to reps and developers about their new products - but most importantly to his customers.

Hi-Fi can be an expensive hobby.

So any advice given needs to help a customer get the sound and system they want for the right price.

But the Ashby business will continue with Lee Sedgwick, who started out as a 14-year-old doing a work experience stint - and never left.

Michael said: "He came for a week and I said to him: 'Do you fancy doing a bit of Saturday work?'

"And the rest is history.

"Lee has been with Zouch ever since, growing in his knowledge of HiFi and the latest technology.

"He will continue with the day to day running of the shop."

Zouch Audio will be taken over by Simon Griffin and Jayne Campbell who have a business in Stockton on Tees.

Michael has known Simon for around 30 years.

He would come in and purchase some second hand items and this led to the start of his HiFi business which has been operating for around 20 years.

It was during one of his trips to Zouch Audio that Michael told Simon he was ready to retire.

And now - around six months later - Simon and Jayne are the new owners.

Michael added: "People from all over the Midlands come here, I think the furthest customer is just outside Cambridge.

"But we get people from a 15-mile plus radius of Ashby.

"The equipment here is quite expensive

"But we've never ignored streaming services, because our first love is music, so why shouldn't the two come together?

"Traditional hi-fi and modern ways of listening to it.

"There's room for both but I still think vinyl is better."

Simon says he will need a new member of staff to replace Michael.

He added: "We run a similar business in Stockton-on-Tees.

"And we have a website called 2ndhandhifi.

"We also run a business that involves importing equipment into the UK and then selling to other retailers

"One way or another it's a reasonable sized business

"Like anybody in this industry, most of us start with an interest in music one way or another

"You get to know people, and you hear something that was a little better than the last thing you heard. It's a bit of an addiction.

"Streaming is an increasingly important part of the market, the likelihood now is that if any method of listening to music it's going to disappear it'll be the CD.

"The vinyl will stay, the streaming will still stay - but I think CDs will still exist.

"They're are a little bit vulnerable because they don't have the cachet of vinyl and it doesn't have the flexibility of streaming.

"That's why CDs are so cheap in charity shops.

"But with vinyl it's a case of having a tangible object to hold, look at the pictures, read the sleeve notes, read the lyrics.

"You don't really get that with a CD doesn't happen at all with a download because it doesn't exist.

"My first move will be to maybe get some new stock in and perhaps freshen the place up with a lick of paint.

"And we also have a vacancy for a new member of staff with Michael leaving.

"You never know how it's going to develop."