Founded in 1964, Andertons Music Company has grown from a family-owned guitar shop on the southwestern outskirts of London to an online retail powerhouse whose name is recognised the world over. Their videos are legendary, approaching products with honesty and no small amount of humour, which has grown their YouTube channel to over 805,000 subscribers and millions of views. Third-generation CEO Lee Anderton knows this is a major reason they sell guitars, amps, keyboards, drums, recording gear and pro audio equipment far beyond the borders of the U.K. He opens up about music, family business and the passion for products and retail.
“My father and grandfather started Andertons in 1964,” he begins. “So, I had been hanging around the store. I hadn’t found my instrument yet, but I caught this bug off the store because the people there were so interesting. So, even at 13 or 14 years old, I was trying to help on Saturdays and so forth.”
Being born into a family of music retailers didn’t earn Lee any special treatment, though. Quite the opposite.
“At first my dad was against my joining the business,” he recalls.
“He wanted me to have a proper career like a lawyer. So, I went to college but basically lied to my dad about turning up to classes. When it all came out, he was not happy! He said, ‘If all you want is to work in the shop, here’s a mop and a broom and the minimum salary I can pay you and stay out of my sight’. But I worked super hard and eventually got good at sales.”