Express & Star

One Way Music guru hits right note with new job

Two respected business owners have formed a formidable partnership that now boasts more than 60 years of knowledge in the music industry.

Published
Steve Flaherty has welcomed Mike Brookes, left, into the Music 2000 team

Steve Flaherty, of Music 2000 Ltd, has welcomed in to his team Mike Brookes, 72, after he was forced to close One Way Music, in December.

Mr Brookes' Wolverhampton business had been running for 38 years before he was force to make the painful decision to close following a drop trade after the city's market was moved from Salop Street.

But he has been taken on by Mr Flaherty, 57, who has been running his own music shop in Bradmore, also Wolverhampton, for 25 years.

Mr Flaherty said: "I am a firm believer that when one door closes, another opens – and that's certainly what has happened at Music 2000.

"News filtered through that Mike was closing his business and we'd always had a good working relationship.

"I used to send any specialised guitar problems to him, and he would send customers to us.

"The relationship remained good over the years so when he made the decision to close I suggested we get together for a chat.

"After a couple of face-to-face meetings, it was clear it made perfect sense to join forces.

"It was always my intention not to let Mike's nearly 40 years of experience disappear."

Music 2000 Ltd is also in talks about taking on another member of Mr Brookes's former staff while the rest have their own way.

Mr Flaherty said since Mr Brookes had come on board he was already seeing a welcome upturn in business.

"I will be the first person to admit it has been a tough ride," he said. "We've been here for 25 years ourselves.

"But where we can offer something the internet cannot is in our after sales service, which I have maintained from the start.

"Mike is a guitar specialist and we also have specialists in piano repairs, digital repairs, and also in woodwind and saxophones.

"We've always had a good turnover in that respect and when customers are in the shop a lot of the time they will buy something."

Mr Flaherty said although the business had always offered a guitar repair service, the difference was now everything could be done in house.

"Mike started working here towards the end of January and already we've seen a number of new faces and an increase in business," he said.

"It's perfect way to mark our 25th year."