Henley Audio Hosts First Dealer Conference

Henley Audio last week staged its first-ever Henley Conference, uniting dealers from across the UK and Ireland for a focused two-day programme centred on hi-fi retail, manufacturer insight and industry collaboration.

Created to give retail partners direct access to new products, brand briefings and the people behind leading audio names, the event was hailed as a success from beginning to end.

Proceedings opened with a welcome from Henley Audio's Laurence Armstrong and Simon Powell, underscoring a theme of partnership, knowledge-sharing and practical support for dealers. They were followed by Heinz Lichtenegger, owner and founder of Audio Tuning (Pro-Ject Audio Systems, Musical Fidelity and more), who delivered a detailed assessment of the current retail climate in the hi-fi sector. He stressed the pivotal role of specialist dealerships in guiding customers to understand, experience and invest in quality audio.

Further market context came from Futuresource Consulting's Guy Hammett, whose data-led session explored consumer behaviour, purchasing trends and the wider hi-fi landscape. His insights highlighted what customers are buying, how decision-making is shifting, and the ways in which retailers can apply this information to strengthen their businesses.

Across both days, attendees rotated through small-group brand sessions with manufacturers. These intimate presentations covered manufacturing processes, current priorities, future product development and indicative timelines, enabling candid two-way discussion. Dealers were able to ask detailed questions, deepen manufacturer relationships and gather knowledge to take straight back to the shop floor.

Regular breaks encouraged informal networking, giving participants time to speak with Henley Audio staff and fellow retailers, and to continue conversations sparked in the sessions. The community spirit carried into the evening with dinner, entertainment and the chance to relax with like-minded industry colleagues.

henleyaudio.co.uk