Through our team of experienced and professional staff we are dedicated to providing the best possible service to our customers. So if you like our prices you'll love our service.

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Who are we?

Originally established in 1959 Normans has grown to become the UK's pre-eminent specialist supplier of musical Instruments. We supply Pupils, Schools, Local Education Authorities and Professional Players all over the UK, and across the world.

A Brief History of Normans.

Normans was originally established in 1959 with the opening day on 17th September owned jointly by Norman Willey and Joe Fearn at a small shop in Burton.

In 1961, Normans incorporated as a Limited company.

In 1967, Pam and David Haines buy 1/3 of the shares of Normans.

In 1969, Normans moves to Bridge Street, Burton and current MD Gareth Haines is born.

In 1971, Normans have the 1 st of several “Sunday Sales” which offered huge discounts. In the early seventies, offering any discounts to customers was frowned upon by the Musical Instrument trade and Sunday trading was illegal! People travelled from all over the country and we sold £2000 of instruments in four hours!

In 1972, Normans buys 1 Lichfield St and 1 and 2 New Street, Burton from Boots the Chemists. The second “Sunday Sale” takes place in The Leofric Hotel, Coventry, featuring recitals by Dennis Wick and John Wilbraham. Our reputation is now starting to spread far and wide – making us increasingly popular with musicians and unpopular with traditional music shops!

(Pictured - New Street Branch)

In 1974, David and Pam leave their jobs to join Normans full time (David having previously been the Band Master at Repton School). Blessing instruments are imported for the first time from America by Normans. At the time there was very little choice of student Brass instruments available in the UK – and then it was not the best quality. At the time the market leading instruments were Boosey and Hawkes Regents – which came in cardboard cases! Blessing cornets, Trumpets and Trombones were better instruments and came in moulded ABS cases (a first at the time) and had a retail price of under £100 – Blessing instruments immediately became very popular amongst the education fraternity and large quantities start to be used in schools across the country.

(Pictured - Gareth Haines Aged 3)

In 1976, a large sea container of Blessing Instruments is being delivered to Burton every month and thousands of instruments are being purchased by Schools and Music Services.

In 1980, Norman and Pauline Willey are bought out by David and Pam Haines

During 1980-1989, Normans continually expanded – and opened up a succession of regional branches in Cardiff, Huddersfield and Falkirk.

In 1989, Normans outgrows its central Burton shop and moves to a purpose built 6,000 square foot warehouse, shop and office complex at Unit 1, Moor Street.

(Pictured - Moor Street Warehouse)

During 1980-1999, the branch network continued to expand with Crewe, Winchester and Darlington branches. The late 90's saw a huge wave of Brass Band Lottery grants. Normans supply on average a complete new “Band-Set” of instrument per week for three years!

By the end of the 20 th century it was clear that the world was changing and the way and the way we had run our business over the past two decades was not going to be appropriate moving forward. Specifically, improved nationwide next day couriers and the fledgling internet meant that a network or regional stores was quickly becoming an outmoded method of doing business. We therefore took the decision to systematically centralise our business and dismantle our branch network. In retrospect, this tough decision and difficult period of re-organisation has been the springboard for a decade of continued growth and success.

During the 90's the current management team of Gareth Haines (MD), Kerry Haines, Andy Mckeown and David Ball (Non-exec) join Normans. With the emergence of Taiwan and China as major hubs for manufacturing Music Instruments we start to buy large quantities from the Far East and Blessing Instruments are slowly phased out.

In 2000, our first Education Catalogue was published and we are now the UK's established leading Education Supplier and this catalogue (sent out to over 40,000 schools and teachers) cements our position as market leaders.

In 2002, Normans moves to Third Avenue, Centrum 100, Burton. A large warehouse with attached office, store area and repair workshops.

(Pictured - Third Avenue Branch and Warehouse)

In 2006, www.normans.co.uk launched for e-commerce. Within a matter of months, International Sales expand rapidly.

In 2007, Pam and David Haines retire

In 2009 we celebrated our 50th year and Normans doubles the size of its Third Avenue warehouse to 16,000 square feet of double height warehousing.