Sight &Sound is honing in on its musical niche, selling the electronics-side of the business and moving to specialize on musical instruments.
The store on Keith Avenue near the Sande Overpass has been in Terrace for more than 55 years and sells everything from photography equipment to audio electronics to musical instruments and cell phones.
But now the electronics and Telus services has been sold to Andre’s Electronics, effective Sept. 1, and the electronics store will operate separately beside Sight &Sound.
Andre’s Electronics also bought the Kitimat branch from Sight &Sound and the store in the Skeena Mall, and will operate those stores and employ the same staff who previously worked in those shops.
Sight &Sound co-owner Tony Demelo said that for them, honing in on the musical side of their business builds on their musical passion and takes advantage of the limited musical market.
“For me and the guys, we’re passionate about the music industry,” said Demelo, adding that all eight of their remaining staff are musicians at some level.
“We just feel this is where we want to be — long-term,” he said. “We are more interested in the musical instrument industry… and we figured the future for us is more [in that].”
The other key factor is the business opportunity, and the chance to feed into a musical niche in the north.
“We’re the only music store from here to Prince George,” said Demelo. “We think this is a great opportunity to move into that and start to focus more on serving our music community in the north, because there’s less players in that.”
The store on Keith Ave. is under construction now, with a wall being built to divide what will become two separate stores. Demelo says the stores will stay open as usual throughout the construction and transition.