News
Lifetime award for Edinburgh Organ Studio
Andy Barrett Nov 16 2007, 8:30am
Bill McIntosh retires at 83 as store enters new era
When the Edinburgh Organ Studio opened in 1967, the MI world was a very different place. For a start, as the name indicates, it was home organs that were the big sellers, not to mention the occasional church organ installation.
Over 40 years later, McIntosh has decided to call it a day for himself at the store at 98 Canongate, Edinburgh.
To mark the occasion Bill received a surprise presentation from Yamaha’s Electronic Keyboards Division in the form of a special 'Lifetime Achievement Award'. This comprised of a unique photographic collage portraying the history of Edinburgh Organ studio from first opening in 1967 to re-opening as Scotland’s first ‘Yamaha Homeworld’ last year.
The ‘This Is Your Life’ style presentation by Yamaha’s EKB Marketing Manager Andy Carvill occurred in front of a sellout audience of more than 150 Edinburgh Organ Studio regular customers attending a spectacular concert at the prestigious Royal College of Physicians venue, presented by Yamaha’s top UK and European keyboard exponents James Sargeant and Peter Baartmans.
McIntosh put his store’s success down to good staff training and customer care. “Our attitude is one of support and advice to the customer,” he said. “We do not pressurize customers, but want to help them choose the right instrument for their circumstances. Our relationship with Yamaha is very close and we regard many of the people there as friends rather than business contacts.”
McIntosh’s son, Kerr McIntosh will now manage the day to day running of the business. “'My father has built a very special business and I hope to carry on the tradition of excellent service to our customers,” he said.
