About us
Choice
We stock the latest technology 3D and High Definition flat screen televisions, home cinema systems, speaker systems and quality hi fi separates along with a huge range of accessories and av furniture.
Value
Searle Audio can offer you the very best deals on the high street - we specialize in the major AV brands. We have a profound belief in a permanent and enduring sense of value - we offer expert advice, a delivery service, an installation service and we have our own after sales service department.
Expertise
Being an independant electrical retailer means we offer an unrivalled level of expert, friendly and personal service. Our strong team of highly experienced staff all have a genuine interest and passion for our exciting industry. They attend regular training courses from all of our manufactuers so they can give you the best advice in order to enable you to choose the product which is right for you.
Over the past 30 years we have built our business on an outstanding level of customer service - this means that we see our customers over and over again.
Compant History
In 1964 Lawrence Searle left school at the age of fifteen to serve as an apprentice radio and television engineer at ‘Dalton Radio’. During his apprenticeship he was sent once a week on a City & Guilds Radio and Television servicing course. This was a three year intermediate course, two more years for the final level and an extra year for colour television which had just gone on sale in 1969. At the age of 17 Lawrence was given his own area and became a field radio and television engineer.
In 1973 Lawrence setup on his own – renting a small room above an already established hi-fi shop called Derhams of Kendal. It was named ‘Searle Audio Service’ and served partly as a service department for Derhams but also as an independent audio repair shop. Then in August 1974 he bought a single shop on Rawlinson Street. It was to be the new premises for the newly formed audio repair shop. Lawrence continued working on repairs for a time from these premises before gradually beginning to retail various hi-fi products from the downstairs shop. As the sales business continued to grow Lawrence’s wife Maureen joined the business. They began selling some of the leading brands in that time such as Aiwa, Garrard, Goldring and B&W loudspeakers. In 1975 Lawrence took on his first of many apprentices in the now very well equipped service department, followed by sales staff including Lawrence’s brother Derek who joined him in 1979.
By 1980 Searle Audio Service had well outgrown this single shop premises and work began on a complete redevelopment of two single shops next door but one to the original shop. In August 1981 ‘Searle Audio’s’ large new store opened with one of the largest hi-fi ranges in the North West – Sony, Technics, JVC, Hitachi, Bang & Olufson, Aiwa, Dual, Wharfedale, B&W, Tandberg, Sharp and Quad. Seven years later in 1987 as the business continued to do well; work began again to double the size of the store – expanding over four shops – including the original 1970’s shop. This new store opened in February 1990.
In 2002 - a new era began – Lawrence & Maureen’s son Gary, 24, returned to the company after working as a broadcast engineer. By this time the business had yet again out grown its premises and needed yet more retail and warehouse space. Barrow’s town centre was in a state of flux, combined with increasing difficulties with access and parking plus the ever increasing trend towards out of town shopping meant the company had to make changes. In 2005 Searle Audio took a major decision to leave its town centre roots of over thirty years and move to an edge of town retail site within the massive Stollers Furniture World.
Whilst remaining independent Searle Audio took floor space within Stollers to become their first in store concession. The move enabled Searle Audio to benefit from Stollers’ excellent customer facilities such as customer parking, customer restaurant and fantastic in store experience enabling the latest equipment to be displayed in an open and relaxed showroom. Both companies compliment each other – having an excellent reputation in the area, are experts in their respective fields and sell quality products backed by unrivalled customer service.
For a number of years Searle Audio’s service centre remained in the Rawlinson Street premises. In 2009 work was completed on a brand new purpose built, service centre, workshops, offices and warehousing on Park Road. The company continues to grow from strength to strength and looks forward to an exciting and challenging future.