Noel Ferguson - Proprietor of Independent Retailer 'Leading Edge Music'

Noel Ferguson ditched his job in banking and decided to buy his local CD store when it came up for sale. He hasn’t looked back since.

What's your name & job title?
Noel Ferguson, Proprietor Leading Edge Music Warriewood, NSW, Australia.

When did you start working as a retailer?
I purchased this business in August 1995.

Why did you decide to get into retail?
After a 20 year career with the Commonwealth Bank I decided to try something different. My local CD store was for sale and I have been in the music industry ever since.

How did you get your first break, and did you need any experience?
Having a banking and marketing background provided me with the necessary experience to run a small business. Knowledge of music is desirable, however everyday you learn something new.

What was your best day on the job?
Apart from the day I first opened the doors, the day our store received the award for the best independent store in NSW for 2006 and 2007.

What was your worst?
Hard to say, but probably the day when a customer comes in and totally looses his or her cool over something quite trivial.

If you had any handy tips for young people who wanted to do your job, what would they be?
Be prepared for hard work, have an interest in all genres of music not just one, be able to quickly adapt to change and be able to talk to all ages.

What does music mean to you?
Music plays an important role in my life. Apart from providing my income, it has enabled me to appreciate music as a universal language which helps bridge generation gaps between young and old. By its very design music is meant to bring happiness to the listener.

How did the advent of digital in music change things for you?
It caused both the wholesaler and retailer to focus on their operations with the prime objective of designing strategies to promote the physical product.