When Jim Hennessey founded The Music People in Berlin back in 1979, he did so with the promise of affordability, durability, and innovation for the music accessory business.
Now, nearly 35 years later, together with his son, John, who serves as senior vice president of operations, and daughter, Sharon, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Hennessey has watched TMP grow into a $40 million company and top supplier of microphones and pro audio equipment distributed in 80 countries.
In addition to selling to locally owned music stores all over the country, TMP is a top supplier to big box national stores like Guitar Center and Sam Ash as well as several Internet sellers.
TMP also owns and manufactures On-Stage Stands support stands, which are used every day in studios, showrooms, and on stages all over. The brand has grown to include more than 300 products in eight different categories, including guitar, microphone, keyboard, workstation, rack/amp/mixer, speaker, lighting, and band & orchestra.
“The great thing about our company is that most of our employees have a music background,” said Tom Tedesco, director of business development. “Being able to make a living doing something that you are passionate about as well is a good combination.”
Tedesco said family business values are evident in everything the company does from luncheons to open-door policies.
“Employees feel empowered to make decisions and discuss all aspects of the company,” Tedesco said. “We all want to succeed, and everybody’s door is open, and nobody is too big to deal with an issue.”
TMP looks for passion in the people it brings on board, or as Tedesco said, people that “Get it and Get it done.” The team works hard and is rewarded for its efforts with monthly luncheons, an annual holiday party. and bonuses when sales goals are met.
“The company never lets someone’s hard work go unnoticed,” said Jeremy Payne, director of sales & marketing. “Shy of pom-poms and coordinated dances; we go pretty over the top for our staff members.”
The success and growth has enabled the company to invest greatly into its infrastructure over the past year, including the opening of three new warehouse facilities, the installation of a new $100,000 phone system, and the hiring of 14 new employees.
One of the new warehouses opened in Cheshire, meaning for the first time that that TMP’s headquarters would not exist in the same location as its primary warehouse.
“This was obviously a logistically challenging move, but also a challenge in transition for our staff,” Payne said. “We would no longer interact with our warehouse staff on a day-to-day basis.”
After the new warehouse was set up, the company rented a bus to bring the entire office staff over to the new warehouse so they could not only see the new facility, but also understand how and where other team members would be working.
“This trip really meant a lot to both the warehouse and office staff,” Payne said. “Despite our growth in a challenging environment, the company hasn’t forgotten the little things that go into maintaining our family-owned culture.”
Payne feels there are many differentiators between TMP and its competitors, the most important being the people the company employs.
“We always say; ‘It’s the people that make us The Music People.’ It is our staff’s experience, knowledge, and passion that set us apart,” Payne said.
TMP’s success has brought with it the expected growing pains. While the company continues to grow, Payne said growth is slowing. The realization has forced TMP to begin looking at changes that will elevate it to the next level, including making difficult decisions about infrastructure upgrades and other expenses that might not pay for themselves right away.
“We are always challenged to come out with new and exciting products and ever more so challenged to bring those products to market with an exciting and effective sales and marketing plan,” Payne said. “The next big thing doesn’t just hit you every day; it is a creative and ongoing process that we battle on a daily basis.”
Payne believes TMP can reach $50 million in sales with additional team members with varied backgrounds and a strong push internationally.
“I find it very rewarding to work for The Music People,” Payne said. “To be regarded as the best possible employer that the industry has to offer would be the ultimate compliment and achievement for the company.”
First Place Winners:
- Companies with fewer than 25 full time employees: Miller Foods
- Companies with 25-99 full time employees: The Music People
- Companies with 100-249 full time employees: S&S Worldwide
- Companies with 250 employees or more: Hoffman Auto Group
Second through Fourth Place Winners:
- Allied Roofing & Sheet Metal
- Traver IDC
- Mohawk Northeast
- Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals
- American Ladders & Scaffolds
- Barker Specialty
- Family Care Visiting Nurse & Home Care Agency
- Sprigs & Twigs
- McCue Mortgage
- Specialty Printing
Finalists:
- ACT Group
- Commercial Sewing
- Connecticut Lighting Centers
- Connecticut Shirt Man
- Controlled Air
- Costanzo Clothing
- Disaster Restoration Services
- EasySeat Tickets
- EDRO Corp.
- Goldburgers
- Harvey & Lewis Opticians
- ImageWorks
- InfoShred
- Joseph Family Markets
- Live Every Day
- Modern Mechanical Systems
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