Guildford-based retailer, Andertons is one of the UK’s most highly-regarded MI stores, indeed it is the current holder of the MIA’s best large retailer award. We put eponymous boss, Mongolian hearthrob and sometime YouTube sensation, Lee Anderton on the spot…
Name: Lee Anderton
Job Title: Managing Partner
What does that involve? I’m one of three partners that run Andertons and strictly speaking I’m supposed to be the one in charge, but in reality the other two are better at what they do than I am! My main roles are overseeing the guitar part of our business, pushing forward our online strategy and building the Andertons brand.
What one thing would make your working life easier? Ironically actually selling the stuff hasn’t been that hard over the last 4-5 years, so most of our challenges come from dealing with technology and old fashioned suppliers!
The best thing that has ever happened in Andertons? I get a lot of satisfaction from the awards we’ve won – getting that recognition from both the public and the trade is very rewarding. 2014 & 2015 have been especially good with awards coming locally, nationally and even internationally. Also, celebrating our 50th Anniversary with about 400 staff, customers and suppliers from the past 50 years was a highlight for me in 2014.
And the worst? Never actually being in the store when Eric Clapton comes in.
If you had a band (or if, in fact, you actually do) what would they be called? I have a YouTube alter-ego called Richie Sambuka and he plays in a band called Wylde Stallions (I think we stole that name). We are best known for our Live in your Eyes tour/album, which I think has gone multi-platinum in Mongolia….
Pick three Desert Island Discs… I hate this question as I’ve never given the same answer twice. Where is the Light by John Mayer; Jimi Hendrix Experience – The Best Of, and Slippery When Wet by the mighty Jovi.
If you had a golden rule, what would it be? Do what you enjoy and get someone else to do the bits you know need to be done but that you don’t like doing.
Ever had a job outside the industry? I sold photocopiers for about a year after I left school. Door to door cold calling. It still makes me appreciate how lucky I am doing the job I do now.
Favourite place to shop? I like a good guitar shop, but for most day to day things I prefer to shop online.
Best advice you’ve ever been given? I don’t really like taking advice – I just like to follow my gut and see how things turn out.
Worst? Kind of same answer as above – never really taken advice on board, but if you’d like a list of things I’ve got wrong over the last 25 years, that’s a whole article in itself.
What would you call your autobiography? Aye Aye Captain.
Do you do Twitter? Nope – I probably should, but I have a really busy public Facebook page at Captain Anderton, and that’s where I post stuff that I’m doing.
