Since it was founded in 1996, Systems Etc has increased its turnover 200-fold, expanded its workforce from two to 20, and acquired nearly £2 million of hire stock. The company's commercial trajectory has been determined by acquisition, to date three sound rental operators have been absorbed into the group portfolio. Systems Etc owner Bernard Mani says he's aiming for a 30% share of the UK's pro-audio rental market.
The origins of Systems Etc date back to 1990 when Bernard Mani, still at school, began building loudspeakers and using them on student productions. Leaving college at 18, equipped with an engineering qualification, he headed off to Spain. The scene there was one big party, and Mani's response was to put together his own stock of sound and lighting equipment to rent out. In a very short time, he was managing a nightclub, handling audio production for concerts for up to 20,000, and running his own PA rental company.
Parental pressure brought him back to the UK and into university to study engineering, but his academic endeavours lasted just one term. He quickly developed a new rental business, and the University became his biggest client.
Five years in, the assets of London-based PA rental company Eskimo Noise were acquired from the liquidator, and paid for on Mani's credit card. The first gig with the new stock was for the Ministry of Sound at the Dome, attended by 50,000 people. In August 2004, Mani acquired the live and corporate event company Gighire. And, a year later, Systems Etc purchased the interests of PW Enterprises.
With each acquisition, Systems Etc has been boosted by the addition of expert staff. From Eskimo Noise, Ricky Ramsey (now a director of Systems Etc), front-of-house engineers Troy Bonney and Morgan Smith; from Gighire, John Pickett, a former MD of Le Maitre; and from PW Enterprises, Perry Wetherill. Mani says: "It's easy to buy equipment, but you need all the other stuff to go with it, primarily staff and clients. This is why we prefer to grow by acquisition."
Having absorbed the inventories of three smaller companies, Systems Etc today has nearly £2 million of hire stock. The company's audio stock is principally Electro-Voice and Nexo loudspeaker systems, using Midas analogue and Yamaha digital control hardware. Systems Etc is actively promoting the use of networking solutions, using EV's CobraNet-based controllers.
Headquartered in Camberwell, south London, Systems Etc has quietly carved a niche in London's clubland, completing full installations at some prominent venues, such as The Coronet in Elephant & Castle, and indeed the PA system at the Hedges & Butler Members' Club.
(Chris Henry)
