A HOME CINEMA company says that business has been booming thanks to people's need to entertain themselves during lockdown.

Bacup-based AV Online reported that there has been a huge growth in sales of domestic Hi-Fi equipment, homes cinemas and audio equipment during this period.

There has also been a huge boom in vinyl record sales and musical accessories, with the New Line Industrial Estate company attributing this to a revived interest in the format from younger listeners.

AV Online owner and founder Carl Pickles said: “Our hardest task over the past 12 months has been sourcing products to keep up with demand.

"However, it has been encouraging to see our customers rediscover their love of music or film over the past year by upgrading their cherished AV systems or embarking on their Hi-Fi or home cinema journey."

AV Online has been based in Bacup since 2003, with its roots remaining firmly in the Rossendale area ever since, and says that it has grown rapidly to become one of the UK’s leading online retailers of Hi-Fi, home cinema, and specialist audiovisual equipment.

However, it is the past year that has proven one of the most challenging for the company with not only the impact of the pandemic but also other obstacles like Brexit, component shortages, and the rising cost of shipping equipment from countries like China and Vietnam to the UK.

Despite this challenge, the firm has been able to rise to these challenges thanks to the boost provided by the restrictions on socialising, which have meant that people are upgrading their audio set-ups to recreate the ‘going out’ audio experience at home.

Visitors to AV Online's website for Hi-Fi equipment including vinyl turntables, amplifiers, and speaker systems have jumped dramatically since 2019 with record numbers looking to upgrade or replace their existing audio systems.

More time spent streaming Netflix and other online services has also led to rising sales of soundbars, amplifiers, and home cinema receivers with customers looking to recreate the cinema experience.

Mr Pickles said: "Certain lines often sell-out before going live on the website based on pre-orders alone largely fuelled by the release of the PS5 and upgrades to existing AV systems.”

To find out more, go to: https://www.audiovisualonline.co.uk/.