While now enjoying the success of an upmarket location, the origins of Clef Hi-Fi were much more humble. Nick Christolidi started the business from home in the northern suburbs. Part of the house was a showroom, spilling over into another room and eventually half the house. Nick’s wife, Christine, while one of the friendliest and patient members of our industry you’re likely to encounter, suggested politely Nick find a more suitable ‘premises’.

A two year stint in commercial premises in their local area proved Clef Hi-Fi was a worthwhile venture, and with a growing loyal customer base already, Nick and Christine decided to make the move to their current location in 2006.

Success can be defined in many ways. For some people it’s measured in wealth alone, but for others it’s as simple as being able to do what you love, have fun along the way, and enjoy the challenges that each day presents. Spend just a few minutes with Nick and the team at Clef Hi-Fi and its obvious the passion they each hold for everything audio-visual.

Nick’s career in the audio-visual world was forged at a young age, and it seems that the quest for good sound runs in the blood. Nick’s older brother is the owner of another successful Pro Audio shop, Entertainment Warehouse, now established for 26 years. At 14 years young, Nick was already helping set up sound systems, repairing products and learning the craft. He even built a dual 18” subwoofer which Nick proudly states is still in use in his lounge room.

The success and reputation of a business relies on, and is testament to the whole team. While Christine is responsible for crunching the numbers, ensuring the financials stack up, and responding to the countless emails and online enquiries, three more key staff make up the Clef Hi-Fi team.

Louie, is the tech-savvy enthusiast up with the latest technologies and integration systems, and apparently not too bad with a soldering iron either when things go wrong. Louie has been Nick’s right hand man since those very early days of Clef Hi-Fi.

Stan is an industry veteran who has worked in AV specialist stores for over 30 years; hands on, a consummate professional and if it makes sound, he loves it. Rounding out the team and reinforcing the personal experience, Steve has worked within the retail and wholesale industry, and even after many years still has a smile on his face. Success, in the case of the Clef Hi-Fi team, is loving what you do.

It can often be difficult to hear a cross section of brands and products at just one specialist store in this industry. With literally thousands of brands on the market, and each store aligned with certain suppliers or in some cases their own imported brands, the audition process can take weeks, or even months when looking to invest in a two channel, home theatre or lifestyle solution.

Clef Hi-Fi understand this and as a totally independent retailer not attached to a wholesale or import business, believe that all brands have positive attributes. Clef Hi-Fi’s motto is to provide a wide range of quality products and work with the customer to find the right solution for their application, personal preference and budget.

And a wide range it truly is, including names you would expect such as Bowers & Wilkins, Paradigm, KEF, Cambridge Audio, Polk Audio, JBL, Velodyne, Yamaha, Anthem, Mark Levinson, Integra, Luxman, Epson, Sonos and many, many more.

The best part is Clef Hi-Fi back up this wide range of brands with the ability to audition almost any combination of product. With over seven large audition spaces, each room has various systems and comparison switches. This allows the customer to switch over from one pair of speakers to another, again reinforcing once again the Clef Hi-Fi personal approach.  There’s been a lot of thought go into these demonstration spaces, some designed for entry level systems, while upstairs you can find the more high-end brands and systems. Each space is welcoming and tastefully furnished, reminiscent of your own lounge room or listening space. Clef understands the process of auditioning audio and visual systems often requires more than just a lunch break.

Clef Hi-Fi cater for all the formats a customer may want to audition a system with, whether it be USB, Vinyl or CD, they also have a NAS drive fully loaded with music from classical, to modern rock.

Let’s not forget the Clef Hi-Fi team are enthusiasts too. If you happen to wander into Clef on a quiet day you’ll likely find them hiding in the basement, or ‘man-cave’ as they call it. An acoustically treated large theatre, it doubles as their own auditioning space for the latest products that have arrived. Either way, it will likely be way too loud as they test the capabilities and potential synergy of components, but they’ll be smiling from ear to ear enjoying life. It’s a tough job.

Nick is firmly looking to the future, and while he tells us the market has become a fast moving, competitive global space, the need for exceptional service, the ability to demonstrate products and receive the right expert advice, has not changed. . It is clear that to remain viable only the best ‘bricks and mortar’ specialists will remain in business, and after 15 years Clef Hi-Fi has no plans to throw in the towel now.

With plans for future business expansion, as the market changes and integration, whole-house audio and media streaming becomes more complicated, Clef Hi-Fi aims to keep the process as simple as possible for their customers.

After all, who wouldn’t want to keep doing what they love? There’s simply no alternative for Nick, Christine and the Clef Hi-Fi team.

Clef Hi-Fi is located at 363a Clarendon Street, South Melbourne. VIC 3205
Visit their website at www.clefhifi.com.au or - StereoNET Retailer Directory.