AV.com

AV.com
FormerlyAudiovisualonline (AV Online)
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryHi-Fi & Home Cinema
FounderCarl Pickles
HeadquartersYork, England
ParentGear4music
Websiteav.com

AV.com is a British audio-visual equipment retailer founded in 2003 by Carl Pickles. Initially operating under the name Audiovisualonline (often shortened to AV Online), the company began as a small online business selling speaker cables from Pickles’s home in Lancashire.

The company has received independent coverage for its rapid growth during the COVID-19 lockdown period[1] and for launching a refurbished showroom that features the UK’s first Monitor Audio Platinum 3G in-wall cinema experience room[2].

Over time, it expanded its product range to include hi-fi systems, home cinema equipment, and related accessories. Since its acquisition by Gear4music plc in 2022..[3][4][5], the company has continued to develop its retail and e-commerce operations across the United Kingdom and European markets.

AV.com now operates from its head office in York and a 26,000-square-foot warehouse and showroom facility in Bacup, Lancashire, approximately 16 miles north of Manchester and within reach of several major cities in North West England.

History

AV.com was founded in 2003 by Carl Pickles[6][7] as an e-commerce enterprise focused on selling speaker cables. Initially operating from Pickles’s home in Bacup, Lancashire, the business traded as AV Distribution Ltd[8] and launched its website under the name Audiovisualonline, commonly abbreviated to AV Online.

As HDMI and surround sound systems became more widespread, the company expanded its product range to include hi-fi and home cinema equipment, such as loudspeakers, headphones, specialised AV furniture, and related accessories.

In response to continued growth, AV Online moved operations to New Line Industrial Estate and, by 2009, had opened its first physical home cinema showroom[9] to complement its online offering. The company expanded its warehouse and office space in 2015 and acquired a second building in 2017 for additional storage space.

In 2019, the business consolidated its operations into a 26,000 square foot facility[8][4] housing offices, a showroom, warehouse, and a custom cable workshop under one roof.

The company’s revenue was primarily generated through its own website, with additional sales via Amazon, its Bacup showroom, and affiliated sites such as hificables.co.uk.

AV Online experienced increased sales during the UK’s COVID-19 lockdown, attributed in part to a rise in consumer interest in home renovation[1]. In 2022, the company was acquired by Gear4music plc in a £9.2 million transaction[3][4][5][6].

Following the acquisition, AV Online was rebranded as AV.com and relaunched on Gear4music’s e-commerce platform. An equipment trade-in service, second-hand marketplace, and fully refurbished showroom were all launched shortly after the rebrand[2].

Showroom

Since 2009, AV.com has operated a showroom at its Bacup site[9], and gradually expanded its hi-fi and home cinema demonstration facilities. In 2023, the Bacup facility underwent a full refurbishment following the company's acquisition by Gear4music[2][10].

The showroom launched with the UK’s first Monitor Audio Platinum 3G in-wall cinema experience room, showcasing the brand’s flagship Platinum In-Wall 3G speakers in a pre-arranged, appointment-only setting[2].

The showroom features products from brands such as Denon, Marantz, Wharfedale, Bowers & Wilkins, and Monitor Audio. Notable installations include the UK’s first Monitor Audio Platinum 3G home cinema experience room[2].

Products

The bulk of AV.com's business centres on the retail of home cinema and hi-fi equipment, catering primarily to the mid-to-high-end segment of the consumer AV market.

AV.com sells home-cinema and hi-fi equipment and related accessories across multiple brands, and also markets products under its own brand name, AVCOM.

Acquisition by Gear4music

In 2021, Gear4music plc, a UK-based musical instrument and audio equipment retailer, announced its intention to acquire AV Distribution Ltd.[3][4][5][6], along with the AV.com domain name. The transaction was split into two elements: £6.2 million for the trading business and £3 million for the domain, which AV Online had not previously owned[5][11].

The acquisition included £2.5 million in inventory and a freehold warehouse property valued at £1.3 million. Gear4music stated that the purchase would expand its offering in the specialist audio-visual market and enhance its direct-to-consumer operations[5].

The acquisition of the AV.com domain was also positioned as a strategic move to increase brand visibility, improve memorability, and support international e-commerce growth through a name that is easier to remember and promote globally[12].

YouTube & Blog

AV.com maintains an official YouTube channel and blog focused on home cinema and hi-fi.

The YouTube channel has accumulated over 750,000 views according to Social Blade[13]. The channel features content such as setup guidance, product demonstrations, and showroom interviews with individuals from the audio-visual industry.

The blog publishes articles covering topics such as product reviews, new releases, and comparative buying guides.

References

  1. ^ a b "'Hardest task is keeping up with demand': Home cinema firm thrives in lockdown". Lancashire Telegraph. 2021-05-17. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  2. ^ a b c d e Sait, Daniel J. (2023-05-02). "AV.com Launches Flagship Showroom". Essential Install. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  3. ^ a b c "Gear4music acquires AV Online business - Retail Gazette". 2021-12-02. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  4. ^ a b c d Media, Insider (2021-12-02). "Gear4Music completes AV Distribution acquisition - Insider Media". Insider Media Ltd. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  5. ^ a b c d e Team, TRB News (2021-09-09). "Gear4music acquires AV Online | Retail Bulletin". Retail Bulletin | Daily UK Retail News. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  6. ^ a b c www.rickittmitchell.com https://www.rickittmitchell.com/track_record/AVDistribution/. Retrieved 2025-08-14. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ^ Ltd, Achorda. "Henley Audio | AV Online |". www.henleyaudio.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  8. ^ a b "AV DISTRIBUTION LTD filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  9. ^ a b "Bacup audio store installs 120-inch screen". Lancashire Telegraph. 2010-03-24. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  10. ^ "Essential Install June 2023". Issuu. 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  11. ^ "AV Online sold to Gear4music for £6m". Lancashire Business View. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  12. ^ Progressive Equity Research Limited. Gear4music – Strategic acquisition of AV Online… and trading in line with expectations. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2025, from https://www.progressive-research.com (PDF available at: G4M-20210909.pdf)
  13. ^ "AV com HiFi & Cinema's YouTube Statistics". Social Blade. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
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