In 1899, my great-grandfather, Olaf Theodor Ranum, founded a business in Trondheim. It centred on music, from instruments to gramophones – the ones that used big wax rolls instead of albums – “His Master’s Voice” style.
Over time, Olaf T Ranum had become an impresario business, too, organising concerts and festivals, and bringing big names like Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald and Zubin Mehta to Trondheim. My grandparents even brought the latter on holiday to their cabin, where my parents taught him how to ski.
For his services to society, my granddad Olaf was awarded the Order of St Olav by King Olav V of Norway. (I know, you couldn’t make it up… Had Norway run out of names?)
As technology advanced, the family business started selling TVs, radios and hi-fi systems. My grandparents, and subsequently my dad, had taken over the running of the shop.
And while at high school, my sister and I got Saturday jobs there, running errands or serving behind the counter in the record store. Most of my salary was spent on albums.
For the century the family business existed, its tagline was “Alt med god tone” – loosely translated as “Always striking the right note.”
This was of course a pun on the musical nature of the business. But it also expressed the company’s ethos around high-quality products and pleasant customer service.
That’s why I chose The Right Note as the name of my own venture. Communicating in the right tone of voice, conveying the right messages in the right way, is what my business all about.
I’m proud to borrow the 1899 family strapline and put my own spin on it. Check out my services to see how I can help you hit the right note!