What makes a company independent friendly? What do they need to do differently? We take a look at those answers and the 36 companies who are “independent dealer friendly.” The names come from Musicstoreowners.com (MSO), not the Music & Sound Retailer. This month we honor the companies who made this special list. (Listed in alphabetical order).
How did MSO come up with the list? “One of the projects of the group is establish open lines of dialogue with manufacturers and vendors,” said Gordy Wilcher, MSO’s vendor chairman. “MSO has also created an approved list of the vendors we consider ‘indie friendly.’ The list was created in the early days of MSO and as you might imagine is an ever evolving but ‘vital’ project.
“The selection process began with a casual posting on the MSO Web site,” he continued. “Dealers wanted to share their experiences with each other. It was decided to poll the members to vote on the various vendors. The process was effective and led to many useful ideas and sharing of information. The group membership has exploded and with it a new system of ranking will follow. Some members are working on a numbered or graded scale to rank the vendors. MSO members will grade each vendor on various categories such as profitability, customer service, quality of goods, shipping issues, and sales reps. MSO has also reserved the right to exclude any approved vendors if/when a change in policy effects the indie dealer. We encourage participation. Interested vendors can log on to www.musicstoreowners.com for more info.”
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ALLPARTS Guitar Parts
“It’s always great to get positive feedback from our customers. We strive to offer great customer service and a wide selection of parts. All of our salesmen have experience working in independent retail music stores, which helps us to better understand and meet the needs and expectations of these customers. We know what a challenge these stores face in today’s market and are constantly working to provide a knowledgeable staff, friendly and fast service as well as inventory to meet these needs.”
—Steve Wark, ALLPARTS Music
Aquarian Drum Heads
“At Aquarian, all dealers, big or small are important to us. We try to treat them all with the same respect. One thing I make a point of is to call many of our accounts every so often just to ask, ‘How’s Business?’ Also, any dealer can reach me by phone anytime. We truly want to know how they are doing and what’s going on with them.”
—Roy Burns, Aquarian Drum Heads
Artist Showcase Straps
“We always make sure to take care of our customers on a first-name basis. We try to make it as level a playing field as possible for everyone. We help dealers with their inventory, try to always make their jobs easier, and keep an eye on profitability for them. We always focus on what the store owner focuses on. It is an honor to take care of our customers and it’s an honor to be recognized by our customers. It lets us know we are doing the right thing in the marketplace.”
—Daniel J. Cerajewski, Artist Showcase Straps
Buffet Crampon
“Buffet Crampon USA, Inc. is committed to supporting our artists, educators, dealers and end users. I believe you must treat your customers as you would like them to treat you. Providing our dealers with service, reliability, and quality remain paramount. Buffet Crampon’s commitment to excellence reflects the respect and confidence we have bestowed in our customers, artists, and educators.”
—Bruce D. Silva, Buffet Crampon
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