Recent Articles
‘Sin’ Is In: The Spy Hits Las Vegas
After a few weeks of lying low, I received a call from The Chief. “Hop in your car and drive into the heart of the desert,” he barked. “I need you to find the best high-end guitar in Vegas.” I scrambled to get my ducks in a row, jumped in my car and drove for [...]
Vnewsletter – May 16, 2013
MI Manufacturer Group Has Your ‘Back’ Hosted by Jill Nicolini Gander Gains New Responsibilities Asterope’s L.A. Artist Event Dazzles Shure’s Offering Spring Rebates Nambacker B2B Is Launched Colby Amps Takes A Bow Pioneer Promotes ‘Davey Dave’… and much more! May 16, 2013 | Episode No. 155 | Run time: 00.11:18 Vnewsletter Sign-up Got something you think [...]
The Good Stuff • Our Annual Review Of Charitable And Philanthropic Activity
Virtually every piece I write for The Retailer is enjoyable to work on, inasmuch as I’m writing about music making, an activity that not only is fun and offers tangible health and wellness benefits, but also presents a way for people to express their creativity and showcase their artistry. “The Good Stuff,” though, is probably [...]
Let’s Get Loud! • Manufacturers Analyze The Loudspeaker And Pro Audio Segment
Much as we did last month with our April issue cover story titled “Rattle & Strum,” in which we sought the expert analysis of four prominent members of the guitar manufacturer community, we present this month a roundtable of esteemed industry members who represent the pro audio market and have agreed to share their thoughts [...]
Bailey Brothers Music Company Receives Honor
Hometown business Bailey Brothers Music Company, a musical instrument retailer from Birmingham and Montgomery AL, has been awarded Gibson Acoustic Five Star Dealer of the Year for outperforming independent dealers in markets five to 10 times larger than Birmingham, while providing the top-notch service for which Gibson’s elite Five Star dealers are known. Bailey Brothers [...]
The Sound Of The Underground
The main location for All Music Inc. in Plainview NY, on Long Island, is in a precarious position within the area’s retail landscape. Not only are there two Sam Ash stores and two Guitar Center locations within a 15-minute drive, but the store itself is also only noticeable to the most eagle-eyed of customers. “We’re [...]
The ‘Crowd Mind,’ ‘Trial Closes’ & ‘Pacing’
I have kept my sales training to the basics because, just like in school, we aren’t able to read until we first learn our ABCs. There is a lot of psychology connected to selling, because the customer is buying emotionally. You all know that I hate psychobabble. Unfortunately, in selling, the customer’s mind is making [...]
It’s Time To Exercise Your Authority
How do you want your store to be perceived online? What impression do you want to make to your customers? Simply posting bits of information about your business and possibly adding a few products to a shopping cart isn’t really going to do much to inspire and motivate customers to remain engaged, build their trust [...]
Buying & Selling
I get e-mails from all corners of the industry, from both the retail and the supply side. Sometimes, the message is “thank you” or “you took the words out of my mouth.” Sometimes, I am accused of a Pollyanna-esque, ivory tower viewpoint. (Pollyanna? Perhaps. Ivory tower? Make that makeshift tree house.) I also get people [...]
Lanikai’s • UkeSB USB-Equipped Ukulele
Enthusiasm for, and excitement about, various types of instruments tends to wax and wane, sometimes owing to larger music industry trends, sometimes attributable to a new technological innovation, and sometimes because other factors conspire to bring a particular product to the fore. There probably has been no bigger craze in the music products space over [...]
