 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Melissa
Date: 2000-06-26 04:06
I have been going to college studying to be a music teacher, but lately I've been thinking about owning my own music store.
There are only 2 in my area. One is known for it's lessons, since the other doesn't have them, and the other is known for having sheet music, because the first one has hardley any.
I was thinking of having lessons, sheet music, the regular accessories, and maybe some theory and aural skills classes for people who need help in school, or just have the desire to learn.
I was wondering if anyone on the board owns a store and how you get started with something like that.
I'd appreciate any help.
Thank you.
Melissa
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Author: mark weinstein
Date: 2000-06-26 19:26
You might want to visit with someone like Lisa Argeris (sp?) who is the owner of International Music Suppliers. No doubt she and others would have a lot to say. I'm a CPA in public practice & work with a large number of retail client businesses & this is what I would say to anybody thinking about opening up their own shop or "boutique": Be careful, what you get into. Many business ideas are "romantically" inspired. Being your own boss can be a worthwhile endeavor. A chance to "do it right", to express yourself to the world. However, the problem with retail ownereship is the sheer number of HOURS you have to work to be successful, especially when you are starting out. Also, the NUMBER of HATS that the OWNER WEARS. mw
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-06-26 23:24
Have you ever worked for a music store? If not, I strongly recommend that this be your first first step. Knowing music, knowing what customers (you) need and want is one thing. Knowing how to run a store is something else entirely. Before I opened my stained glass studio, I apprenticed for a year with a studio whose owner planned to relocate to another state because of her husband's job. It was an ideal learning situation for me, because I could wait to open my business until she left -- and not have to compete with her! That year turned out to be the most important factor in my business finishing its first year in the black.
It's important to avoid making an enemy of a rival, so you'll need to be diplomatic, but if you can possibly go to work for a business similar to the one you mean to own, I think you can improve your chances. Working for a store tells you whether your market really has room for another competitor. That's hard to know just from talking with people, because often business owners exaggerate their successes and minimize their problems. Only the inside perspective tells you the truth about whether or not you'd be opening in a market that's already saturated. You can also learn whether other businesses do something you think could be handled differently and better, something to set you apart and make your business attractive to potential customers not satisfied with what they've got now. (If all the customers were already happy, then a new business would probably fail -- but most likely, you can find some need not being served. Listen to how many times you have to tell customers, "Sorry but we don't stock that," or, "we don't do that." Stock that, do that, and you win those customers. But are they worth winning...?)
Even though I had run my own micro-businesses since my teens, that apprenticeship taught me things about the stained glass restoration, design and construction business that never occurred to me in glass art classes. Despite the inconvenience of working for just above the minimum wage for a year, I believe that without this specialized apprenticeship, my new business would have failed within that same year and I would have earned nothing. Therefore that year of low pay ended up far more profitable than a year of struggling in unnecessary errors would have. I made plenty of mistakes anyway, but not the kind that drive someone out of business or into trouble with the law, the tax collector, etc..
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Author: Melissa
Date: 2000-06-27 05:31
Thank you for your info.
I haven't worked in a music store, but I learned a lot about the one I took lessons at. Three of my good friends work at the counter there and I know many of the lessons teachers.
Just from my years of having lessons there I've heard many complaints, and many were the same things over and over again. Also, all of the "music people" I know have the some concerns with the store......... none of us feel comfortable getting a pad fixed on our clarinets and simple things like that.
One of the stores, the more popular, is so because it was the only store in the area for years. The store is old, and hard to get to, with little parking.
The other stores are either for drum and guitar stuff, or in the mall where there's a very small store and everything has to be ordered b/c it won't fit inside the actual store.
The area I have in mind for "my" store is almost 35 minutes from any music store that I know of. It's near two high schools with great bands and the local college. There is a lot of land and areas where the store could be built and is right off of 2 major expressways, so it would be very easy to get to.
But again........ thanks!
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Author: Ron D
Date: 2000-06-28 20:50
If you are serious remember that the bulk of your work will involve non musical activities. I owned two stores (not Musical ) and the first thing you will learn is that your accountant can be your best friend and can offer you good advice in the opperation of your business. The other activities involve your lawyer, landlord and advertising services. The bigest problems you will encounter will center around the staff and your ability to lead them in productive work habits. I wont get into the bank relationship I'll just say be prepaired to do some serious -
a-- kissing.
If you cannot afford to hire a profesional manager and you only like the fun musical part of the business you will find in a short time you will be very unhappy.
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