 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ruben
Date: 2020-04-15 21:36
Just before the lock down, another music shop bit the dust here in Paris. Amazon, Thomann and the like are mowing them down. People will try out a clarinet in a music shop and then if they like it, buy one from Thomann. I didn't do an MBA at the Harvard School of Business, but here are a few suggestions aimed at saving them.
-Make them highly specialized: just selling clarinets, flutes, etc and not everything from banjos to sousaphones
-turning them into mini-cultural centers of sorts, with occasional talks, recitals, master classes, etc.
-keeping the staff small and having a first-class repair person.
-handling artisanal instruments and accessories and not just the standard big brands.
I think most of us would be sad to see practically all music shops disappear. Your thoughts on the matter and suggestions please.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2020-04-15 23:34
I think one of the most important suggestions in your list is to keep the staff small and have a first-class repair person among the employees. And the staff should all be knowledgeable about both music and the merchandise. If the store primarily deals in electronic media - guitars, keyboards, amps, etc. - then a staff that knows that equipment including someone who can maintain and repair it is important. If the store's merchandise includes traditional orchestral and band instruments, then there should likewise be staff who truly know acoustic music and the instruments used to produce it.
I do think your suggestion about specialization is probably a good one, too. I don't know that they need to be so micro-specialized, but specializing in string instruments or brass or woodwinds (and throw in saxes) would be more likely to have really knowledgeable staff.
The argument for buying from a local store has generally, for me, been that I can rely on good advice in the purchase and good service afterward. Unfortunately, the argument for buying from Amazon has become that the prices are lower ***and the knowledge and service available from the local stores is **not always** (exceptions certainly exist) worth the extra price.***
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Author: ruben
Date: 2020-04-16 00:29
A Paris store I know used to have in the past 20 preselected professional Buffet clarinets to choose from. Now they have maybe two..and not preselected. That being the case, a customer feels he's better off getting one from Thomann and paying less. Another reason I would like to see shops survive is their conviviality. I've always enjoyed going to music shops: running into friends and chatting with the staff.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-04-16 00:53
This maybe more of a business question.
I have an analogy that happened here in the States with hardware store. In the '80s a few big box stores started to make small neighborhood hardware stores obsolete. Eventually the box stores of the day colapesed in on themselves and today there is a fairly good mix of neighborhood stores and bigger conglomerates that came in later. It has settled into a truce.
I think there is a similar analogy with the big bookstores vs. small bookstores.
Of course now the economies of many countries are shut down and large stores with massive volume but tight profit margins may all go under........and the cycle will start all over again.
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2020-04-16 03:05
Paul Aviles wrote:
> today
> there is a fairly good mix of neighborhood stores and bigger
> conglomerates that came in later. It has settled into a
> truce.
>
> I think there is a similar analogy with the big bookstores vs.
> small bookstores.
I think I'd agree with you in general, Paul, although I really haven't seen smaller bookstores making a comeback in my area - it's either a huge B&N outlet or go online.
Karl
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2020-04-16 07:58
Long & McQade and St Johns Music have a monopoly in Canada. I don't see any of them folding. A little competition would be nice.
The Most Advanced Clarinet Book--
tomheimer.ampbk.com/ Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001315, Musicnotes product no. MB0000649.
Boreal Ballad for unaccompanied clarinet-Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001314.
Musicnotes product no. MNO287475
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Author: ruben
Date: 2020-04-16 12:51
Dear friends, Luthiers seem to do better than woodwind instrument shops. Their profit margin is much bigger if they're selling old and new instruments for upwards of 15 000 euros and they're not in competition with Thomann and the like, as nobody would buy an expensive string instrument from the bargain counter. Plus they don't need a lot of space so they can save on rent.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2020-04-16 17:48
Hi All,
All good suggestions above but IMHO, the necessity of knowing all about your "bottom line" can not be ignored.
Many individuals have the street sense to intuitively understand if they are or if they are not making money, so it is never wrong be able to do some of the simplest financial calculations. This is not rocket science and in many cases, there is a wealth of available software to assist you (spreadsheet prep is a must). Being able to read a balance sheet, do a net worth calculation, analysis cashflow, prepare a P&L statement are necessary tools to monitor the financial health of any enterprise.
While we tend to talk about "widgets" production, one can substitute any goods or services in most fiscal calculations; everything has a monetary value here. There are always fixed and variable cost. Doing a breakeven analysis as well as being able to figure the contribution margin of each cost center is imperative. In a music store example, such cost centers can be retail, repair, school rentals, music, lessons, school accounts, etc.
Above all, you need to know if you are making money or not! It is very common for startup businesses to be in the red at first but profits must be realized ASAP.
HRL
PS I assume you know you must have a business plan, right?
Post Edited (2020-04-16 17:49)
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Author: ruben
Date: 2020-04-16 18:27
Dear Hank, I am unfortunately the world's worst business person! But I work-informally-for a fantastic clarinet builder and it would be nice to still have shops to work with. Their attitude is unfortunately one of: "we can't sell an instrument that nobody's ever heard of. Nobody will take the risk of spending 4 500$ on an unknown make." Backun has been successful-with ups and downs-but he's a real businessman. You have to get the stars on your side and the only way to do that is to give instruments away. The stars are no longer in the habit of paying for anything.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2020-04-16 20:23
Ruben,
Thanks for the quick reply. I understand your situation all too well but know that even learning to do a simple net worth computation is a good way to start. You might find these type of things to be eye-openers for you even if you just do some very easy personal finance calculations.
After all, it's just your money. So...
Hank
PS I did not include having a marketing plan and really being aware of the 4Ps (Product, Price, Place, and Promotion) is also something very closely related to your situation about selling products that are not the big names.
Post Edited (2020-04-17 03:01)
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Author: ruben
Date: 2020-04-16 20:39
Precious informaton, Hank, and thank you. I wish we had you by our side!
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2020-04-16 21:29
Local shops mostly survive on lessons. But in the last month lessons have moved to the internet. I used to carry a wide variety of mouthpieces. Only a few models really sold (having variety brings in customers but is expensive - once on a visit to a local big chain music store I realized I carried much more variety).
I paid more for the mouthpieces I stocked than a big company and wasn't paying a minimum wage employee to stuff it in a box to be delivered by a minimum wage worker. I was actually spending time helping the person choose the mouthpiece. I only charged a little more than the online places which meant I wasn't being paid for my time.
I've had a customer see what my price was for a student mouthpiece and use their phone right in front of me to find a price online. They left without buying the mouthpiece because it was a few bucks less online. Then again there are customers who buy from me to support a local business they appreciate.
I'm not sorry that I've carried merchandise, but I'm getting rid of it to simplify my life
Steve Ocone
Post Edited (2020-04-17 03:49)
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Author: ruben
Date: 2020-04-16 22:43
Thanks for relating your personal experience, Steve. And thanks for fighting the good fight. We need shops like yours.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2020-04-17 00:51
We have a great woodwind shop here and one of the first things I did after the lockdown was to phone them to ask how we can keep giving them our custom to keep them in business. My clarinet playing just wouldn't work without them.
I think that it's hard to beat really good knowledgeable customer service, in a real proper shop.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2020-04-17 13:34
Sunny: I like your attitude. I'm a client of a neighborhood computer shop. I pay a little more when I purchase something, but when it goes haywire, they're of invaluable help and very patient with the IT-challenged person that I am. The same goes with good music shops: they're help and advice is invaluable. ps: if it's not too personal, where is "here"?
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
Post Edited (2020-04-17 13:38)
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Author: Djudy
Date: 2020-04-18 16:32
The big wind instrument store here in Lyon does exactly as you describe Ruben and they hopefully will survive the lockdown. They have been good about getting in touch with their customers individually and selling online during this period despite not doing this normally. They have scheduled lots of concerts and events, like equipment launches and they have been well attended. The backlog in their repair department is going to be horrendous. There are also several other luthiers in town, I hope they can hang on too. We are lucky to have them.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-04-18 16:36
YES !!!!!
By all means, support local businesses to the degree that you can.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: ruben
Date: 2020-04-18 20:35
Hi Djudy! What's the name of that shop in Lyon.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Djudy
Date: 2020-04-21 02:46
Ruben, I was refering to JS Music which has a large repair dept. and publications section as well as selling new, and more recently used, instruments. They have been making a big effort since their recent change of owner (now a musicien). The special activities I mentioned were obviously conducted before the lockdown and one hopes they will be able to continue. They are not the only shop in town and this is not a commercial plug, but an observation that compared to their previous activity they have implimented many of the things you mentioned with apparent good results.
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2020-04-21 07:35
I grew up in NY and frequented at least two of the well known major music stores in Manhattan (on 56th St. I think) in the 70s. I believe the article said their were 5(?) in the area and all have long ago closed.
As part of marketing, I have been e mailing all the music stores throughout the U.S. (and other countries to a point). I would say that maybe 75% of all stores are Guitars, Pianos, Drums only.
I only contacted stores that had websites and by e mail. Also, they had to sell Band/Orchestra instruments and hopefully books/sheet music.
I e mailed a total of 182 that fit that bill in all 50 U.S. states. So other than those without e mail addresses, that's the approximate number currently.
The Most Advanced Clarinet Book--
tomheimer.ampbk.com/ Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001315, Musicnotes product no. MB0000649.
Boreal Ballad for unaccompanied clarinet-Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001314.
Musicnotes product no. MNO287475
Post Edited (2020-04-21 07:38)
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