Starting my showroom again

"@nashvillehifi I have had an audio shop since 2003, beginning in Florida."

I suspect you already know the answer to your own question after 22 years, right?

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Yesterday I visited my local 55-years-in-business audio-only dealer. He’s survived and thrived. I’ve been going there for 45 years. What he stocks, shares, and sells to repeat customers is not regularly available online over the internet. 1) unique products 2) his experience 3) demoing it for them to hear it, multiple times, no questions.

He sells 2-channel audio products and services only. All tube. No solid state. None, not any of the amps, preamps, or speakers he sells are sold manufacturer direct.

Can you offer something unique, interesting, fun, locally - where people will come into your store and decide to learn and listen, then hand over hard earned cash and/or their retirement bucket-list funds for it?

People can buy "simple" just about anywhere online now days.

My local dealer in a nondescript little town has buyers driving 2.5 hours from different directions [and wealthy Silicon Valley folks] just to buy AudioNote, Quicksilver, SoundLab electrostatic speakers, special turntables, cartridges, tubes, and vinyl stuff from him. Has some nice trade-in gear too they come for. What he offers is unique, not simple at all. More of the boutique or scarce stuff you don’t see listed by online retailers. This differentiates him from others online who sell the regular mainstream stuff x100 across the USA. This is one approach that keeps him going 55+ years.

@nashvillehifi back to the "uniqueness" question. Offering and selling unique dealer-only items people can’t easily buy anywhere online. My local guy might fully retire out. Along the same lines last year I offered to take over his place when I semi-retire. He’s not ready, still having way too much fun there now, lol. He loves showing/selling all the unique exotic stuff he’s come up with over decades.

Several great replies here. I see and listen to unique items at this local audio dealer every time I go in there. Someone here mentioned Zengali speakers, my local has these too, along with Soundlab and more for speakers too. Great trade-ins too.

IF you are inclined to stock and offer unique items, I bet folks here could help to come up with a unique list if you are ready to bankroll it and roll the dice. I do think its a gamble for sure, but could be fun if you figure it out and step up to the plate. Easier said than done, right. Following along on your rediscovery journey. Enjoy.

@audiokinesis yeah mostly Audionote, Soundlab, Eminent Technology, and others to name a few. Less often I see Zengali there, and they dont sit long. He sort of special orders those i guess. I mainly check in to see what gets traded in, and admire amps and speakers there that i’ll never have room for. I was eyeballing some nice Soundlab 545s there now recently. Very nice. Someone was picking up those 106" tall x 40" wide 945s. Good grief they are massive.

There are always 3-4 guys, and sometimes wives, sitting there listening, usually vinyl playing, enjoying the music, or spending retirement savings - lol. People go there for the experience and enjoyment to decide what to purchase -vs- blind ordering online and crossing their fingers.

@luvtubes69 I would agree, high end audio is more challenged in some areas. However a few still survive and thrive keeping it alive - thankfully so.

Headphonesty - quote:

"And let’s face it, most younger people today are living in smaller spaces (think 500 sq. ft. condos). They simply don’t have the room, or the budget, for massive audio setups.

Combine that with the fact that younger generations are used to having music on the go, and you can see why they might not see much value in stationary, expensive gear."

To @luvtubes69 - while I don’t disagree and the points are valid, there are plenty of houses where I live at least, and someone will own or inherit them eventually. None of us would expect nothing less than these types of comments from a headphone happy website. Their world and place - totally get it, good for them.

No doubt we all see a lot more people with iPhones and earbuds all around us. Kids ride bicycles a lot less around here, many on some form of electronic and mechanically driven skateboards and scooters. All compact, ease-of-use, low effort, easy access practices. Lots of it related to quick-access social media, music other. Clearly the next generation has made the case for this direction. Not all though.

For the lucky few that still thrive and drive the audiophile passion, not dead yet - its still around us if you dig a little deeper. They come in to local shops nearby.

Some of the same kids and next-generation around my neck of the woods - those who’ve graduated from earbuds to headphones, then buying headphone tube amps, and incredibly creating a demand for 2nd hand vinyl and turntables and tube phono preamps all over again. 1/4 of the shop spaces dedicated at two home audio stores nearby to affordable headphone amps, turntables, cartridges, vinyl, and more.

These small audio stores learn how to adapt to accommodate them too, and it works okay.  We have vinyl stores offering selections of vintage gear too, that is not dead, going fairly well, interestingly or at least some small city areas too with apartment living.  I see it in city, small county areas around where i live at least. 

Next questions comes from them, LOL, "so how do I hook up a pair of speakers to my headphone tube amp?"...Yep, some going right back in this direction too. There will always be NaySayers, yet its just not that depressed in some areas and the next-gen of audiophiles may be small but not dead yet like some want to suggest. Those who serve both streams of old and new business types will likely survive better than others. Mail order is nice, but people still like to go try things out in person, particularly so when its expensive. I believe at least a small % of audio storefronts will survive.

@luvtubes69 @decooney Just look at the current market and how companies are closing, being sold and consolidation.

While I don’t disagree, what we do see is some level of consolidation which means someone is buying and keeping a few alive. ie.. Bose buying McIntosh, who thought. Wow. We had 35 audio stores and combining a few manufacturers around my metro area in the late 70s early 80s.

For a local example, now there are 3 shops since the pandemic, and a brand new one started last year into a 3rd upgraded location, dealing in all-vintage audio gear, doing okay. Solid local interest. The owner just told me last night he’s now picked up Pass Labs. We all grew up around it here in my area in NorCal though - that is my disclaimer. I looked at a PA craigslist/ele section last week, all kinds of interesting gear. Not dead yet. Headphones are great, but not the entire solution for everyone if that’s what you follow more. Headphones will continue to be its own following and culture too - no doubt.. Now back to listening to monoblock tube amps and large speakers today.

Happy Holidays to all.