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Starting my showroom again

 

Hello, audiophiles. I would like to get your honest feedback. Back in 2022, I had to close my business in Nashville owing to a series of unexpected occurrences (several deaths in the family, a rapid move to assist my mother-in-law, and a brain operation); all of this necessitated that I close the store in a matter of weeks. It was now a two-hour trek to Nashville. I worked as a glorified gate operator at a chemical company because that is all was available in our small town. I received an opportunity to become national sales director for an audio company, which would provide some income—not much, but enough to go back into the hifi business at the bottom level.

 

 

 

So now you know the incredibly brief version of the story. Here's the question: there is a little town about 30 minutes away that is booming and gaining more expensive retailers like Ulta and StarBucks. So here's the question.

 

Do you believe a small town like that might support an up-and-coming hifi business that sells receivers, speakers like PS Audio, KEF, and other manufacturers at a lower price point until the store can handle more expensive items? The closest "electronics store," Electronics Express, is nearly an hour and a half away. I have had an audio shop since 2003, beginning in Florida. Thoughts?

 

128x128nashvillehifi
ckr1969
89 posts
 

@bugredmachine whos the 3 major players in Nashville?

decooney
2,038 posts
 

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.

bugredmachine's avatar
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bugredmachine
435 posts
 

@ckr1969 

Gestalt Audio

hifibuys

atelier 13 audio

These businesses sell gear we would be interested in. I have visited 2 of them and purchased from both.

 

sunshdw's avatar
sunshdw
256 posts
 

I think I'm in the town you're talking about (maybe lol) and here's my .02c 

 

I've been in the AV industry since 2008 and the first half of those were at a retail brick n mortar and the second half has been in CI world, so two different worlds. I loved the retail job as it let me educate people as to how music should be listened to and I got a lot of sales just on the demo. We sold B&W, Classe, Rotel, McIntosh, ARC, Wilson, various turntables, Transparent Audio and a few others. I miss that type of business and the relationships with clients that I made. The big draw back was people would use our demo rooms, our knowledge, our vendor relationships and even going as far as doing a home audition then going online and buying it (used or from some dude working out of his garage). It got old really quick. 

Now in the CI world, selling high end products is very difficult because I can't demo it and it's way more cookie cutter. We're about to build a new office/showroom facility next year and I told the boss we need to do some demo room/areas in order to sell the good stuff. 

So in summary, I will always encourage giving someone the ability to listen to a system (regardless of price) so they can get that experience on how music should be listened to. Also keep in mind, that in between here and Nashville are A LOT of musicians/celebrities that have no idea what it's like to listen on a good system so that would be a great market if you can get into it. I will echo some of the others by staying away from the usual brands (KEF, PS Audio etc) since the market is flooded with those brands but in that same respect I would stay away from brands that are to obscure for fear of lack of dealer support (Avalon is right off the top of my head: Great speaker, no support)

jpan
129 posts
 

Glad you’re back on your feet.

Your knowledge and ability to sell will be the keys to your success. There is an art and craft to retail. That extends to your selection of products. It will take time to develop your clients but it can be done. 

If it were me, I’d also have a full line of headphones and associated gear. Give them an easy entry and a taste of higher end. I’d bridge the headphone and two-channel stuff with some great digital front ends at easy-entry price points. That would complement the two-channel gear. And have a small, constantly refreshed set of audiophile-level records. 

It sounds like you’ve been through some serious challenges. Compared to that, you can do anything.

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