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

@nashvillehifi ...The comment by @tunehead reminded me that there’s a local start-up in a b&m building that’s trying something different that you might find more fun, yet keep on the pulse of audiophilia....

( Aims to offer music oriented entertainment touting ’vintage Klipsch speakers’ and a turntable in house with plans to hold BYOLPs’ nights, serving wines, local brews, non-alcohol drinkage, snacks and nibbles.... )

There’s a plethora of mini-venues here in AVL in bars mostly frequented by the young and hip types who either tolerate or amused by the gray aged sorts that dare their doors....;) A few small studios about, and even a LP. pressing plant downtown-ish attending to a lively music scene of genres’ and blends you’d never considered an audience for.....

Perhaps a treated space with tables, chairs, couches....dimmable lighting...house gear @ hand (yours), but visible, sporting some ’reasonable $ SOTA’ (SS and tube) to intro those unfamiliar with the latter....

A second space for your call on some new stuff, but offering to do some consignment sales...obviously showing that which you think has legs to leave eventually without filling the dumpster....

Offer consultation on the various methods and means to take Your Sound home with them after your in-house system intros the newbies as to what that new LP of theirs can really play like....and How.

’Philes are cultivated. Breeding results are spotty at best,,,

Grow your own batch of clients...

Good luck 👍🤞😎 J

(Have an LP cleaning device under the counter if the disc looks like it's been bathed in beer before brought....)

Talk with local builders and construction companies, real estate agents and home flippers to see if there is an opportunity to install systems and/or home theaters.

I would be hesitant as I started with a home business  in a 50 K city about 70 miles from Minneapolis  and  ended up  moving to a store front  and also another store front in a 100 K city  with closest larger city 3 hours away.  Sold Kef, Quads, spendor, Rogers , Qln and Boston Acoustics, , Vandersteen, Apature

Micro Seiki and Kyocera and Walker TT,  

Kyocera electronics, Denon, Conrad Johnson,  Hafler, Precision Fidelity

Ended up selling cheaper products like JVC, Sherwood, Fisher.

Market could no afford the products. Customers wanted a complete system with equipment rack for $1000. Lost $500,000 in 2 years .  

I was not making much at home even when I was drop shipping. Forced to go to brick and mortar.  Had to buy 1 to show and 1 to go and all COD.  It was a hobby turned into a business ( not a good idea )   Good luck if you do start.  A lot of competition now with internet sales. A lot of home based stores  as competitors. 

 

I lurk around in Reddit and see lots of young folks just starting to get into "better audio".  They inherit stuff from grandpa, or are scouring thrift shops and end up not happy or not knowing how to improve their sound. Some of these people thing they have scored a big find with the black plastic department store systems - they need some gentle exposure to real gear.

There are also a bunch of new vinyl fans who only have a bluetooth turntable and powered speakers who wonder how much better an integrated amp (or some old overpriced "silver face" receiver) will make their system sound.

I guess this would lead me to think a store that has reconditioned, or can recondition used equipment, merged with some streamers and quality entry level components could find a niche.  I'm not sure about on line stealing your sales, but if you stick to MAP products would that help?

I'm thinking that the majority of us boomers are happy with our systems, or having to downsize and give away our extra stuff to family - not spending a ton cash  So maybe cater to  the younger demo who spend a lot of time at home gaming, watching movies, and listening to music at their work from home desks.