You’re An Independent Dealer, Which Companies And What Products Would You Represent?


Hey All!
 I live in an average sized city where there are two brick and mortar audio stores. One is modest in both budget and square footage but has great customer service, offers quality products from entry level to high end and works with customers on price. The other one is a mega store with a huge inventory from entry level to very high end, has great customer service but won’t budge on price and wants to be the biggest store on the east coast. Personally, I like rooting for the underdog. So today, I stopped in and chatted with the salesperson at the small store, who I’ve come to know over these many years. He was telling me that the bigger store was carrying the same brands and products that they’ve been carrying but that they were buying inventory in mass quantity. And, that the only way for the small store to separate themselves from the mega store would be to represent companies and products that the mega store can’t or won’t showcase. However, which companies and which products, this is the question. The first thing of course that popped into my mind was to regurgitate everything favorable that I had read about on these forums and from the reviews on 6 Moons, What HiFi, Stereophile, etc….But I stopped myself and I’m glad I did and I said, ‘well there’s certainly a lot to choose from.’ And this is where you come in. So, if you were the owner of a smaller (think size of an average three bedroom house), independent brick a mortar audio store, what companies and products would you ideally choose to feature in your showroom? As I mentioned previously, anything (pragmatic) from entry level to high end. Let’s say for clarification that the $50,000.00 McIntosh subwoofer would be thought of as too extravagant. Eventually, my hope is to direct my dealer friend to this post as a means of inspiration.

Thanks!

 

goofyfoot

Showing 9 responses by goofyfoot

@ghdprentice The store I’m referring to has been around for at least thirty five years now. They are a top selling Martin Logan dealer. Focal, Totem, Naim, Bryston, Rogue Audio, Rega, ClearAudio, Audioquest, Straightwire, Wireworld and others. I know they select certain products from the dealers they represent, they don’t showcase everything however they can order anything from those companies. Audio is a tough business.

The aforementioned independent store was a long time McIntosh dealer but dropped them. I guess they felt like McIntosh was going off the deep end with their prices and their silly products such as a turntable with a built in phono amp.

@waytoomuchstuff just to clarify, my friend did not ask me for advice on what brands to carry. Don't know how you got that notion.

Seems this conversation has taken a discursive direction, which is fine. Anyhow, I wanted to add that on most any post in these forums, people are jumping out of their skins to recommend their favorite brands and products. I just hope you feel the same here. Thanks!

@realgoodsound the dealer aforementioned does carry Cambridge Audio and Rega. When I asked about Cambridge Audio, the manager just slightly laughed and said it's directed towards a specific market. I guess that means directed towards the mass majority of whom really can't see spending $3,600.00 for an integrated amplifier.

@vdotman by the way, they carry both of those brands as well as Naim and Bryston. Thanks for chiming in!