General Music Chat

Just don't be coming on here SPAMMING us. You've seen how we treat SPAMMERS!!!
Just kidding, man. Hope it all works out. Bob mentioned not joining a Chamber of Commerce, and I understand what he's saying in most cases, but if you're going to have some different size PA's for rent, you might want to join just to get some extra business out of the Chamber. You can get a small PA (powered head, two small speaker cabs on pole mounts, wireless mics, CD player, and various cables for hooking up laptops and stuff for presentations) for about 3 or 4 hundred bucks and charge $100 or $200 a pop and have it paid for and making money in no time. Being part of the Chamber would certainly help in a case like that. Just an idea.

the YMCA is always looking for people to do piano lessons and guitar lessons. I hope to cordinate stuff like that. And yeah You got a good point.
yeah salem is a capitol sity so there are plenty of chances to rent out to governemt or private business. Planning on getting a company vehicle too so we can charge a bit more for delievry and set up and even running the sound and all.

After all a music store is an audio provider. So we might as well provide to the max. How hard is it to find a good Luthier, and brass/woodwind repairman for hire?

dang it, that place fell apart. I have to look for a new place now.

Thanks for the info Bob,
ill be sure to look those books up.
What is the business you own?

And yeah madmx, I dont see why I couldnt help those who've helped me. Unless the product is just bad. But I dont think we have any bad musicians on here.

And thanks ZXYZ, what makes you so sure though?

I have owned a wood restoration business for over 18 years. I originally bought a franchise then went on my own as of last October. I also am an independent distributor for Fuller Brush (I use some of their products in my wood restoration service). Cost effective marketing is the key to your success. Part of marketing success is customer service. You can advertise a business like crazy but if the service and products you market suck you will go out of business quick. Make sure all the employees who end up working for you know everything there is to know about your business. Part of your image is how your employees dress. I would REQUIRE them to wear the same shirt with your logo on it. If I go into a retail store I appreciate being able to immediately tell who works there. If nothing else require every employee to wear name tags (with your logo). Also I appreciate when somebody who works at a store IMMEDIATELY asks me if I need any help. How many times have you gone into a store and NOBODY is there to help you or NOBODY knows where anything is, or NOBODY knows what services are offered there. Personally I can't stand Home Depot. If I have to find something nobody seems to know exactly where to find it. I prefer to do my hardware shopping at the smaller local hardware stores where the level of service is higher. I don't care if the items are more expensive. It's worth it to me to get the best product knowledge and advice. Make sure that your in-store signage is very clear and if you have a sale for example have it VERY CLEARLY indicated by good signage. You want to SELL and when somebody is in your store you want to SERVICE them and TELL them what you have to offer. Sometimes these things are obvious but I'm amazed how many businesses ignore the obvious.

Well, if you're gonna sell Fenders or Gibsons, expect to spend one helluva lot of $ just to start up! My bud Dddonnie had a store, &, as I recall, Fender requires that you shell out $10K for your 1st order! I think Gibson is even higher! They have quotas for yearly sales, I do believe. You'll need strict humidity & temp controls in your building. I think they also may have other requirements concerning repairs, but I don't recall specifics. Hearing about this stuff really surprized me, & I'm not 100% sure of the details, but it's along these lines, AV.

Seems like they just don't care about doing biz with smaller stores.

Your initial stocking outlay could be well into the many tens of thousands, unless you get your stock from outfits like Musicians Friend, which is something that Dddonnie did.

Just something else to consider, when it comes to starting up a music store...

Well, if you're gonna sell Fenders or Gibsons, expect to spend one helluva lot of $ just to start up! My bud Dddonnie had a store, &, as I recall, Fender requires that you shell out $10K for your 1st order! I think Gibson is even higher! They also have quotas for yearly sales, I do believe.

Seems like they just don't care about doing biz with smaller stores.

Your initial stocking outlay could be well into the tens of thousands, unless you get your stock from outfits like Musicians Friend, which is something that Dddonnie did.

Just sopmething else to consider...

ill have to wait on that idea. The place I was looking at buying has to be demo'ed for safety reasons. of course the agent was hiding that from me.
The next place have moderate fire damage, but they want too much for it in its condition. Im looking at a sub and deli bar, gonna add a coffee bar in it if I can get this one. Except this business is workable, and cost quite a bit, Ill need a loan, but the seller is willing to show me the sales from the last few years and give me a walk through of what they did.
Reason for selling: Their old and retiring, but happy to help!
I like the vib on this one even if its not in the field I wanted.

You're a better man than I, Gunga Din! I would NEVER go back into restaurant mgmt. Talk about HOURS! Too many prob's to deal with - ppl not showing up for work or taking their job seriously, Health Dept inspections, constant equipment prob's, etc, not to mention customers...EW!

Good luck!

You're a better man than I, Gunga Din! I would NEVER go back into restaurant mgmt. Talk about HOURS! Too many prob's to deal with - ppl not showing up for work or taking their job seriously, Health Dept inspections, constant equipment prob's, etc, not to mention customers...EW!

Good luck!

Yeah I used to work in a food store so I know what to expect.
plus I know most of OSHA regs by heart now. Im not final yet just tossing ideas around. I still havent got any info on this place.
im kinda pissed that the other place isnt going to be around much longer it was a nice building.

Viking,

Ive started quite a few business's over the years. Some worked and some didnt. My advice to you would be to decide on what business you want to run and have some sort of passion for. If you are just looking for any business to buy and run, then I would go to work for someone else. Its easier and you will probably clear more money than owning your own business.

Jimmy stated it earlier in this post that you can expect long hours, particulary in the food business. If you hire folks and they dont show up, guess who fills the shift.

I wish you luck, but I encourage you to figure out a business that you really can commit to and run over the long term. Ive gone for monthes without a paycheck at times in some of my business's. Unlike anything else youve done, if you own it then the buck stops with you.

As I said Good Luck.

Viking,

Ive started quite a few business's over the years. Some worked and some didnt. My advice to you would be to decide on what business you want to run and have some sort of passion for. If you are just looking for any business to buy and run, then I would go to work for someone else. Its easier and you will probably clear more money than owning your own business.

Jimmy stated it earlier in this post that you can expect long hours, particulary in the food business. If you hire folks and they dont show up, guess who fills the shift.

I wish you luck, but I encourage you to figure out a business that you really can commit to and run over the long term. Ive gone for monthes without a paycheck at times in some of my business's. Unlike anything else youve done, if you own it then the buck stops with you.

As I said Good Luck.

ah thanks for that jw, but all the deals fell through, on my part not theres.
I either didnt like what they had or didnt like the offer.