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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
bigkidz
3,395 posts
 

First, check to see if there are any audio clubs in your area.  You already know the competition.  Get to know some local audiophiles and see what they have interest in.  Will you offer repair and set-up of systems and equipment?  We recently placed our equipment in a well established audio business.  The place the speakers up against the wall and I was a little taken back by that.  Our components sounded fantastic but I asked why so close to the wall.  The response was that the wife usually does not want speakers half way out into the living room.  Our gear prices match the speakers and the streamer so that was a selling point.

You probably won't get rich in this business.  Plus a lot of well established manufacturers are possibly not on stable ground either.  If you are just looking to sell components, then I'd say no.  If you are going to offer real full services then you could be OK.

 

 

 

 

 

dokosan
61 posts
 

Wacky thought:  could it be mated to a coffee shop, rotate some gear and let patrons stream in coffee bar area.  Then a demo room or two. 

yyzsantabarbara
4,917 posts
 

@oberoniaomnia You are only an hour away from some of the best audio stores in the USA. 

bassbuyer
173 posts
 

Thanks for sharing your story.  I hope everything works out for you.  My suggestion with starting a business is to investigate the local market and see if there’s any interest.  Social media is a great tool if you don’t know a lot of the locals.  Best of luck!  

cfarrow's avatar
cfarrow
100 posts
 

I have a good friend of mine that’s had a in house retail business and online as well.  He switched from higher priced gear to lower mid-fi gear and has not seen any pickup from making the change.  He made an attempt to sell unique lower priced tube gear and hasn’t been successful at all with it.  You are talking about spending the money for a store, inventory to include demo and stock units, sounds difficult to me.  I have bought gear from my friend just to keep some cash flow coming his way, I just don’t see how you can compete with online retailers and the used market in this crazy economy that we are in. 

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