How would you run an audio salon?

i would have a problem selling a product i don't personally like. i think it's a matter of integrity not to misrepresent your principles.

i think it's better to cater to yourself first and the customers, second. you will get more respect from people that way.

Following up on Dave B's comments, I think there has been some very interesting posts. If the average retailer followed a small percentage of them, he would do well. I tend to agree though, that starting a High End Audio salon is the first step to bankruptcy.

Blindjim, none of the above (no dog/happy marriage). Not critical either really, just reality! Any dealer is going to sell what he has to offer..Duh! I'd rather draw on a larger universe of possibilities for the customer. That being said, there is a very cool historic property for sale across the street from me...Hmmm, make a very nice high end salon:)

Since we're all dreaming here. If I was do something like setting up an Audio Salon, I would approach it more as a hobby, and not as something that my livelyhood and retirement would depend on. Basically it would be a retirement business, and would be geared more for social and music enjoyment than to make any kind of real money. IWO, if I could make it break even I would be happy. I would also specialize in used and vintage equipment with good reputations, and somewhat affordable in price. The market I would be after would be less the audiophile crowd, and more the crowd that enjoys music, and wants a good sounding system that's definely a cut above the "same old, same old" Mid-Fi offering but still falls within a Mid-Fi price range. And to do that I would probably have three or four systems put together at any given time that would not only be for sale, but also be systems that I personally could also enjoy. Of course, I would have various other components and speakers available for the music lover who might want to change a thing or two in the system to suit their particular music and listening needs. Of course, carrying used/vintage equipment would also mean that I would have to have the service available to keep these pieces running at their best. In addition I would probably would want to carry some CDs of independent, regional artists (emphasis on more acoustic based artists with genres being bluegrass, old-time, blues, folk and Celtic music) and every once in awhile maybe have some of these artist stop by for an in-store performance.

Good used/vintage equipmet with a good service department in a small college town with a good local arts community somewhere in wertern North Carolina or Virginia, and an appeal to the musicains and music lovers in that area could be a winning combination.

I saw this idea briefly mentioned in one of the mags but didn't feel it was amplified enough. I would try to cater to the ipod crowd. I'd write in HUGE graffitti-Crazy Eddie-like lettering; "Ipod users welcome!!! Come On In!!! Then hook up those suckas to these Sooloo/Voodoo systems (you know what I mean!;) and go from there. They'd be using their own 'pods and be listening to their own music! I Read that if you could convert as little as ONE percent (1%)of Ipod users it would be a HUGE jump/bump for the audiophile industry.