How would you run an audio salon?

Dave
Just as soon as the $$$ is in place, a location is found, (I'm thinking by the MLB OR nhl teams' digs... they have the longest season)and merchandise is lined up... also, given all the input here I think we ought to have a car audio salon, car wash & detail immediately adjacent (and run strickly by great looking and scantily clad gals and MAYBE ONE guy... women spend money too), and a pool hall upstairs... just to be on the safe side.

ps... if the pool hall doesn't prove out, we can put a firing range and sell guns... with high end conditioners, er, uh, that's silencers, in lay terms.

car wash & detail immediately adjacent (and run strickly by great looking and scantily clad gals

That will scare all the audiophiles customers away! Are you crazy?

You need a dingy, poky place, cluttered with vinyl and CD's and gear strewn about everywhere - that is how you get the right kind of customers. The ones that return time and time again and hang around your store for hours, agonizing over all the upgrades, latest models, oxygen free cables, interconnects, cleaning fluid or anti-static devices. You know - the kind of guys who can't ever make up their mind and stick with something - those who are always down in the basement tweaking gear - the kind that are always extremely insecure and scared of talking to beautiful girls...and a commitment. The kind of guys who associate "fluid" with "meticulously cleaning their vinyl" (not bodily fluids)and "contact" as something between a cable and an amp (not two people).... guys whose idea of "a weekend of adventure" is a replacing an interconnect...

Anyone starting an audio store needs to read this book first!

I am lucky enough to have 2 local hi-end stores. Both are very good. One specializes in HT installs but has a thriving business in Hi-end. Everything from Pass Labs and Mac on down to some NAD and Cambridge Audio. I nearly bought a McCormack DNA from these guys.
The other store has about 7 or 8 listening areas and easily 7 digits in inventory. I bought my Maggies from them...he went in back and dollied them out, after a good Demo with the same amp as I use at home.
I've always been treated well and been left alone to listen or kept company to chat, no problem.
What's the problem?
Yeah, hi-end sure looks like a fine way to go broke. I would think the path to success would be a combination of lots of ingredients.
background in both hi-end and sales experience. Deep pockets, great location and a good network of friends to get things moving. Keep it professional. I would suspect that a being a good judge of character is important, too, to choose sales and service help.
Don't expect to get rich...quick or otherwise.

I think a good place to start trying a business in audio would begin with www.

Shadorne

very good.... Nuts? Most likely. It did seem a good plan at the time though. Maybe then, just the pool hall.