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!
Nothing that could simply be bought factory direct or from companies that occasionally offer steep discounts. That would be a mistake from a biz standpoint. If making money is the goal, I would think the following might be wise choices: McIntosh B&W Audio Note Harbeth Rega Marantz Pass Labs VPI Hana Bel Canto Sonus Faber Gryphon
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@inna Easy for you to say. Suppose the dealer would like to stay in business for more than, say, three months. He needs to carry some of the better, "mass-market" brands in order to build cashflow through sales of reasonably priced systems. It's obvious to me that money is no matter to you, but to most people, especially the younger ones we need to attract to the hobby (and it is a hobby or should be - not some search for "perfection"), a store needs to offer equipment those people can afford. What's so wrong with Rotel, Rega, Music Hall, Denon, Marantz and other brands in that price range if it gets a person excited about what music sounds like through a decent setup? Quit being such a purist and re-enter the real world, please. |
@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. |
