Boogie Man 1 – the internet
For years, brick and mortar music stores have had to deal with the customer who comes in, shops around, finds something he’s interested in, takes pictures with his phone, and goes to the coffee house to research the best deal on the net for that item. OK, it’s now a legitimate shopping technique – if your only objective is price!
Quality is another question altogether. Many types of shady characters are out there, making copy-cat items with similar logos, similar names, similar shapes, out of inferior materials, maybe made in places where there are no restrictions on child labor, or who even use “slave” labor.
Even if this shopping technique is about getting the original item for a better price, the local store is defeated two ways – once by not getting the sale, and the next by having to spend the money to stock the item without a sale.
Boogie Man 2 – marketplace changes
In another blow, the local store must deal with the increasing frequency of:
- shoplifting
- increased insurance to cover scammers, including ‘slip-and-fall’ lawsuits
- civil unrest
- higher demand from suppliers on initial orders (at least one supplier is demanding a second mortgage on the dealer’s house to cover the opening order which makes the a dealer an ‘authorized’ seller of that line)
- manufacturer consolidation – as the general economy continues to deteriorate, selling competing brands A and B becomes meaningless, as the two consolidate and begin making AB units in the same factory – thus reducing choices for the consumer, and laying off dozens of workers at the factory that was closed
- music lessons at the store, a major source of consumer traffic, shrinks as more and more lessons are being taught on the net
So you can see that the local brick and mortar music store appears in danger. The pace of change brought about by the wildly changing use of the net, and by major changes in consumer behavior are becoming a real threat to an institution that’s been around the American marketplace for over 100 years.
Please, support your local music store!
– your comments are welcome!
Hi, Cheryl, and thanks for your comments! Music affects us all, and more so as a participant. There are a lot more 80-year-old musicians than 80-year-old football players. So glad to know your son continues participating in music. I appreciate the encouragement.
Thanks, Simlulan! The difference between music stores and other brick-and-mortar retail outlets is, indeed, that music is a part of any culture. Here in the USA, music stores have been the center of private music lessons, which then foster an understanding of our culture and help to bring that understanding to the next generation. I appreciate your comments!
I agree with your point of view. In fact, it is not just the music stores, but it also applies to the other brick-and-mortar shops. It is really quite difficult for these store owners to set up such traditional shop houses these days as the rental costs can be quite high apart from the frequent crime rate occurring in the store. I do agree with you that we should really patronize the local music store as we do not wish such shop houses disappearing in front of us. In a way, we are also preserving the culture.
Hello Barry
I think you are on the right track. Keep following the learning modules and do as instructed.
Your about me page adds creditability to your site, showing your experience and expertise on the subject of music/instruments, and the music industry. I agree that music is important and that we as a community should support the music industry.
My son was in the band since 4th grade also, and it helped improve his grades, his focus, and today as a college freshman the still writes music, sings, and plays guitar, percussion (studies percussion in band), played bass drums, etc. Keep up the good work.
Cheryl C