I am curious if you guys buy anything from guitar shops other than strings and picks, etc.? The reason I ask is that it seems like you can get everything via a website like this or a catalog company for a discount. I've thought about opening a music store before, but between the internet, catalog companies, and mega stores like Mars, I really question if a small personalized store would find an clientele. If people are like me, you'll go into the store to try something out and then order it somewhere else for cheaper. What are you thoughts? Thanks.

I worked in a retail music store for a couple of years in the late 80's. It's almost impossible to compete with the big guys unless you specialize in something they don't like Toyz does here or a used/vintage type thing.

Here's the deal, the more product you buy the better price you get so the cheaper you can sell it. So how is a small Mom & Pop shop going to be able to compete with Guitar Center? They can buy so much product and spread it around the different stores that there is no way you can match their prices let alone beat them.

Now with online ordering they don't even have to put stuff in the store, just keep it in a warehouse and ship it out. No sales people, retail space lease etc...

Sure people still want to try things out but even back then I can't tell you how many times customers would come in and check something out then go order it from the catalog to save $50. Dealing with Musicians just plain sucks for more reason's than I can fit here.

Don't even think about it. Open a smoothie shop or something instead. At least that way you will see a cute girl everynow and then.

Oh, I should mention that the owner of the store that I worked for was a millionare (his father purchased FM bandwidth in LA right after WWII and sold the freqs for a fortune!) but he still died of a heart attack from too much stress from running 2 small stores.

[This message has been edited by whitey (edited 01-09-2002).]

I buy from a small shop all the time . Truetone Music in Santa Monica . The coolest store in L.A. They'll match the " toys " price most of the time , they get most all the boutique gear , knowledgable staff , all the pros hang there and you don't have to wait a week to get your stuff . The guys who opened this place did it because they love it - not really the money . Because of their dedication they've become sucessful . I say , " open a store " . Carry the cool shit and at least price it competitively and the players will come .

I'm done with Guitar Center and Mars. I'm not much interested in being treated like a sheep. I could rant n' rave but I won't.

I deal with Atlanta Discount Music, Atlanta Music Brokers, and Music Toyz.com. I try to divide my purchases between them and maintain a rapport. These guys are players, offer cutting edge (not just run of the mill, garden variety) products, know what's up, and only sell me what I want. Bookkeepers may not be interested in that stuff but I sure am. Most pros, semi-pros, and serious players that I know in town don't shop that much at GC or Mars.

Last time I was at Mars, I went to the guitar accessories counter and asked the guy about some Tele replacement knobs. "Waddaya mean by Tele?", he asked. Uhhh, no thanks.

Businesses survive because they find a niche in the marketplace. They provide some product or service 'want' or 'need' that otherwise wasn't being met. (actually, Marketing can create 'wants' that people didn't previously even have!), or in a new or better way. I guess you want a music store so you can be your own boss and hang out with guitars, music equipment and musicians all day. Be part of the industry and even scene. I can understand that - a lot of us have probably had similar thoughts.

Well, that's how opening a music store would serve YOUR needs, but how will it serve OTHER people's needs? At a profit. Before you sink your blood (money, time), sweat(work) and tears (emotional investment) in this life changing endeavor, make sure you know where you'll stand and how you'll compete in the marketplace.

This isn't as hopeless as it possibly sounds. For example, the first three rules of retail are location, location and location. I often read posts on the internet complaining that their local stores don't carry the boutique equipment that they're reading about. This guy has a 'want' aching to be served. But how many other guys near him feel the same way? Can you create a market (workshops, demos, gigging with stuff, starting a local forum?). How WILL you stop the customers (or a big enough percentage of them) from trying out your stuff than buying it cheaper online? If you feel that way, so do others! Don't bemoan it as evil, recognize it as one part of human nature and have a plan to deal with it or even use it to your advantage. Also, remember, there's lot's of other needs people have in addition to price (which, like others said, would be a hard area for you to compete in). Why don't YOU always buy on line?

These are questions to have thought about and answered before applying for a business loan, let alone actually opening up a shop full of dusty equipment that nobody is purchasing and a bored employee you're paying by the hour.

If you have (or start to get)some ideas and feel the enthusiasm building to implement them - go for it!

I do.