Sherman Clay, industry, mild scolding

[Larry Fisher]

The collective stories I've got on this end are that Tom Austin, a higher up
in the SC chain of command, and two others are looking into purchasing 4
remaining stores [Seattle (Bellingham), Portland, OR., Frisco, and one
other] as an investment group.  I think the 'ol shark himself, Moe Unis is
one of the prospective investors.

LA no longer has a SC store.

Eugene, OR a satelite of Portland will be having a big blow out sale with
two big truck loads of pianos from who knows where, and then close.  The
remaining inventory goes to Portland, OR.

The SC chain was at one time quite huge, as were many other such chains
(Western Piano, Wells Music, Jordan Kits, Les Jorgansen, and a big FAT guy
outa Omaha, etc) around the country.  Pianos aren't at the level of
importance in the home that they used to be.  Manufacturers have downsized
or gone out of the business, (RIP Kimball, Aeolian, Falcone, etc) and so
naturally the dealers will follow.  To blame it on politics is a bit short
sighted in my opinion.  This trend has been moving in this direction for
many years.  The dealers that only sell will be suffering the most, if not
already.  Dealers that have service to bolster their bottom line will fare
better but will still be needing to trim the fat.  That means that satelite
stores will become rare, dealer techs will continue to be paid poorly,
commisions on sales will increasingly become smaller, and piano delivery
crews will be comprised of sales and service personel, all to help keep
overhead down, and profits up to support a generally failing industry and
keep the doors open another month.

I strongly suggest that all techs diversify.  If you're an independant,
service as many dealers as you can get away with.  The dealer you're
presently servicing may not like it, but then most dealers don't just sell
one brand either.  Why should you service just one dealer?   Putting all
your eggs in one dealer's basket is asking for trouble.  The techs that have
relied on the conglomerate of SC all these years are now finding out what
it's like servicing only one dealer.  I don't particularily get along too
well with the local SC dealer, I think simply because I refuse to give them
exclusive support.

Learn more about the trade, expand your expertise, become proficient at more
than just a small handful of aspects of the trade.  The trade as a whole is
going to see some increasingly tough times ahead.  We could lobby like the
fishing, mining, farming and  lumber industry does and whine to the
government for subsidies I guess.........  NOT!!

If you don't already service a dealer, I suggest you talk to one.  Without
dealers we don't have product in the home.  Yes there's plenty of them out
there already, but we need to have more product off the sales floor and in
the home.  Support you local dealer somehow.  Be present during a special
event like a store sposored concert or sales event.  Help with a delivery or
two.  Be present on the sales floor to help during high customer traffic
hours.  If you can't sell the product, mayhaps you could at least keep the
customer's attention and interest without botching the saleperson's job
until the salestaff can get to them.  All this at the dealer's acceptance
and guidance of course.

Some local techs provide a short demo on the piano and it's parts, for free
to piano teachers' groups and schools (science and music classes).  This
raises awareness and although it maybe doesn't  generate immediate responses
and fill your bank account, it will leave impressions on people and have
long range effects on everything in the industry........ all to everyone's
advantage.  One dealer calls it beating the bushes.

Expanding your market area to surrounding communities can be very expensive.
Do so ever so carefully.  After servicing a cultural void, the armpit of
piano ownership, and my biggest career challenge ever, THE GREAT STATE OF
WYOMING, I can speak with authority on traveling and tuning.  It was fun
while I was young, now it sucks heavily.

Finally, a participant or two of this list have found it neccessary to post
snippy remarks about my posts and perhaps other posts.  Posting snippy
remarks of this nature, scoffing "publicly", on such a "billboard" forum are
self supporting.  I try to make my posts somewhat enjoyable to read as well
as be informative.  It's adds moisture to a very dry subject and can be
mildly entertaining which is in keeping with the big picture of our
trade........ entertainment.  If any of you have a problem with my posts or
anyone else's, (as some of you have) be considerate of everyone involved and
email me/them privately, (as some of you have) and resolve your needs away
from the blaring blazing marching band anouncement to the entire list.  We
may have to meet in person some day ............

If you'll now turn to hymn 226 we'll all stand and sing ..................

Lar


                                                    Larry Fisher RPT
                specialist in players, retrofits, and other complicated stuff
                       phone 360-256-2999 or email larryf@pacifier.com
         http://www.pacifier.com/~larryf/homepage.html (revised 9/96)
                         Beau Dahnker pianos work best under water