Larry Fisher wrote: > > 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 waterLarry, Great job I think I see the "light". Lenny Childs RPT San Antonio, TX
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