Just a bit of research

[Jimothey]

I’m my area there is naff all in the way of music shops so I’m looking into the possibility in opening one 

I was wondering if everyone would mind answering a few questions?

1. Do you prefer buying from a music shop or online shop?

2. Do you prefer to try before you buy?

3. In your experience what is missing from most music stores you have visited?

4. How far would you travel to go to music shop

5. What would attract you to a music shop ie range, price etc

Thanks for any input 

 

[PawelG]

1. Buying online/second hand.

2. After a certain price point.

3. Interesting vintage gear.

4. 30-40 minutes.

5. Knowledgeable salesman that doesn’t want to sell you stuff.

[Mykesbass]

Been there, done that. Good luck...

Are you aware of the onerous demands that brands put on shops in the way of dealerships? That, and the margins that the big boys work on are probably the two biggest problems. 

Happy to talk by PM if you want more info.

[Cato]

Quote

 

1. Both have advantages/disadvantages.

The last 4 guitars/basses I've bought were purchased 'blind' from online retailers purely for the convinience. 3 of them were perfect, one of them, Squier VM70s Jazz had a faulty bridge pickup. Andertons exchanged it for anotjer bass within two days, delivering the new one when they picked up the old one.

2. Ideally I'd like to try before I buy, but I'm essentially a very lazy man, so despite living close to Birmingham and even closer to Bass Direct, so having access to to pretty much any make/model of guitar or bass I could wish for, I rarely bother.

I just figure if it has a Jazz neck (bass) or is a Telecaster, then I'll be fine with it. It's worked out fine so far.

3. Most music shops these days seem to stock a fairly limited number of brands and models.

4. I can't even be arsed to travel to Birmingham which is about 40 minutes away or Leamington Spa which is 20.

5. If there was a massive Aladin's cave type store like the old Musical Exchanges in Birmingham, where you genuinely never knew what gems they'd have in on any given day, then I'm sure I'd be much more likely to drop in on a casual basis.

But that shop was absolutely unique in my experience, I've never found it's equal.

[paul_c2]

I am probably the worst person to answer your questions, but I bought my first bass about 30 years ago and only recently bought another one. I loathe going to music shops and trying out instruments. Oh, and I also bought another amp recently, purely as a spare. But now I'm thinking of selling it again simply because it doesn't get used and is too heavy. When I bought the 2nd bass I did a fairly extensive search for one, with no success - they were either not in stock, or (secondhand) overinflated prices. In the end I took a chance and bought one online....from Japan (I am in the UK), obviously I didn't have a chance to try it out. I am completely uninterested in equipment and just like playing it, any bass really. And I have no illusion that a bass that "plays like butter" will inspire me to play better. Focused practicing will make me play better.

[TheGreek]

For me, and many others I suspect that the over-riding factor is cost. A shop can never compete with all the resources available on the internet.

I think the best person to answer the likelihood of your business being successful is Molan who is/was a part owner of BassGear. Despite having loads of high end gear they were forced to shut shop and trade exclusively inline. 

[Jimothey]

Thanks everyone for the advice and answers 

it’s only a idea that me and one of my mates have been mulling over we kinda had the idea of mostly selling secondhand/ commissions sales then we wouldn’t have to worry about the conditions imposed by the big two brands and new from the smaller manufacturers and selling accessories, Amps, pedals etc but also offer tuition, service/maintenance and repairs 

Obviously we would do online sales aswell 

Also luckily the area I live in the rent for shops is really cheap 

[ZilchWoolham]

1. If I can buy it in a shop I probably will, unless there's a big price difference. I'm incredibly impatient when waiting for deliveries. 

2. I do prefer it, but more often than not it's not an option. 

3. Vintage gear, lesser-known brands and a nice selection of strings. An awful lot of shops seem to be focused around the big brands, and entry level to mid-range gear, which I can't really fault them for too much since I'm assuming that's what keeps them afloat. It is very boring, though.

4. I've travelled 2½ hours by train for a guitar, and would probably do it again for the right item. I would only do this, though, if I could see the stock online, and make sure it's still there when I arrive.

5. A focus on vintage and unique gear. Ideally, I'd walk in and be greeted with old Wals, Hamers, Martins, Tokais and Acoustic 360/361 stacks! I'd also love to see more folk, historical and "world" instruments, but that might be a bit too niche to be financially sound, if you're not actually the Early Music Shop. Oh, and vintage synths, too!

 

Edited January 16, 2018 by ZilchWoolham

[LeftyJ]

Being a lefty, my answers may not be particularly helpful, being a minority and all, but here goes.

 

1. Do you prefer buying from a music shop or online shop?

I shop online for all my small accessories and tools and stuff like that. Nearly all my instruments were bought used, because music stores rarely stock anything of my interest (the odd black left handed Ibanez GSR or Squier), with a few exceptions. As much as I like to support local entrepeneurs, I'm not really attracted to any store where I'm done looking in 3 minutes because there's nothing I can play. One thing I do ocassionally buy new are amps and pedals, preferably at a store so I can test and compare.

2. Do you prefer to try before you buy?

Absolutely! 

3. In your experience what is missing from most music stores you have visited?

Lefties , proper testing facilities (a test cabin to try instruments and amps out without being bothered or bothering someone else), and variety of brands. In my area it's nearly all Fender and Ibanez and little else. And many stores in my area aren't exactly quick to respond to trends. When Sire was up and coming, for example, it appeared as if they were for sale exclusively at big mail order stores who could stock big. And I still haven't seen any in the wild in stores in my area. People were dying to try them out, but they had to be ordered from Thomann or Bax-Shop with the risk of having to return them. 

4. How far would you travel to go to music shop

I am willing to travel for up to two hours if a store has something I REALLY REALLY want. I've traveled for hours by train and by car to pick up special lefty basses I wanted. But that may have had something to do with rarity, being a lefty.

5. What would attract you to a music shop ie range, price etc

Atmosphere, specialty, expertise, range, certain brands.

[BigRedX]

9 hours ago, Jimothey said:

Thanks everyone for the advice and answers 

it’s only a idea that me and one of my mates have been mulling over we kinda had the idea of mostly selling secondhand/ commissions sales then we wouldn’t have to worry about the conditions imposed by the big two brands and new from the smaller manufacturers and selling accessories, Amps, pedals etc but also offer tuition, service/maintenance and repairs 

Obviously we would do online sales aswell 

Also luckily the area I live in the rent for shops is really cheap 

The question you need to ask yourself then is can I compete with eBay and the Basschat sales forum?

[silverfoxnik]

10 hours ago, Jimothey said:

I’m my area there is naff all in the way of music shops so I’m looking into the possibility in opening one 

I was wondering if everyone would mind answering a few questions?

1. Do you prefer buying from a music shop or online shop?

2. Do you prefer to try before you buy?

3. In your experience what is missing from most music stores you have visited?

4. How far would you travel to go to music shop

5. What would attract you to a music shop ie range, price etc

Thanks for any input 

 

Interesting questions..

1. I prefer to buy instruments from a person, whether that's in a music shop or from someone selling their own gear privately. 

2. Yes, most definitely, though my favourite bass that I have had for 14 years now was bought on EBay from a store in the USA.

3. Personality, variety, knowledge of and availability of more unusual, rare and vintage gear.

4. About an hour's drive I guess.

5. See No.3 above.

Hope that this exercise helps you and good luck! ☺

[Jimothey]

1 hour ago, BigRedX said:

The question you need to ask yourself then is can I compete with eBay and the Basschat sales forum?

As part of the online sales we would have a eBay shop aswell so we wouldn’t really be competing just using it as an extra selling tool

Probably wouldn’t be able to compete with Basschat sales forum but unless you know about it you wouldn’t know it’s here, I only found this forum because I searched a technical question and a thread came up with the answer 

I think that I really need to find a gap in the market but I’ve got a lot to think about

 

 

[SH73]

11 hours ago, Jimothey said:

I’m my area there is naff all in the way of music shops so I’m looking into the possibility in opening one 

I was wondering if everyone would mind answering a few questions?

1. Do you prefer buying from a music shop or online shop?

2. Do you prefer to try before you buy?

3. In your experience what is missing from most music stores you have visited?

4. How far would you travel to go to music shop

5. What would attract you to a music shop ie range, price etc

Thanks for any input 

 

1. From music shop however I have bought online before and they sent me the wrong colour.

2. Try before buy. But I bought before without trying due to good reviews

3.local shops struggle with space so it would be the big amps and cabs 

4. Depends in what it is and how bad and soon I want it

5. Guitar booths

 

I used to work and run a music shop in my early 20's and must say guitars and basses where the least sold items. It was more about violins brass instruments keyboards and various accessories to cater school kids and classical musicians. 

You might be struggling to compete with big boys and online retailers. 

[SpondonBassed]

13 hours ago, Jimothey said:

I’m my area there is naff all in the way of music shops so I’m looking into the possibility in opening one 

I was wondering if everyone would mind answering a few questions?

1. Do you prefer buying from a music shop or online shop?

2. Do you prefer to try before you buy?

3. In your experience what is missing from most music stores you have visited?

4. How far would you travel to go to music shop

5. What would attract you to a music shop ie range, price etc

Thanks for any input 

 

1. I still prefer to shop in real life from a physical outlet.  Could be from a private dwelling as well as a showroom.  Online listings are very useful but I am not comfortable with internet purchases unless from a major and trusted supplier.

2. Instruments, effects, amplifiers, yes.  Sundries, no.

3. A decent selection of strings.

4. Up to fifteen miles from home.

5. Assuming a range of basses already, good lighting and a selection of strings right off the shelf.

[fretmeister]

1. Do you prefer buying from a music shop or online shop?

Depends on the product. Pedals etc online. Basses over £1000 - in person, under £1000 I'll take a punt if the shop's reputation about returns is solid

 

2. Do you prefer to try before you buy?

Sometimes. 

 

3. In your experience what is missing from most music stores you have visited?

Educated staff and range of choice

 

4. How far would you travel to go to music shop

Chain - no more than an hour

Specialist - 2 hours.

 

5. What would attract you to a music shop ie range, price etc

Actually putting accurate weights for every instrument.

 

 

But in summary - don't do it. You can't compete with Thomann and Andertons and the like.

Andertons stock a million quid's worth of just Gibson to get bulk discounts. You won't beat them on Gibson and Fender prices.

You have even less hope on the "price is all that matters" products like strings and pedals - you are competing with Amazon as well as the online music giants for that.

 

Unless you can specialise to a massive degree (like Bass Direct for example) the day of the independent music shop, at least in modern electric instruments, is over. 

You might also want to look up stats on first year retail bankruptcies.

[SpondonBassed]

13 hours ago, TheGreek said:

For me, and many others I suspect that the over-riding factor is cost. A shop can never compete with all the resources available on the internet.

I think the best person to answer the likelihood of your business being successful is Molan who is/was a part owner of BassGear. Despite having loads of high end gear they were forced to shut shop and trade exclusively inline. 

I am one of those who doesn't mind paying a little more and buying from a real shop that you can actually take the goods back to if they are faulty or in need of maintenance.  I think you are right however, many customers are counting pennies.

The future of high street shopping is not certain.  We are still in a state of flux, the flexible and competitive nature of Internet sales being difficult to match.  Until there is stability it is hard to see what would secure the future for a business starting up with premises to maintain.

Are we really in a state of growth yet in the UK?  We've had some unconvincing attempts by some institutions to say that we are.  At the end of it the greatest rewards often come from trading in uncertain conditions to those who are nimble enough to adapt their businesses from day to day.  I don't think a pop-up-shop business model would work for a musical outlet starting up but it might be the answer to supplement an established premises's business.

[seashell]

1. Do you prefer buying from a music shop or online shop? - Shop

2. Do you prefer to try before you buy? - Yes

3. In your experience what is missing from most music stores you have visited?  - Bass music books that aren't for beginners or 'Rockschool'.  Half wound strings.  EUBs. 

4. How far would you travel to go to music shop - Up to an hour 

5. What would attract you to a music shop ie range, price etc  - Good range of instruments, amps and accessories (incl strings, gig bags, sheet music, stands etc).  Easy parking (not necessarily free, but within easy access).  I don't mind paying a bit extra for the convenience of actually being able to go to a shop in person and pay with a credit card. I hate the idea of paying by Paypal and then taking a day off work to  wait in all day for a broken bass to be left in my wheelie bin.  

[Nicko]

1. Do you prefer buying from a music shop or online shop?  Ideally I use a shop, but will do online if I can't find what I'm looking for "locally". I'm happy to buy thinks like strings online but even like to try effects pedals.

2. Do you prefer to try before you buy?  100%, but I've also been known to "showroom".  I only ever bought one guitar online, but tried it in a shop first (the shop didn't have the colour I wanted and couldn't commit to a delivery in a reasonable time). 

3. In your experience what is missing from most music stores you have visited? Range of stock.  Often I know roughly what I want but havent decided the exact model. 

4. How far would you travel to go to music shop.  About an hour but that gives me a massive choice of shops from my location (central London to about Guilford/Reading/Luton and all points between.

5. What would attract you to a music shop ie range, price etc Range, easo of transport (parking/public transport), knowledgeable staff.

[chris_b]

A brick and mortar shop will only stay in business if it is fronting a successful online shop.

[Frank Blank]

1. Do you prefer buying from a music shop or online shop?

I always buy from a music shop if I am buying an instrument or an amp. Accessories, strings etc. online.

2. Do you prefer to try before you buy?

If it’s an instrument or amp, yes.

3. In your experience what is missing from most music stores you have visited?

Staff that don’t play some virtuosic riff before they give you the guitar to try thus making you feel inadequate. I find saying “OK, f****** sling yer hook Satriani” usually does the trick. Seriously, patronising musos spoil the music shop experience, not so in my local store which means they get all my hard earned.

4. How far would you travel to go to music shop

If I want a particular item and it’s in a distant shop I go get it. I drove from Essex to Edinburgh once to try/buy a guitar.

5. What would attract you to a music shop ie range, price etc

It not being staffed by patronising musos who Make me go all finger breaky.

[EliasMooseblaster]

1. Do you prefer buying from a music shop or online shop?

Typically, a shop. I'm very much a try-before-you-buy type when it comes to guitars; in fact I don't think I've bought a bass from a shop or second-hand without going and trying it first. (I did buy a Telecaster without plugging it in and testing it fully, but that's only because it was more convenient to meet Rumple in a boozer halfway between both of us.) I think the main thing is being able to decide whether I like the individual instrument - there's always a risk that a duff one has slipped through QC and it's easier to be able to quibble that with people in the shop, and maybe try another one. Similarly if it's not well set up, a good shop can do some basic tweaking before you take it away. As chris_b rightly points out above, having a strong online presence is also essential these days - I will confess to having bought pedals online without trying them!

2. Do you prefer to try before you buy?

Yep! See above; I got a bit carried away with my first answer.

3. In your experience what is missing from most music stores you have visited?

If you have the space: booths with amps in, so that I can have a conversation with staff without having to shout over the kid who's been sitting there for an hour trying to nail a riff in front of his mates. Also, employees who don't automatically assume that any women who go into the shop must be in there to buy something for a man - I think this is on the wane but I still hear stories from friends now and again...

4. How far would you travel to go to music shop

London's a bit of an anomaly, because people will get a train in from miles away to visit Denmark Street, or the huge Galleries in Wembley. In terms of sheer bloody awkwardness and distance, I have, in years past, cadged a lift from Elephant & Castle to Guitar Village in Farnham and Anderton's in Guildford, if that helps!

5. What would attract you to a music shop ie range, price etc

A good range is always nice - obviously you'll need some standard gear for your bread and butter, but people are likely to come back if you can put a few rarities in the window. Also, onsite set-ups and repairs are a real boon - one of the things I like about Wunjo (Denmark St) is that they always offered a couple of years' free service, and they've always honoured that on the couple of occasions one of my basses or guitars has needed it.

[Roger2611]

17 hours ago, Jimothey said:

I’m my area there is naff all in the way of music shops so I’m looking into the possibility in opening one 

I was wondering if everyone would mind answering a few questions?

1. Do you prefer buying from a music shop or online shop?

2. Do you prefer to try before you buy?

3. In your experience what is missing from most music stores you have visited?

4. How far would you travel to go to music shop

5. What would attract you to a music shop ie range, price etc

Thanks for any input 

 

I would always choose a music shop over online if I can

I would always prefer to try before I buy, if I can

I want to be able to drop in, have a natter and possibly a cup of tea, have a play with stuff that takes my fancy without an expectation to purchase, I want to feel that I am not just being sold to....if that makes sense.

Hell, if you can offer the above plus a decent range of new and used gear, distance is not an issue, I will come and take a holiday near you so I can drop in!

All of the above is what attracts me to a music shop!

 

Go for it!

[Grangur]

1. Do you prefer buying from a music shop or online shop? The "shopping experience" is better in a shop, but the prices are lower online.

2. Do you prefer to try before you buy?    Ideally yes. I normally buy used instruments, so this isn't always going to be possible.

3. In your experience what is missing from most music stores you have visited?  Choice. They can't carry the range as the cost of holding all the instruments for punters to come and ding them is prohibitive.

4. How far would you travel to go to music shop?        30 miles isn't silly. It's more a question of travel time and "can you park, when you get there?"

5. What would attract you to a music shop ie range, price etc -  Hmmm... tough. I've been a shop owner. (I was in the Video Games business) Thomman, GAK etc already have you beaten. The problem you're going to have is that to get the good prices from suppliers, you need high sales volumes. You won't have the sales volumes, so you'll pay more. You might even find  you can buy cheaper from Thomman than you can from the supplier! 

 

Important: Take a look around at all the shops that have closed. Ask yourself 2 questions:

1 - Why didn't it work for them? What did they do that was wrong that made them fail.

2 - How can I run my shop where that can't happen to me?

If you can't answer these questions and come up with a really ground-breaking answer, then put your money in investments. Don't open a shop in your own town just because it's what you fancy doing. Open up in the right place, because the market *wants* as shop.

Good luck Bro. I hope you do well, whatever you do.

[Skol303]

18 hours ago, Jimothey said:

I’m my area there is naff all in the way of music shops so I’m looking into the possibility in opening one 

Don't mean to sound like a jerk, but there might be good economic reason why there are no music shops in your area (i.e. insufficient demand for one). I say this as someone who's run a small business for 15+ years; though admittedly nothing to do with musical instruments... I wish!

But anyway. In response:

1. I buy nearly everything online because it's generally cheaper and certainly more convenient.

2. I rarely need to try before I buy; most online retailers I use have a 14-day no quibble returns policy should I not like my purchase.

3. My most stores I visit these days (which is a rarity) feel like a) jumble sales or b) fly-traps for people who don't realise they're being fleeced. I don't tend to come away thinking that anything is missing from the stores themselves.

4. I generally only browse shops close to me at work (e.g. occasional trips to shops in the city centre if my lunch break brings me close by) or when visiting new places with work, mostly out of curiosity. So that'd be a radius of less than a mile from where I happen to be.

5. Possibly a special event at which I had opportunity to see a famous player perform... or a closing down sale  

[SubsonicSimpleton]

1. Do you prefer buying from a music shop or online shop?

    Sundries online(wider variety and better prices), instruments/amps in person

2. Do you prefer to try before you buy?

    definately if possible

3. In your experience what is missing from most music stores you have visited?

     staff with a clue primarily in the larger stores, while I would love to see a more interesting range of instruments/amps in stock, the old pre-internet days ain't coming back anytime soon and the local independants near me who mainly sell used gear all complain about how difficult it is to buy stock in nowadays.

4. How far would you travel to go to music shop

   depends how much I'm spending - bigger the pricetag, the farther I'm willing to travel

5. What would attract you to a music shop ie range, price etc

  quality of service, interesting stock, interesting characters, decent banter - unfortunately having all those things doesn't automatically translate to sales

 

There are a few small independants still operating in this neck of the woods, but they have had to branch out to survive, the rehearsal places have also diversified, so now they are competing with each other in terms of offering on site lessons, repairs and sale of sundries. I went in to Northern Guitars(very long running used music eqpt independant) in Leeds a couple of weeks ago and they've gone from two floors of used instrument/amp retail to one floor of retail and converted the ground floor into a bar  - directly monetising the social hub aspect with food and drink sales seems like a smart move.