Leading the Charge through the Ever Changing Industry Landscape
Catching up with George Hines is not for the faint of heart. He’s not just busy running his 10-store MI chain, but also an active leader in the Alliance of Independent Music Merchants (AIMM). He’s traveling not just because he gives presentations and seminars on the art and science of doing business, it’s that he’s also attending sessions himself.
Under the backdrop of an economy in turmoil, billions of dollars in bailouts being bandied about, and the nation’s leadership due for an overhaul, the Percussive Arts Society’s annual International Convention proceeded with remarkable success. The turnout of over 6,500 at the Austin, Texas show represented the third highest attendance in PASIC’s 32-year history.
Social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook are seemingly increasingly used for more than pure social networking. Many MI manufacturers and suppliers are using these forums to connect with musicians, show off products, promote their roster of artists, and more. MMR conducted this exclusive survey and the response was overwhelming. With two-thirds of those surveyed saying they have a MySpace page, and another third saying they will have one soon or eventually, it appears that social networking has been deemed an important tool for those who make and distribute MI products.
Okays New Devices Which May Negatively Impact Wireless Mics, Guitars
While the rest of the country was going to the polls on November 4th to vote in the general election, members of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) cast a much less publicized vote of a quieter sort, one that could have far-reaching affect on the MI industry.
MI Retailers Turn to the Internet to Build a Community
Everyone in retailing knows that the number one most-effective way to get new customers is through “word of mouth.” The simple act of one friend telling another, “Man, I got a great guitar at Jack’s Guitar Shack, you gotta go check the place out,” is the gold standard for growing a business.
