MMR’s annual dealer count produced a modest gain of 91 storefronts, bringing the overall number to 8,084. While that tally is significantly less than the 10,000 units reported when the first Profile report was launched 21 years ago, the approximate 8,000 count has remained steady for the past decade.
“For the local MI retailer, the first task is to get people to walk in the door,” Ralph Wilson says. “The second is to keep them walking through the door.” While the Internet is “world-wide,” the local retailer needs to focus on his or her neighborhood. “You don’t have to market yourself nationally – the Guitar Centers of the world are doing a good job of that.”
“Hi neighbors. Like so many of you we took a hard hit from Katrina and survived…”
So states the website of Allied Music, one of the area’s MI stores most affected by the hurricane that hit the Crescent City on August 23, 2005. Six years after Katrina, the recovery process continues. And along the way? There were a few other challenges thrown into the mix…
Though the weather was dismal (nonstop rain, very windy, and hovering in the 40s and low 50s the whole weekend – thanks for the head cold, Toronto!) and numerous road closings (two major marathons in the metro area) gummed up traffic significantly, there was a decent amount of activity and generally positive attitudes were on display at the 2011 Music Industries Association of Canada/Pro Audio and Lighting (MIAC/PAL) Trade Show.
