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Vintage threads from the first ten years

previous: Matt Re: Why I haven't gone into the boutique business -- 4/16/2003 6:58 PM

large scale production, the right niche, and the value

4/20/2003 8:38 AM
nic	large scale production, the right niche, and the value First I wanna say, Gosh it is great to read the wisdom of old school ampagers like Mr. RG Keen again! You go to any Guitar Center and they will tell you that they do not stock zvex (for example) based on the simple fact that the volume doesn't meet their buying power. This may be true, it could be partially true? If you break it down and think about it all big sellers want are cheapo shit, from the pink Strats that GC bought from Fender and resold cheap in the '70's to the Danelectro reissues of the late '90's. Strange yet desireable items like a Fender Blender will sit on their rack for months. Their guys don't know how to sell them, they aren't paid to know how to sell them. They are paid to sell things that sell themselves, Line6. On that note, with any business it is important to find the right niche. In my town the one store that know's their niche is Emerald City guitars. It is a boutique retailer, but many more famous people visit Jay before the GC simply because his selection is unique, AND he sells things. The only other place in town that has an interesting selection WILL NOT budge on prices and attempt to play the GC game and that is ironically called the "Trading Musician". I don't know which consumers they prey on in order to stay in business, but they have been sitting on the same inventory for the past 5 years I have lived here. Or so it seems. A person that I know who can contribute to this very topic is Mr. Vex himself. If you wanna distribute your product to stores, you gotta know the clientel of each store. Ultimately, not EVERY guitar player has internet access. Some of our friends have found fantastic niches online, Steve of Small Bear, Joe of NIN, and our friend from musictoyz.com. How likely is the cheapest store front for everyone? My website and business only gets hits when I ACTIVELY mention it and pursue the thing. I am sure Mr. Keen could do a nice business for himself if he did not have responsibilities like a family to provide for. He'd probably make as much as any pizza delivery guy, which would be fine for a bachelor... BTW, I paid my rent the one and only month I ACTIVELY pursued my website, just about one year ago today. I spent a lot of time on it and in the long run lost a long term girlfriend over it. What is it worth? Besides your investors and partners it is important to realize what time you have for business vs. your loved ones. Many of the entrepenuers of America have been young AND single from the freedom fry master Simplot to the OS baron Bill Gates. Good luck! I remain single to this day in pursuit of the "right niche". nic

4/20/2003 8:38 AM

nic

large scale production, the right niche, and the value

First I wanna say, Gosh it is great to read the wisdom of old school ampagers like Mr. RG Keen again!

You go to any Guitar Center and they will tell you that they do not stock zvex (for example) based on the simple fact that the volume doesn't meet their buying power. This may be true, it could be partially true?

If you break it down and think about it all big sellers want are cheapo shit, from the pink Strats that GC bought from Fender and resold cheap in the '70's to the Danelectro reissues of the late '90's. Strange yet desireable items like a Fender Blender will sit on their rack for months. Their guys don't know how to sell them, they aren't paid to know how to sell them. They are paid to sell things that sell themselves, Line6.

On that note, with any business it is important to find the right niche. In my town the one store that know's their niche is Emerald City guitars. It is a boutique retailer, but many more famous people visit Jay before the GC simply because his selection is unique, AND he sells things. The only other place in town that has an interesting selection WILL NOT budge on prices and attempt to play the GC game and that is ironically called the "Trading Musician". I don't know which consumers they prey on in order to stay in business, but they have been sitting on the same inventory for the past 5 years I have lived here. Or so it seems.

A person that I know who can contribute to this very topic is Mr. Vex himself. If you wanna distribute your product to stores, you gotta know the clientel of each store. Ultimately, not EVERY guitar player has internet access. Some of our friends have found fantastic niches online, Steve of Small Bear, Joe of NIN, and our friend from musictoyz.com. How likely is the cheapest store front for everyone? My website and business only gets hits when I ACTIVELY mention it and pursue the thing.

I am sure Mr. Keen could do a nice business for himself if he did not have responsibilities like a family to provide for. He'd probably make as much as any pizza delivery guy, which would be fine for a bachelor...

BTW, I paid my rent the one and only month I ACTIVELY pursued my website, just about one year ago today. I spent a lot of time on it and in the long run lost a long term girlfriend over it. What is it worth? Besides your investors and partners it is important to realize what time you have for business vs. your loved ones. Many of the entrepenuers of America have been young AND single from the freedom fry master Simplot to the OS baron Bill Gates. Good luck! I remain single to this day in pursuit of the "right niche".

nic