9 Strategies Every Music Stores Must Do To Be Successful

While the existence of music stores might not be something that is welcomed by all, it does provide a sense of pride and uniqueness to any city or town where they are located. If you own an existing store or are considering opening one in your area, here’s what you need to do:

Start with good location

The first thing that you must ask yourself when considering the viability of opening a music store is if there is a market for it in your area. In order for this business to succeed, you must have proper foot traffic so whatever you choose as your location must have enough people within walking distance from it. 

When selecting a place for your new store, look around and see how many shops and businesses there are nearby that are related to yours. Another thing that you must consider is the amount of foot traffic in your area, so opt for a place where people choose to stroll around rather than drive on by.

Believe in what you do

It’s not enough to just open up a shop and hope that customers will come rolling in  first, you need to believe so much in your store that every time someone passes by it or sees it, they know that this is a business run with passion. 

You have to be excited about music because if you’re not, then who would be? 

Most importantly, don’t forget to always keep an upbeat attitude about everything. Showing confidence even when times are tough is very important for this line of work.

Know your instruments

Knowledge is power so the more you know, the better. If you want to be successful in selling musical instruments, then you have to understand them first. You can take guidance from Instrument Insight to know more about the music instruments.

You need to know every kind of instrument from guitars, audio interfaces, to dj mixing boards, and drum machines!

Not only will this help customers trust you, but it will also allow you to recommend or suggest certain models if needed. You do not have to become an expert but it would help a lot if you give yourself enough time before opening day to familiarize yourself with some of your products if they are new.

Have proper training

Make sure that all of your employees are properly trained on how things are done inside the store  from helping customers choose the right instrument for them based on their skill level and music preference to providing after sale service should there be any issues occurring with the musical equipment. 

You should also provide training on how to correctly handle and store instruments so they will last for a long time. You don’t want something that is easily damaged due to your ignorance!

Be professional

Your store’s image is very important because it reflects who you are, what you do, and how successful you are. If it looks clean, organized, well lit, and inviting then people will know that this place is worth setting foot in. 

However, if it has an unkempt look or smells bad inside then expect potential customers to walk away without looking back. Make sure your music shop shines by keeping everything tidy at all times whether during business hours or not.

Be customer friendly

One of the best ways to keep customers coming back is by providing them with an unforgettable experience each time they enter your store. 

You can do this through offering them low prices, freebies like posters and guitar picks, or simply having items for sale that they want. Customer service is most important so make sure you learn how to effectively attend to their needs every time they come over.

Use social networking

The easiest way to spread word about your business these days is by using various kinds of social media outlets, especially Facebook and Twitter.

Post images, videos, and comments on what’s happening in your store as well as the sales that you’re currently offering  just don’t be too pushy with your ads or updates. 

You can also use these sites to broadcast any events that are being held at your place so it will be easier for potential customers to notice you.

Don’t just sell products, provide solutions

Think outside the box and offer services that other music shops do not have on their menu. For example, start off by offering free lessons which you can set up daily. 

This is a good strategy because you won’t have to pay someone else’s salary yet your store still benefits since musicians who are trying to improve their skills need guidance from professionals anyway.

 Offer guitar lessons, band coaching, practice room rentals, songwriting instruction, instrument repairs  make sure you are giving enough time studying the business market first before you start throwing in services willy nilly.

Keep track of your competition

Staying ahead of the game is not that difficult if you know what you’re doing. There are always evolving changes that come along in this business, but it’s up to you whether or not you want to take advantage of them.

Explore other music stores near your area and see what they are currently offering so you can use it as part of your marketing strategy (i.e., advertising similar products with lower prices). The only thing that matters is for your shop to stand out from the rest because customers want choices, not obligations!

Be a salesperson

Make sure you have a great personality because this is what will make people warm up to you and trust your abilities. No one wants to deal with a shopkeeper who acts like he/she doesn’t want their business, so practice making friendly conversations even if it makes you look totally stupid at first. Remember that good customer service comes from the heart, not from how much money you’re earning in each sale!

Provide training materials for customers

Instruments may look easy when someone is playing them well but remember that there’s an entire science behind the craft: skillful fingers combined with technical expertise add up to a fine performance which can only be achieved after years of time spent practicing alone. 

In this case, provide your customers with training materials so they can learn how to play on their own without having to come back to you every now and then. There are countless videos online which explains the basic techniques, but make sure you also demonstrate them yourself as well for better results!

Conclusion

Each and every one of these strategies should be implemented in order to make your store a success, but remember that quality is always better than quantity. 

Sometimes all it takes is a handful of people who trust you enough to do business with you instead of simply going for the cheapest option; this applies even if you’re dealing with items that are relatively inexpensive like guitar strings or guitar picks. You want customers to keep coming back for more so let them find what they need through your guidance first before making any bold statements about how great your shop can do without them!