Re: Pro Audio Sales
Rent an empty store front. Put up a big sign that says "CUSTOMER SERVICE". Sell to whoever comes in the door.
Rent an empty store front. Put up a big sign that says "CUSTOMER SERVICE". Sell to whoever comes in the door.
Rent an empty store front. Put up a big sign that says "CUSTOMER SERVICE". Sell to whoever comes in the door.
Your writing style and comments you have made suggest that you are a young person (which is great, by the way). The knowledge, experience, relationships, and capital required to become a partner that customers would find you worth doing business with, is a few years in your future; particularly for expensive and service-requiring equipment like mid to high-end consoles.I haven't figure out how to get them, so the "my customers" thing is loosely based. And I probably made it sound like I just want their money, but in reality another big part is the relationship part. The fact that they feel comfortable with me and can come to me about problems they have or what their needs are without me saying "Oh yeah you need a Clair rig and an XL8 for that." When they only need a Pro1 and a few EV XLD's.
Your writing style and comments you have made suggest that you are a young person (which is great, by the way). The knowledge, experience, relationships, and capital required to become a partner that customers would find you worth doing business with, is a few years in your future; particularly for expensive and service-requiring equipment like mid to high-end consoles.
I purchased a new system earlier this year from a local production/sales company - mid $xx,xxx range. I know approximately the markup on the deal, and it's a few thousand dollars. At first glance, it sounds great:
1. take the customer's money
2. pick up the phone and order the stuff
3. customer picks up gear
4. profit
In reality, it's not quite that easy. My dealer/friend brought boxes in to do a demo for me, which took about 6 hours of time with himself and an employee, not including driving around the city collecting parts. He took probably a dozen long calls from me over 8 months of thinking, spec'ing, saving, and finally executing (and my executing wasn't guaranteed - he put forth the time just hoping for a sale). After the sale, he has loaned me spare parts from his rental inventory twice, and provided some technical support. His out of pocket costs were hundreds of dollars paying his employees to help me, and a couple thousand worth of his time and equipment rental that he gave me as a package deal. Unless you can give service that's just as good with a rental inventory to back me up, I'm not going to be buying gear from you anytime soon.
If you are truly interested in pursuing this, get a job at Metro Sound or one of the other pro-audio sales/service shops in the city here, and learn the business.
What is your experience in this industry that gives you the knowledge/experience to make decisions like this?The fact that they feel comfortable with me and can come to me about problems they have or what their needs are without me saying "Oh yeah you need a Clair rig and an XL8 for that." When they only need a Pro1 and a few EV XLD's.
What is your experience in this industry that gives you the knowledge/experience to make decisions like this?
Have you been working in sales? Are you a system designer? Have you been in the install market? What sort of projects? How many years?
Do you truly understand the advantages/disadvantages of one product over another? Have you personally used them in different situations?
I don't know about Mackie-but I think Peavey only has stocking dealers (not counting contracting companies).I could sell some powered Mackies and a Peavey board because I have run in to those a lot! But with a few exceptions, I haven't been able to use top notch stuff in real time on an actual gig to make me formulate a different opinion based off of research alone.
I don't know about Mackie-but I think Peavey only has stocking dealers (not counting contracting companies).
To me it appears as if we have gone form Midas consoles to Peavey consoles.
I think most people who buy "powered Mackies and Peavey consoles" are the type who walk into a store and want to walk out with product. Not the type who are willing to wait days or weeks for product.
When you get to the "upper level"- those people typically plan further in advance and are willing to wait a little bit for product.
Those are very different people.
Just sayin'
I used Peavey as a basic thing...but I still want to work for or be a midas dealer!
I used Peavey as a basic thing...but I still want to work for or be a midas dealer!
That sounds like a great plan to me!So here is what to do....
Go to work at GC. Work your butt off, be the best you can. Treat your customers well and earn their respect. After a few years and learning a ton, apply for a position at GC Pro. That is their pro sales division. Here you will meet a bunch of new customers and will learn how to deal with commercial clients. After a year or two of that you might just like it or you may have impressed someone else in the industry and opened up doors for yourself.