Ok, so the music store I work at has pretty much sold all of its bass equipment and we need to get more, and since I'm posting this in amps, I suppose I'll ask about amps. What amps should we re-stock the store with? A variety would be good, and keep in mind this is a small, local store so not-fender like names would be good haha. Also even though this is the amp section we need recommendations on pretty much everything, as always, all the help is appreciated!
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Re-stocking inventory at a store
- Thread starter dechristimo
- Start date
The big question is, what do your customers want/need? Once that is identified, then suggestions will come easier.
True that. Hmm it's right next to PSU so college students are our big customers. But money never seems to be a problem haha. I'd say we have something like 40% classic players (normally over the age of 40) then 30% harder rock fans 20% indie and 10% just rock in general. At least these are the people coming to look at basses.
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
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- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
College students? I'd be looking at low to medium priced fare, and working with the small/light amps. Students don't have much room in their dorms, often don't have much in the way of transportation.
dechristimo,
Well, as much as I'm a fan of pretty boutique amps, and cabinets. I don't think that would work in a locally run music center. You guys have enough trouble competing with the Guitar Center. I'd take a look at Genz Benz since they offer such a nice grouping of different kinds of amplifiers, that will appeal to a
lot of different kinds of players. The little Shuttle 3.0's are nice for the club and jazz players. While the Streamliner's and Shuttle Max 9.0's and 12.0's work great for the rockers.
Now for the price point and tube like sound, it would be difficult to beat the new Ampeg PF 350's and PF 500's with their accompanying PF 115 and PF 210 cabinets but Guitar Center does carry them. The new Aguillar Tone Hammer's are also great heads. Just some ideas.
Ric
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Couple affordable, high profit-margin budget brands so mommy and daddy's credit cards keep the doors open.....then some good stuff for the over 40 guys.
I hear that. I was thinking as I typed about low and medium budget stuff that it sells, but if that's all you carried, I'm only going to walk into your store once.
Ahhh, well...
You might consider stocking the ones that sell.
You know, the ones that customers want.
Do you have any inventory/sales history?
You might consider stocking the ones that sell.
You know, the ones that customers want.
Do you have any inventory/sales history?
In addition to the above, someone else mentioned competition with places like Guitar Center.
Are there any other music stores nearby ?
If so, you may want to take a look at what they stock, and try to offer alternatives.
Back in the day I bought an SM58 and a guitar processor at MusicMart! If things haven't changed there is no big box competitor in the area, only a couple of smaller stores.
For amps I'd say try to stock at a variety of price points. Some inexpensive beginner gear (from Ampeg or Peavey?), more midrange gear (Ampeg, Peavey, GK?) and a few higher end amps. Also, I always appreciate when a store has used/vintage gear to try out.
For amps I'd say try to stock at a variety of price points. Some inexpensive beginner gear (from Ampeg or Peavey?), more midrange gear (Ampeg, Peavey, GK?) and a few higher end amps. Also, I always appreciate when a store has used/vintage gear to try out.
I hit a couple music stores when I was in State College a year or two ago. Are you guys the Lakland dealers? Not much on the website.
Theres a Rainbow Music down the road that is essentially guitar center, but its definitely guitar influenced moreso than bass.
[/QUOTE] I hit a couple music stores when I was in State College a year or two ago. Are you guys the Lakland dealers? Not much on the website.[/QUOTE]
Well ive only been here a couple months and we dont have them now so I dont know, and yes, the website sucks haha
Thank you everyone for the responses! Ill definitely try to bring some awesome gear into this store
If you want to be a good music store and not just make money, the best bet is to have a nice variety between low/high powered stuff and cheap/expensive stuff so there's something for "everyone".
I hate going to GC these days, because while they used to have a decent variety of just about everything (guitars, keys, bass, drums, etc...), now they focus more and more on a few brands that they push and stock, and everything else seems to be absent.
Like they were carrying Trace amps for a while, and now good luck finding one at all. Basically, Ampeg, Acoustic, Markbass, and Mesa and that's it. Basses are almost all Fender, Ibanez, and not much else at all, except maybe a few used things.
So don't fall into that trap. How many Ibanez basses do you need to have in stock? How many Fenders?
Obviously it will depend on how much capital you have and how much floor space is available, etc..., but diversity is key.
I hate going to GC these days, because while they used to have a decent variety of just about everything (guitars, keys, bass, drums, etc...), now they focus more and more on a few brands that they push and stock, and everything else seems to be absent.
Like they were carrying Trace amps for a while, and now good luck finding one at all. Basically, Ampeg, Acoustic, Markbass, and Mesa and that's it. Basses are almost all Fender, Ibanez, and not much else at all, except maybe a few used things.
So don't fall into that trap. How many Ibanez basses do you need to have in stock? How many Fenders?
Obviously it will depend on how much capital you have and how much floor space is available, etc..., but diversity is key.
List of bass amplifier and loudspeaker manufacturers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For Amps I recommend, try to supply higher end stuff like Genz, Mesa, Ashdown, and Phil Jones, and then more mainstream stuff like SWR, GK, Ampeg, and Peavey. Acoustic USA (Link Removed) which is NOT the same Acoustic that Guitar Center carries, would be a great get. Speaking of Guitar Center, try to get MarkBass, if they will let you be a dealer.
As someone else said, Some college kids have more money then us folks with careers seem to have, but many more are limited on what they can spend, so options at different levels of quality, power and price would be nice nice.
For Amps I recommend, try to supply higher end stuff like Genz, Mesa, Ashdown, and Phil Jones, and then more mainstream stuff like SWR, GK, Ampeg, and Peavey. Acoustic USA (Link Removed) which is NOT the same Acoustic that Guitar Center carries, would be a great get. Speaking of Guitar Center, try to get MarkBass, if they will let you be a dealer.
As someone else said, Some college kids have more money then us folks with careers seem to have, but many more are limited on what they can spend, so options at different levels of quality, power and price would be nice nice.
