The Music Shop: Conversations in Music Retail

Ben Borkowski of Marich Music and Taylor Harnois discuss how Ben found a way to take his skills as an instrument repair technician and built a successful business.

They discuss how software solutions helped him focus his business and shed the load of paperwork and other hassles. Ben shared what he learned about how to grow a nearly 50 year-old local music shop into a thriving online business using tactics and strategies that you may not have expected.

-- SPECIAL PROMOTION --
For listeners of this podcast, Music Shop 360 is offering 50% off your start-up costs. 
► Visit https://get.musicshop360.com/podcast to schedule a demo and redeem this offer.

-- EPISODE PAGE --
For a transcript, episode summary, and highlights, visit: 
► https://musicshop360.com/interviews/start-a-profitable-instrument-rental-program-with-ben-borkowski/

-- LISTEN ON OTHER PLATFORMS --
Apple Podcasts ► https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-music-shop-conversations-in-music-retail/id1615109715
Spotify ► https://open.spotify.com/show/4NS1n4qCOhmm00GUSyJQ3T
Google Podcasts ► https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL3RoZS1tdXNpYy1zaG9wLWNvbnZlcnNhdGlvbnMtaW4tbXVzaWMtcmV0YWls
Amazon Music ► https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/13bd7a3b-d56b-4676-bc3f-6831e917dfe4/the-music-shop-conversations-in-music-retail
Deezer ► https://www.deezer.com/show/3519307

Taylor Harnois and Jamie Major, seller engagement manager at Reverb, talk about using the platform at reverb.com to help improve online sales.

They talk about how the Reverb platform can help sellers of any size bring more visibility to their music shop and make more sales.

-- SPECIAL PROMOTION --
For listeners of this podcast, Music Shop 360 is offering 50% off your start-up costs. 
► Visit https://get.musicshop360.com/podcast to schedule a demo and redeem this offer.

-- EPISODE PAGE --
For a transcript, episode summary, and highlights, visit: 
► https://musicshop360.com/interviews/jamie-major-reverb-selling-music-gear-online/

-- LISTEN ON OTHER PLATFORMS --
Apple Podcasts ► https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-music-shop-conversations-in-music-retail/id1615109715
Spotify ► https://open.spotify.com/show/4NS1n4qCOhmm00GUSyJQ3T
Google Podcasts ► https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL3RoZS1tdXNpYy1zaG9wLWNvbnZlcnNhdGlvbnMtaW4tbXVzaWMtcmV0YWls
Amazon Music ► https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/13bd7a3b-d56b-4676-bc3f-6831e917dfe4/the-music-shop-conversations-in-music-retail
Deezer ► https://www.deezer.com/show/3519307

Taylor Harnois and Tara Noble talk about the challenges and rewards of specialization in the retail music industry. Tara discusses the benefits of building lasting relationships based on expertise and the network of drummers she associates with.

Tara also shares some of her insight and advice she learned from years working in the retail industry.

-- KEY INSIGHTS --

• When you do a better job than anyone else, customers will come looking for you.
• Building great customer relationships will pay long term dividends.
• Serving a niche community can be very profitable.
• Identify customers beyond your intense professionals.
• Learn to be adaptable.

-- SPECIAL PROMOTION --
For listeners of this podcast, Music Shop 360 is offering 50% off your start-up costs. 
► Visit https://get.musicshop360.com/podcast to schedule a demo and redeem this offer.

-- EPISODE PAGE --
For a transcript, episode summary, and highlights, visit: 
► https://musicshop360.com/interviews/tara-noble-dubs-drum-basement-long-term-customer-relationships/

-- LISTEN ON OTHER PLATFORMS --
Apple Podcasts ► https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-music-shop-conversations-in-music-retail/id1615109715
Spotify ► https://open.spotify.com/show/4NS1n4qCOhmm00GUSyJQ3T
Google Podcasts ► https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL3RoZS1tdXNpYy1zaG9wLWNvbnZlcnNhdGlvbnMtaW4tbXVzaWMtcmV0YWls
Amazon Music ► https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/13bd7a3b-d56b-4676-bc3f-6831e917dfe4/the-music-shop-conversations-in-music-retail
Deezer ► https://www.deezer.com/show/3519307

Taylor Harnois and Carolyn Iga talk about what started as a love for music developed into an entrepreneurial adventure in music instruction.

Carolyn’s restless nature led her to look for a new way to blend a music school and retail music shop and how she found tools and models to help support her passion for music and her desire to serve and elevate her community.

-- KEY INSIGHTS --
- Let your business be an extension of yourself.
- Find a community that supports your goals.
- Decide what you can do and don’t worry about the competition.
- Support your business with tools and software that take away obstacles.
- Build relationships in your community and it will pay dividends.

-- SPECIAL PROMOTION --
For listeners of this podcast, Music Shop 360 is offering 50% off your start-up costs. 
► Visit https://get.musicshop360.com/podcast to schedule a demo and redeem this offer.

-- EPISODE PAGE --
For a transcript, episode summary, and highlights, visit: 
► https://musicshop360.com/interviews/carolyn-iga-neighborhood-music-school-fostering-a-cultural-community/

-- LISTEN ON OTHER PLATFORMS --
Apple Podcasts ► https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-music-shop-conversations-in-music-retail/id1615109715
Spotify ► https://open.spotify.com/show/4NS1n4qCOhmm00GUSyJQ3T
Google Podcasts ► https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL3RoZS1tdXNpYy1zaG9wLWNvbnZlcnNhdGlvbnMtaW4tbXVzaWMtcmV0YWls
Amazon Music ► https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/13bd7a3b-d56b-4676-bc3f-6831e917dfe4/the-music-shop-conversations-in-music-retail
Deezer ► https://www.deezer.com/show/3519307

David Bozich and Michelle Ventura talk with Taylor Harnois about the challenges of running a music store in a small town. They discuss how going online has enabled them to find audiences outside of the market and better serve local musicians.

They detailed how refining their business processes has helped streamline their business. They also discuss how taking advantage of the tools your store’s software can help you take control of your business and give you insight to help make important decisions.

-- KEY INSIGHTS --

- Use technology to expand your market.

- Take advantage of all the tools you have available.

- Make your revenue drivers things that can not be found online.

- Don’t underestimate the amount of clerical work that needs to be done.

- Work on your business processes.

-- GUEST BIO --

Enumclaw Music is a full-service music store, family owned and run in the heart of Enumclaw, Washington. The store has been open for 35 years. David Bozich bought the store 10 years ago. Michelle Ventura joined Enumclaw music a few years ago and is preparing to take over the store.

-- SPECIAL PROMOTION --

For listeners of this podcast, Music Shop 360 is offering 50% off your start-up costs. 

► Visit https://get.musicshop360.com/podcast to schedule a demo and redeem this offer.

-- EPISODE PAGE --

For a transcript, episode summary, and highlights, visit: 

► https://musicshop360.com/interviews/enumclaw-music-serving-the-music-community/

Episode Summary

Taylor Harnois and Genevieve Swift of Lashof Violins talk about the history and tradition of running a violin shop with decades of presence in Maryland.

Genevieve tells the story of how she and her business partner met and decided to pursue the manufacturing of fine string instruments. They talk about the importance of accumulating expertise in your organization and communicating that to your clientele to help them understand the value of your craftsmanship.

Key Insights

• Be passionate about the industry.
• Know your business.
• Find tools that enable you to do more with your staff.
• Demonstrate your expertise.
• Be open to change.

-- SPECIAL PROMOTION --

For listeners of this podcast, Music Shop 360 is offering 50% off your start-up costs. 

► Visit https://get.musicshop360.com/podcast to schedule a demo and redeem this offer.

-- EPISODE PAGE --

For a transcript, episode summary, and highlights, visit: 

► https://musicshop360.com/interviews/genevieve-swift-lashof-violins-providing-a-personalized-experience/

-- GUEST BIO --

Genevieve Swift is one of the co-owners and master luthiers of Lashof Violins. Genevieve has been a luthier at Lashof Violins for almost 20 years and helps direct all aspects of the business while wearing many hats  in her additional  roles as a repair and sheet music specialist.

► https://www.lashofviolins.com/

In this episode Taylor Harnois talks with Music Shop 360’s data migration experts Neils and Jesse. They talk through common migration concerns for shop owners and how they address data when converting to a new point-of-sale software.

They talk about the solutions they have found to migrate historical data from almost all existing systems. Neils and Jesse also discuss the various types of data that most shop owners want to have in a new system.

-- SPECIAL PROMOTION --

For listeners of this podcast, Music Shop 360 is offering 50% off your start-up costs. 

► Visit https://get.musicshop360.com/podcast to schedule a demo and redeem this offer.

-- EPISODE PAGE --

For a transcript, episode summary, and highlights, visit: 

► https://musicshop360.com/interviews/migrating-your-data-with-music-shop-360/

-- LISTEN ON OTHER PLATFORMS --

Apple Podcasts ► https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-music-shop-conversations-in-music-retail/id1615109715

Spotify ► https://open.spotify.com/show/4NS1n4qCOhmm00GUSyJQ3T

Google Podcasts ► https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL3RoZS1tdXNpYy1zaG9wLWNvbnZlcnNhdGlvbnMtaW4tbXVzaWMtcmV0YWls

Amazon Music ► https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/13bd7a3b-d56b-4676-bc3f-6831e917dfe4/the-music-shop-conversations-in-music-retail

Deezer ► https://www.deezer.com/show/3519307

Casey Green and Taylor Harnois talk about the joy of operating a music shop focused on delivering excellent used gear to musicians. They discuss the importance of focusing your shop’s product mix and looking for ways to differentiate your business.

Used equipment can be a challenge, but if you know what you're try to sell and how to communicate with your customers, you’ll find success.

-- SPECIAL PROMOTION --

For listeners of this podcast, Music Shop 360 is offering 50% off your start-up costs. 

► Visit https://get.musicshop360.com/podcast to schedule a demo and redeem this offer.

-- EPISODE PAGE --

For a transcript, episode summary, and highlights, visit: 

► https://musicshop360.com/interviews/casey-green-guitarma-creating-a-welcoming-atmosphere/

Taylor and David talk about how David got into the instrument repair business. They discuss how always increasing your expertise allows you to create opportunities for growth.

David talks about how improvements in running a business and instrument repair have saved him time and effort. His repair videos and reputation in the music community has enabled him to increase his repair business.

-- SPECIAL PROMOTION --

For listeners of this podcast, Music Shop 360 is offering 50% off your start-up costs. 

► Visit https://get.musicshop360.com/podcast to schedule a demo and redeem this offer.

Hello everyone! I'm the new host of the Music Shop podcast, Taylor Harnois. This short episode is just to introduce myself and announce that our sponsor, Rain Retail Software has created a new brand called Music Shop 360. This software still has all the same great features of Rain, but includes new features specifically for music stores. If you're interested in learning more, click the link in the description or call (385) 217-6158 to schedule a walkthrough of the new software. 

So just know if you go back and listen to old episodes and they talk about rain, they're really talking about Music Shop 360. We have some new episodes in the works that we're excited to share with you shortly. So stay tuned for those. We'll talk to you soon.

Learn more about Music Shop 360:
https://musicshop360.com/

Eric Thornton talks with John and David Connors to discuss how they transformed a successful family owned music store into a thriving online music business. The Connors share their experience of discovering that they need to provide an eCommerce platform for their store and how they came to choose Rain as the best POS system for them.

They discuss the help they received for transitioning from their legacy software to a cloud-based. The Connors were happy with the level of assistance they received from Rain to upload their customer and product information and how easy it was to make the change.

-- SPECIAL PROMOTION --

For listeners of this podcast, Music Shop 360 is offering 50% off your start-up costs. 

► Visit https://get.musicshop360.com/podcast to schedule a demo and redeem this offer.

Nate Corning discusses the rewards and challenges of running Mark’s Guitar Shop in Spokane, Washington. The shop focuses on service and sales of new and used equipment and the strategies and tools they use to accomplish their goals.

Although Nate started his career as a performer he discovered a love of the retail music business and the skills he could bring to the shop. Eric and Nate talk about how as a small business owner he wears many hats and how to simplify his approach to selling and servicing guitars.

Key Insights

• You may have expertise in one area of your business, but you will wear many hats during your career.
• Have the courage to build a music business that fits your style, market, and personal business goals.
• Take advantage of the sales channels you have to sell product you can acquire at a discounted price.

Guest Bio

Nate Corning of Mark’s Guitar Shop focuses on serving knowledgeable customers new and vintage and cool player grade used guitars, basses, and amps. Nate founded Mark's Guitar Shop with Mark Morse in 2002 as a service oriented "Pro Shop" located in Spokane, Washington’s Historic Garland District.

-- SPECIAL PROMOTION --

For listeners of this podcast, Music Shop 360 is offering 50% off your start-up costs. 

► Visit https://get.musicshop360.com/podcast to schedule a demo and redeem this offer.

Miles Stewart of Musician Supply discusses the music store business in South Carolina. Miles focuses on meeting the customer where they want to be. He talks about creating in-store and online experiences that meet customers unique needs and not leaving them disappointed.

Eric and Miles explore how music stores learn and adapt to the changing marketplace. They discuss how the mix of in-store inventory, online national sales, and tech and data help retail music stores continue to grow.

Key Insights

• Think about the types of interactions you want to have with your customers and design a good experience for them.
• Try hard to not let customers leave your store disappointed in their shopping experience.
• Create an online experience that helps your customers answer their questions and make a purchasing decision.
• Invest in technology that will help you present your inventory to the biggest audience you can.\

Guest Bio

Musician Supply opened in 1986 with a goal to provide the Lexington, South Carolina community with brand name band and orchestra instruments on affordable rent-to-own plans for students at intermediate and middle schools. Musician Supply provides dedicated lesson studios, with a student entrance located next door to our showroom. It carries an extensive assortment of method books available for use in your lessons, along with the use of new internet technology in our studios.

-- SPECIAL PROMOTION --

For listeners of this podcast, Music Shop 360 is offering 50% off your start-up costs. 

► Visit https://get.musicshop360.com/podcast to schedule a demo and redeem this offer.

Max Larson of Centre Music House discusses how his family built a business based on private lessons. Max has spent the last decade modernizing and automating the business to enable staff to focus on what they do best and enable technology to solve some of its backend processes.

Max tells the story of how modernizing lesson scheduling helped eliminate time and effort from the hassle of managing 400 students and 20 instructors. He also explains how software has enabled the music store and its business to continue to grow and gain greater market share in the area.

Key Insights 

• Even if you don’t earn a commission or make a sale, it still might make sense to do.
• Don’t try to reinvent a process that someone else has expertise in.
• Pay for expertise and let experts take care of it.
• Just because it is easy for someone else doesn’t mean it will be easy for you.

Episode Highlights

• "It saves us man hours, man or woman hours, like, the things that my dad was doing when I started working here, I was like, you're doing what? You're spending, how many hours doing this? And it'd be like, we can just automate so much, you know, and it saved us just hundreds of hours. Even stuff just like updating our checkbook, you know, he was...manually doing that?"
• "We can't necessarily afford to hire five or 10 people to do a job, having software to just run the background and take care of things. It just saves us so much time because it's just us, you know, and a couple of other people. And if it wasn't for that, we'd have to be doing everything manually. So yeah, software is everything."
• "And I spent so many hours trying to figure it out. I was just like, this is dumb. Like other people have figured this out. I'm just going to pay them to provide the service. And so that's, that's kinda like the other side of the coin. It's like, you don't have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to making your life easier through software. It's like, you focus on what you're good at in your store: building relationships and selling products and lessons. And then Rain has figured it out. Pay them and it's done and when things break, they take care of it. It's great."

Guest Bio
 

Max Larson is a second generation family owner at Centre Music House. The store was founded in 1973 and serves Framingham, Massachusetts. Centre Music House believes music has the power to bring joy and positive change into the lives of the people who create, share, and listen to it.

-- SPECIAL PROMOTION --

For listeners of this podcast, Music Shop 360 is offering 50% off your start-up costs. 

► Visit https://get.musicshop360.com/podcast to schedule a demo and redeem this offer.

Will Roffers of Northland Music Center discusses with host Eric Thornton of Rain Retail Software how Will built a successful music store in Northern Wisconsin. They talk about how Will grew what he describes as a music closet into a thriving physical location and an online business that serves musicians, students, and enthusiasts across the region and nation.

Will and Eric tell the story of how Northland Music Center got online. They go on to show how being online enabled Will to serve the community in ways that he did not foresee when he was dreaming of getting into the music business.

Will discusses how important an integrated POS and website was to conducting online business. Eric and Will also dive into how rentals are made much more simple by administering the process online and focusing on delivering instruments to students in a broader market area.

KEY INSIGHTS
- An integrated POS and website is crucial to selling online
- Being online enables serving an area beyond your local customers
- Rentals can be an important driver in your business
- Make the rental process easy

GUEST BIO
Will Roffers took over the Northland Music Center in 2010. However he started his relationship with the store when he bought his first drum set at the store in sixth grade. With the goal to serve musicians, Will worked with the legacy owners of the shop to build a successful local music shop that also serves the greater northern Wisconsin music community and beyond.

-- SPECIAL PROMOTION --

For listeners of this podcast, Music Shop 360 is offering 50% off your start-up costs. 

► Visit https://get.musicshop360.com/podcast to schedule a demo and redeem this offer.

John, Jeremy, and Jason Chapman of The Acoustic Shoppe sit down with Eric Thornton of Rain Retail Software to talk about how the Chapman brothers have turned happy accidents from their life into a successful music store recognized as a leader in specialized music business.

The Chapmans and Eric tell the story of how they grew the business from its roots in providing lessons into a full service music store. From taking over the lease of the shop they taught lessons in to building on the relationships they have nurtured throughout their career.

Every time life placed a challenge before them, they took the opportunity to grow and expand. The Chapmans used their interest and expertise to take advantage of technology and new business processes to rise above their challenges to find a better way to do business.

KEY INSIGHTS
- Prepare and be open to new opportunities, but be ready to ride a wave with new possibilities
- Specializing in a particular segment of the music market can help you stand out
- Open up you business to a broad market in order to find your audience
- Don’t hide from the challenges your business faces—tackle them head on
- Be self reliant and understand many areas of your business and be able run them independently

GUEST BIO
John, Jeremy, and Jason Chapman were touring musicians who started The Acoustic Shoppe in 2012 first as an extension of music lessons they were teaching. The three brothers have always been eager to try new technologies to help give themselves a bigger stage to play on. Their desire to go bigger helped them grow their music business into the success it is today.

-- SPECIAL PROMOTION --

For listeners of this podcast, Music Shop 360 is offering 50% off your start-up costs. 

► Visit https://get.musicshop360.com/podcast to schedule a demo and redeem this offer.

Are you a music store owner looking to take your business to the next level?

In The Music Shop podcast, we talk with stores from all across the country about their story,  the challenges they are facing and how they are overcoming those challenges.

We talk everything from ecommerce strategy to inventory management to how to get new customers in the door. 

For more interviews with business owners, visit rainpos.com/interviews, where you’ll find transcripts, show notes, and videos for all our episodes.