What up with the audio bizz?

Petro85

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I'm wondering what's happening to the high end audio bizz?
I live in south jersey now and I can understand that there isn't any dealers or shops around here cause most of my area is summer business and the year round people aren't exactly rich.
But I spent most of my life in central jersey. Which on the coast is a ton of really rich and super rich areas . Rumson, deal , Monmouth beach, ocean grove, spring lake, Brielle . I can go on and on with towns I can't afford to live in. With multi million $ houses all over the place.
Anyway there are no high end stereo shops anywhere near there.
There was 1 a few years ago went out of bizz. Called Harvey audio.
I think their attitude put them out of bizz as the few people I knew who are into high end refused to go there. There are surviving audio shops but none in that area . I can't figure out why. It's amazing the whole area is covered with high end autos . And loads of money.
Anytime I look for a dealer of a certain product it seems I have to go to NYC to hear any of it.
It used to be alot easier to go hear gear. Now it's just a PITA!!!
Just wondering , any thoughts on this?
 
Steve - there are many factors at play here. First, many high end two channel B&M shops jumped ship when they thought home theater was going to be their gravy train. They kicked us two channel guys to the curb for their shiny new Home Theater clientele. At the same time, the home based dealer (which I have no problem with) arose to take their spot. As the home theater market started to decline (some say tank), the B&M were in a quandary. They tried to do both. And in the end, few did either well. My own local dealer in Tampa carries half ass two channel gear and über expensive home theater gear. When I called and asked if they would be getting Wilson Alexia's in for demo, he responded that they wouldn't be bringing in such an elaborate speaker and advised me to go out of state or to the other coast to hear them. They carry the bottom of the line of everything McIntosh, Wilson, Ayre and other brands. Want to hear the 601's? Nope - go to another state or Miami. Ok, enough of that rant.

At the same time, you have a few stodgy brands who have hung their hats on B&M and poo-pooed the home based audio dealers, trunk slammers or whatever they call them. Oh, and a few of those have decreased their 40% margin to 35% - a little kick in the ass for the guy who already has massive retail rent, insurance, office cleaning, office supplies, labor, electricity, taxes, business internet, business phone, etc.

So, where do we go from here? Well, things are looking very interesting. You are seeing a perceived decline in two channel, I am seeing explosive growth lead by innovative companies and better value than we have ever seen (a good read: http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/540-spin-silver-platter/). It's amazing how much enjoyment Chris got out of a moderately priced system - which I bet sounded damn good too!

When I attended the shows at Blink Hi End in Boston, I was delighted to see all the young people and ladies. I WRONGLY assumed these ladies were there with the men, but came to learn they were all interested in high end audio. WOW! One lady told me she just can't decide between the c1.1 and D1 speakers. You can be assured I told her my thoughts! The young folks who were there from MIT and other Universities were also very encouraging. One told me "I would rather drive a crappy car or no car at all and have a great sound system". WOW WOW! So encouraging.

The brands and dealers that recognize this new demographic and don't turn their noses up - will enjoy continued success. But I'm afraid I've been in too many dealers who treat customers like a nuisance. Those will continue to die off. We need to attract a younger, more diverse crowd if we want two channel to continue to survive and most importantly, manufactures must show value!!! Many young folks feel they get better sound from their iPod and earbuds. We have a continuing challenge for sure!
 
Great post mike!! The store I mentioned Harvey did exactly that.
Last time I was there before they closed they had all the top line sonus fabers. And then loads of stuff you could get at best buy. Their home theatre was all really expensive .
They had no vinyl setup And at the time there was no hi Rez , since it was several years ago .
There was nothing in the middle or very little for the 2 channel guys.
Their CD players were either $30k or $200. No in between.
Wish I had the $$ I'd open a small shop with a couple rooms and moderately priced gear that sounds great. Great customer service and installations. I know there's money in it. It's a bare market here, and as I mentioned there is plenty of money here. You have to drive by Mercedes, BMW, land rover, Porsche/Audi, Maserati ,and lexus dealers to get to anywhere around there.

Oh btw I stopped at a place called cartridge world and to my disappointment they were all ink cartridges. Lmao!!!!
 
Great post mike!! The store I mentioned Harvey did exactly that.
Last time I was there before they closed they had all the top line sonus fabers. And then loads of stuff you could get at best buy. Their home theatre was all really expensive .
They had no vinyl setup And at the time there was no hi Rez , since it was several years ago .
There was nothing in the middle or very little for the 2 channel guys.
Their CD players were either $30k or $200. No in between.
Wish I had the $$ I'd open a small shop with a couple rooms and moderately priced gear that sounds great. Great customer service and installations. I know there's money in it. It's a bare market here, and as I mentioned there is plenty of money here. You have to drive by Mercedes, BMW, land rover, Porsche/Audi, Maserati ,and lexus dealers to get to anywhere around there.

Oh btw I stopped at a place called cartridge world and to my disappointment they were all ink cartridges. Lmao!!!!

Steve,

Sounds like the perfect opportunity for you to open an audio shop in central Jersey. It would be perfect, no competition:D
 
Well I know the best spots and the best clientele to go after, but opening a shop is not in my future financially. After I buy my gear , I barely have enough left to keep my car on the road. I just wish someone else would open a decent shop, I'd be a regular . Lol.
 
I have considered becoming a dealer here on the Suncoast of Florida for a long time. There is no one really for hundreds of miles north or south of me. I would carry brands I personably believe in and I wouldn't sell. I would let customers buy! Its such a personal decision. You can't say to someone "those speakers sound so much better than those!" Let them decide. Tell them the differences and let them decide. You will be surprised.

But I certainly would not open up a B&M store. Overhead will kill you. Find creative, SOTA brands and promote locally to your audio clubs and such. Hold monthly "shows" - first Friday of every month for example at 5pm and 7pm and you will be shocked at how many people who are too nervous to come on their own, will come for a demonstration open to the public.
 
inventory has to be tough to keep around. Vpi is right around the corner, wonder why they don't have a shop in the area to promote their brands and I'm sure they would have alot of companies wanting to get I on that, so you can hear their gear with vpi products.
 
inventory has to be tough to keep around. Vpi is right around the corner, wonder why they don't have a shop in the area to promote their brands and I'm sure they would have alot of companies wanting to get I on that, so you can hear their gear with vpi products.

Inventory is one thing....buy ins (opening orders) are another.
 
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