The entire four days of RPMDA were filled with great ideas to increase a music instrument retailing business, increase traffic, and spread the joy of music making. One of the most popular sessions was “best ideas” – this list includes some of those applicable to all MI retailers and also other tidbits picked up during the informative, inspiring four days.
1. If you give lessons, do recitals. Family recitals bring in other families who want to perform. – Myrna Sislen, Middle C Music
2. Are you opening at 9 a.m. when you could be opening at 10 a.m.? Do the latter and save up to $26,000 a year. – Tracy Leenman, Musical Innovations
3. When shipping out an order, include a handwritten “thank you” note on the receipt. (Amazon can’t do that personal touch!) – Marcia Stearns, Bookmark Music
4. Departmentalize your Facebook presence. Have a separate account for print department, combo department, piano, etc., to better target the customer with that specific interest and not have a piano teacher get a lot of posting about drums and guitars. – Tracy Moody, Beakcock Music
5. Give out a free store-logo T-shirt with every instrument rented, and then tell the students if they post of picture of themselves wearing the shirt on your Facebook page they get a gift certificate. – Tracy Leenman & Rebecca Ashe, Musical Innovations
6. Create a new profit center for your store by putting a vending machine in the lessons studio area. – Jessica Freehling-Kazzie, Art’s Music Shop
7. Put your great teachers to work making short product demonstrations in your store, then post on YouTube and link on your site. – Connie Smith, Ward-Brodt
Looking Back on 2025: A Year of Controlled Chaos (Emphasis on “Controlled”)