Digital Piano Accessories on an Even Keel

With 75 percent of participants in this month’s dealer poll (sent out to over 200 retailers) reporting that sales of digital piano accessories are either up or level when compared to this time last year, you might walk away with the notion that this segment of MI is stable, consistent.

What’s not consistent lies in the specifics and the trends observed by these dealers – which no doubt comes down to the geographic locations and economic/cultural conditions of individual stores. Mike Guillot of Mississippi Music, Inc. (Flowood, Mississippi) is observing, “Increased sales of portable digital pianos resulting in the sales of more accessories, cases, stands, and benches.” Jason Olah of Fitchburg, Wisconsin’s Ward-Brodt Music, offers counterpoint: “We have seen an increase in the interest, and sales, for console style digital pianos over more portable units that go on x-style stands.”

Shared concerns do exist across most of our respondents to this survey: online competition, “packaged” gear that eats into accessory sales, and decreased MAP pricing.

Have you been noticing any trends when it comes to this market segment – either on the consumer or the supplier side?

“Increased sales of portable digital pianos resulting in the sales of more accessories, cases, stands, and benches”

Mike Guillot

Mississippi Music, Inc.

Flowood, Mississippi

“We have seen an increase in the interest, and sales, for console style digital pianos over more portable units that go on x-style stands.”

Jason Olah

Ward-Brodt Music

Fitchburg, Wisconsin

“I have been seeing a lot more packages from the suppliers being advertised and offered. Even more than holiday time, the increased attachment has been a good benefit to the consumer. So selling more as packages is good but it has taken away from the individual items sold on the accessory side.”

Bradley Wittmer

Brighton Music Center

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

“Piano customers continue to gravitate to the traditional padded and artist benches, while digital manufacturers seem to echo these sentiments with nicer benches for their new products. People like the look and feel of quality, regardless of the price point.”

Keith Pendergraft

Hopper Piano and Organ

Raleigh, North Carolina

“Consumers are more than willing to spend extra money on a nicer bench and stand with their portable digital piano.”

Chris Teesdale

Willis Music Company

Lexington, Kentucky

“Less options in stands and cases from most vendors. I believe many end-users are buying online so they’re not even walking through our doors.”

Darrin Wittkopp

Music City Spokane

Spokane, Washington

“MAP pricing keeps getting lower and lower.”

Don Middleton

Don’s Music Land, Ltd.

Peoria, Illinois