MI Pro

Once again the MIA look like the good guys for managing to secure funding for companies to exhibit abroard,all very nice,but,what about problems closer to home of which I haven't once seen any comment or action by the MIA on the damage that internet discounters are causing to the music industry. All very good for the manufacturers and suppliers taking their goods abroard to try and gain more business, is this because the U.K market is only a matter of time before meltdown occurs?
I feel quite angry when I here of small independent businesess closing down due to lack of customers who are too lazy to get out of their chairs and go and support their local shops.Some of these customers may say it's cheaper to buy on the internet and in some cases this may be so but nobody has stopped to think of the consquences.Because we opened the flood gates to china and virtually saturated the country with cheap instruments we have now succeeded in brainwashing perspective buyers into thinking that everything should be cheap and when they do finally manage to walk through the door of a music store all you can here from them is "lets get home and see if we can get it cheaper on the net".Customer lost,music stores turnover goes down,overheads don't become any less and then the inevitable happens and invoices can't be met.Time to close.All this boils down to two things.One is that there is too much product being produced and two that the music industries so called voice (the Mia)is not speaking to the powers that matter.
I feel,like many other retailers that it is only a matter of time before most,if not all manufaturers and suppliers go direct.How long before fender go into retail?How long before yamah and Roland follow suit?Is this the begining of the end to traditional music shops?Any guitarist worth his salt will try a guitar before he buys it,it makes sence because it's a personal thing,but,why do I get the feeling that my store is fast becomming a show room for would be internet buyers to try out my models and then see if they can get it cheaper on the net.I have actually experimented on reducing my prices to internet prices and would you beleive people still go home to look for a better price.Where will it all end?Please MIA concentrate on the bigger picture and put your energy into helping retail music shops survive against the onslaught of stupid internet based shops who are hell bent on discounting products to the extent of breaking even and in some cases loss leaders.
With out music shops would there be any need for an MIA?
Regards
Concerned Retailer.

It is difficult to see what good the MIA does for retailers, but then again – what can they do?

I think we're on our own – as ever

Am I not right in thinking that dictating prices to dealers is against the law? If a company has little overheads due to being an internet exclusive and they are happy to take lower margins then there is nothing that a manufacturer can do about it. Ok they can give benefits for abiding by their rules but even this is not strictly legal!

answers on a postcard please

Thomann

p.s. Thats a joke!!!

Veering a bit from the subject of the article here.
The Department of Trade and Industry makes money available to aid companies that want to exhibit abroad with a mind to exporting.

This money comes directly from the DTI's coffers and is not available for any other use.

Yes, it is illegal to dictate prices – and yes, there are ways around this – and yes again, most MI companies are too small to bother the office of fair trading, but this is not what the article is about. The article is alerting potential exporters to opportunities available for furthering UK brands abroad.

If anyone wants to say something to the MIA, much better to say it to them – I think you will find it is working for the benefit of the entire trade and is more than happy to take your calls and emails.

why not pose your questions to:

paulmc@mia.org.uk

He'd love to hear from you.

AB

I understand Steve's concerns, but the internet is not going to go away. You have to deal with it. Years ago, we decided that rather than moan about the internet, we would compete for the business. We now have successful internet sites, which compliment our shop sales. The sales are out there, you just need to make sure you get your share.
Most websites are just another arm of a retail shop, there are not so many "internet only" retailers. It is an open market out there, and any shop can get involved.

It's all about selling. Go to a car showroom, they put major effort into getting you to buy a new car, with trade ins, finance packages and special offers. Go to a guitar shop, they won't move on price, sneer at anything you want to trade in and don't try to find a way of making you part with money and leave happy.
People expect consistency and quality. That means buy at the cheapest price, as it will be the same thing wherever it comes from. If you can't be the cheapest, give the customer another reason to come to you. Be a salesman, and earn your income.

The M.I.As help in obtaining grants for U.K companies wishing to export should be applauded. Thanks to such grants we have been able to set up distribution in a number of countries including China for our Faith guitar line. These export sales help finance my company in its quest to survive and most importantly supply the independant retailer at a time when many of our competitors are happy to supply Argos,Tesco,Grattan and so on and so on.

In reply to Bruce Perrin and MIA, I have to say hear, hear!!!
The grant system is vital for our future and has been very much missed in the last period.
It will come back a gain shortly and I applaud all those involved.
Paul at MIA has made big strides to bridge the gap.
You can knock him and get rid or embrace and see what can be done.
I like companies like B&M and Stentor etc.
They are old fashioned companies, but they stay the distance and don't sell out to www.com *******s or the super mart stores.
All power to your elbows, Bruce, Michael and Paul.
Colin Holdsworth is a great person to talk to if you would like to expand your horizons past this skinny Isle.
Most dealers from the UK can not be bothered to travel as far as Frankfurt to see the biggest music show on earth. Then would like to sit in their arm chairs and comment on those that got up off their backsides and spent money to go to a global market and happened to get some grant money to assist them.

Everyone thinks the grass is greener on the wholesale or retail side.
In fact, all face the same problems.
How would you like to be a wholesale company who sold to SC right now?
This is an open GLOBAL Market.
The money from DTI does not come for nothing.
Please grow up. Get behind wholesale companies that you can work with and assist you.
If the kitchen is too hot, by all means get out!