Local Piano Dealer Ranks in top 200 Music Instrument Retailers
September 28th, 2009
The newest issue of Music Trades was published this week, which has the The Top 200 Music Product Retailers of 2008. Music Trades magazine is a monthly magazine publication about the Music Retailers industry, news, data, and Music Market Analysis. Music Trades targets retailers, distributors, and manufacturers of musical instruments, professional audio equipment, and related products worldwide. It’s the monthly update of what is going on in the music industry that music dealers adore.
Recently, the August issue was published that focused on the top 200 Music Retailers in the United States in terms of Sales and Productivity Rankings. The criteria to be included in these rankings is to be a specialized music products retailer. The companies in the top 200 list range from Guitar Center, Sam Ash Music Corp to the local mom and pop music store. They do exclude large corporations such as Walmart and Best Buy since musical instruments are not their primary merchandise and would completely skew the number effecting the rankings. The companies in these rankings carry one or more of the following: fretted instruments, Acoustic Pianos, School Music Products, Printed Music, Guitar Amplifiers, Portable Keyboards, Percussion Instruments, Digital Pianos, Synthesizers & MIDI Products, Organs, Music Software, Karaoke Products, and Violins & Stringed Instruments. These rankings are based on estimated revenues from 2008.
I am very pleased to report that Steinway Hall – Dallas/ Fort Worth/ Plano was ranked number 68 in the 200 Leading Music Products Retailers for 2008. Not too shabby for a small business that carries acoustic pianos and digital pianos. What is very interesting is that in 2007 we were ranked 67, one rank higher than 2008. We are very pleased with this ranking, but strongly believe that there is always room for improvement. When you step back and realize that there are thousands of Musical Instrument retailers in North America, being ranked number 68 deserves a quick pat on the back. Other local Musical Instrument Dealers in the top 200 include: J.W. Pepper (No. 7), Mr. E’s Music (No. 35), Penders Music Company (No. 73), and Piano Gallery (No.136).
The top 10 – 200 Largest North American Music Retailers are as follows:
1. Guitar Center, Inc.
2. Sam Ash Music Corp.
3. American Musical Supply
4. Sweetwater Sound
5. Full Compass Systems, LTD
6. Washington Music Center
7. J.W. Pepper
8. Schmitt Music Company
9. Jordan Kitts
10. Daddy’s Junky Music
Out of the top 200 largest North American Retailers, 21 are Steinway Piano Dealers in the United States. This is very interesting, for the reason that Steinway & Sons only has about 60 Piano Dealers in North America. The majority of these Steinway Dealers only carry Acoustic Pianos and Digital Pianos compared to other musical instrument stores that carry everything from sheet music to “toots and flutes” and more.
All in all the ranking for Musical Instrument retailers is exciting to read and research, but one thing I would be more interested in would be Customer Satisfaction Ratings with these companies. Do the larger companies like Guitar Center have better customer satisfaction ratings than the local mom and pop music dealer? Big number and a large number of locations is great, but the true success comes with a satisfied customer. Just my two cents.
Here’s to moving into the Top 50 next year.
For more information on the 200 Largest North American Retailers visit www.musictrades.com