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Interesting look at the "big" music store chain in the US

PostPosted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 1:24 pm
by Mathieu Benoit
http://www.dailykos.com/comments/1138469/47746794

Makes me wonder if the same comparisons could be made north of the border.

Re: Interesting look at the "big" music store chain in the U

PostPosted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 2:04 pm
by Malcolm Boyce
I don't know if any parasites have attached themselves to L&M like that, but I would have to say that they are probably in tough shape with the aggressive expansion they have taken on in the last decade, combined with the economic situation we are all in right now.

Re: Interesting look at the "big" music store chain in the U

PostPosted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 2:32 pm
by Mathieu Benoit
Malcolm Boyce wrote:I don't know if any parasites have attached themselves to L&M like that, but I would have to say that they are probably in tough shape with the aggressive expansion they have taken on in the last decade, combined with the economic situation we are all in right now.


That's more what I meant. One of the things the article stated was a question about what this means to the rest of the industry. If the big box store can't make money, then how can anyone else?

Re: Interesting look at the "big" music store chain in the U

PostPosted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 3:03 pm
by Malcolm Boyce
If anything as huge as GC tanking actually takes place, the trickle down to the entire MI industry will be enormous. Almost impossible to digest.

Re: Interesting look at the "big" music store chain in the U

PostPosted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 9:45 pm
by Malcolm Boyce

Re: Interesting look at the "big" music store chain in the U

PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 1:31 am
by dylanger
I don't think this kind of thing is happening to Canada's big chain. L&M doesn't seem to go over board like GC. For example, GC felt the need to buy Eric Clapton's 335 for $847,500. Thats just not a smart business move when your going under like this. I was lucky enough to stop in major canadian cities while traveling across the country and I stopped in several L&M's. None of them were over the top big like I've heard some of these GC stores are. The Biggest one that I went to was in Saskatoon and it wasn't even double the size of Saint John's L&M. I'm not sure what else GC does but L&M also is a huge to distributer to other music stores in Canada. They distribute Gibson, L.R. Baggs, Yorkville, ect. So they get a piece of any of these products that are sold in Canada, and then make bigger profits on such products that are sold in their store. The experience I have selling musical instruments I can definitely say that they set the standard. Nobody ever came into the store looking for a Stagg Cable, but plenty of people came in looking for an Apex cable.

Re: Interesting look at the "big" music store chain in the U

PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 2:27 am
by Malcolm Boyce
The biggest danger for all MI retail right now is what will happen if GC goes down in flames. Could get really interesting, and not in a good way.

Re: Interesting look at the "big" music store chain in the U

PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 2:52 am
by Malcolm Boyce
dylanger wrote:I'm not sure what else GC does but L&M also is a huge to distributer to other music stores in Canada. They distribute Gibson, L.R. Baggs, Yorkville, ect.
This might be splitting hairs, but isn't Yorkville the distributor and L&M the retailer? I know that Yorkville and L&M are tied together, historically and financially, but I believe that is with Traynor/Yorkville being the manufacturer/distributor.

Re: Interesting look at the "big" music store chain in the U

PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 3:19 am
by dylanger
yes that is the case. To be honest I'm not sure its the same owner, but the ties are very strong and from what I can gather they act as one unit.