No. 134 • JULY 2011 •
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MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PROFESSIONAL FOR EVERYONE IN THE MI BUSINESS 20 Retail Forum
Ain’t no cure for the summertime blues? Says who?
22 Heavy hitter
Marshall finally launches its Natal drum and percussion line
39 Combo Amps
What’s new in the world of all-in-one guitar amplification.
47 Traditional
From ukes to penny whistles, the traditional market gets some limelight
‘We’re at a crossroads,’ warns MIA boss McManus issues challenge to trade to up its game at retail, as MIA launches new scheme
BY RONNIE DUNGAN
AS THE trade body prepares to launch its new accredited retail training scheme, MIA boss Paul McManus has warned that the industry is facing a possible crisis if it does not become more professional. The new course will be
piloted on July 14th at Shure’s Waltham Abbey HQ and aims to create an accredited dealer network, to improve professionalism among store owners and staff and enhance the in- store experience. McManus, who is
director of content at this year’s MI Retail Conference, believes stores will continue to go under unless they can move beyond the industry’s home-spun image of enthusiastic hobbyists running stores, to a standard of retailing more in keeping with the best of the High Street. “Our industry is surely at
a crossroads. Discretionary income spending remains sluggish, with no apparent end in sight. Shops, including MI, are closing at alarming rates, and yet I know of MI shops that are
“
Make no mistake, when we do things well as an industry, we do them really bloody well.
making double digit growth in like for like sales year on year. How? “Make no mistake, when
we do things well as an industry, we do them really bloody well and we can positively stack up alongside other High Street names. “Businesses are going to
survive and grow in this turgid period because they are offering a customer proposition that is in tune with what today’s busy
customer expects and demands from a shop in the 21st Century. “If only all our shops were
of this standard. But let’s not kid ourselves, many are not and, frankly, offer standards of service that are sorely behind the times and out of touch. I have nothing but respect for anyone that operates their own business and the MIA wants to genuinely offer support to any shop that would like a
helping hand in respect of any of the above. We have many, many staff in our shops that are brilliant and passionate musicians, but poor sales-people. Nothing new there, but surely we can do better?” The scheme is being run
by Red Badger’s Kevin Steel, who has worked for Roland, ABC Music and Sound Control and is one of the keynote speakers at MIRC on June 29th.
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