I'm a home electronics, sporting goods, and furniture dealer. I'm considering carring a line of car audio since no one else in the immediate area is doing it. Granted those who are going to buy online will still buy online and those who want competition level stuff will still drive out of town to get it.
Also I've learned if I can get the teens coming to my store today the will come back when they get older and need the other stuff. I'm not looking to build competition level of stuff, just want to carry some quality stuff that majority of teens could afford but would still be of quality. I haven't kept up with car audio in 20 years so I don't have a clue as to what brands are decent and which one's to not bother with. Currently I only have access to the following brands so if you'd give me feedback on these I'd appreciate it. Once I get product moving I'll have access to other brands but for now this is what I can get.
Amps: Boss, Power Acoustic, Phonix Gold, Pyle, Dual, Majestic, Audiovox, Mobile Authority (rockbox), MTX, Linear, Sound Storm, EFX, DB Drive. Pretty much the same names in speakers and head units but also can get Jensen and Cerwin Vega speakers and subs.
Obviously I can't carry them all but where should I start?
Thanks in advance.
Replies (3)
swez on 09/22/2004 11:59:43
Good idea brewing here. Since there is little competition in your local, some demographics info is going to be part of your marketing plan. If you target younger teens and early 20's ppl, best to keep your offerings to a few key brands and use a Good, Better & Best approach here.
Low budget gear: (GOOD)
Boss, Jensen, Pyle, SoundStorm and Audiovox are pretty much in that category
Medium budget gear: (BETTER)
CV, Mobile Authority, MTX, JVC, Lightning Audio or low end Kicker gear
High Ticket gear: (BEST)
Audiobahn, Infinity, Alpine, Rockford, Phoenix Gold, JBL, MA Audio, Kicker and JL Audio
Just pick one or two primary brands for each category for now and stock a few of the key items for immediate sale. You will have to setup purchasing agreements to buy direct from Mfgs., or just use wholesale outlets to get reasonable profit margins on your inventory investments.
Also, consider carrying accessory lines like wiring kits, fuses, speaker enclosures and OEM/Aftermarket wiring and hardware install kits for HU's.
Note: This may mean investing up to $10,000 in inventory, merchandising fixtures and floor space initially. Advertise your wares relentlessly to draw a local client base. This is a gamble on your part... but if there is no local competition, you may be able to generate a new income stream for your existing business. Just like your present business... if it ain't on the shelf... you may not be able to sell with a 2 week delivery lead time.
Finally, pick brands that you know you can turn quickly and get warranty service repairs on a timely basis. The higher quality gear will usually have less issues with warrantee repairs than low ball brands. Offering technical service install notes will help your customers to do a good job the first time out and limit abuse/warrantee issues. (Application/install guide notes)
Does this sound like something you can handle well ?
Swez
P0werLifter on 09/22/2004 14:09:02
Swez has pretty much said it all GRIn
Low End : Boss, Pyle, Audiovox, Pyramid
Mid Range : Lower end Kicker , MTX, Power Acoustik, CV, Jensen, JBL
High End $$$: JL Audio, Pheonix Gold, Kicker, Adire, RE
Hope that helps ya out a bit..pretty much restated what Swez said lol
-Jason
ttocs on 09/22/2004 15:34:57
the real money in car audio is in the accessories... Kits, hrns, wire, connectors all have huge markups and are easy add on sales. And remember what we are giving you are customer recomendations, the different companies have different purchasing requirements that can make them more or less important to you.
Also I've learned if I can get the teens coming to my store today the will come back when they get older and need the other stuff. I'm not looking to build competition level of stuff, just want to carry some quality stuff that majority of teens could afford but would still be of quality. I haven't kept up with car audio in 20 years so I don't have a clue as to what brands are decent and which one's to not bother with. Currently I only have access to the following brands so if you'd give me feedback on these I'd appreciate it. Once I get product moving I'll have access to other brands but for now this is what I can get.
Amps: Boss, Power Acoustic, Phonix Gold, Pyle, Dual, Majestic, Audiovox, Mobile Authority (rockbox), MTX, Linear, Sound Storm, EFX, DB Drive. Pretty much the same names in speakers and head units but also can get Jensen and Cerwin Vega speakers and subs.
Obviously I can't carry them all but where should I start?
Thanks in advance.
Replies (3)
swez on 09/22/2004 11:59:43
Good idea brewing here. Since there is little competition in your local, some demographics info is going to be part of your marketing plan. If you target younger teens and early 20's ppl, best to keep your offerings to a few key brands and use a Good, Better & Best approach here.
Low budget gear: (GOOD)
Boss, Jensen, Pyle, SoundStorm and Audiovox are pretty much in that category
Medium budget gear: (BETTER)
CV, Mobile Authority, MTX, JVC, Lightning Audio or low end Kicker gear
High Ticket gear: (BEST)
Audiobahn, Infinity, Alpine, Rockford, Phoenix Gold, JBL, MA Audio, Kicker and JL Audio
Just pick one or two primary brands for each category for now and stock a few of the key items for immediate sale. You will have to setup purchasing agreements to buy direct from Mfgs., or just use wholesale outlets to get reasonable profit margins on your inventory investments.
Also, consider carrying accessory lines like wiring kits, fuses, speaker enclosures and OEM/Aftermarket wiring and hardware install kits for HU's.
Note: This may mean investing up to $10,000 in inventory, merchandising fixtures and floor space initially. Advertise your wares relentlessly to draw a local client base. This is a gamble on your part... but if there is no local competition, you may be able to generate a new income stream for your existing business. Just like your present business... if it ain't on the shelf... you may not be able to sell with a 2 week delivery lead time.
Finally, pick brands that you know you can turn quickly and get warranty service repairs on a timely basis. The higher quality gear will usually have less issues with warrantee repairs than low ball brands. Offering technical service install notes will help your customers to do a good job the first time out and limit abuse/warrantee issues. (Application/install guide notes)
Does this sound like something you can handle well ?
Swez
P0werLifter on 09/22/2004 14:09:02
Swez has pretty much said it all GRIn
Low End : Boss, Pyle, Audiovox, Pyramid
Mid Range : Lower end Kicker , MTX, Power Acoustik, CV, Jensen, JBL
High End $$$: JL Audio, Pheonix Gold, Kicker, Adire, RE
Hope that helps ya out a bit..pretty much restated what Swez said lol
-Jason
ttocs on 09/22/2004 15:34:57
the real money in car audio is in the accessories... Kits, hrns, wire, connectors all have huge markups and are easy add on sales. And remember what we are giving you are customer recomendations, the different companies have different purchasing requirements that can make them more or less important to you.
Copyright ClubKnowledge 2009 * All Rights Reserved
