ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
I have no problem walking into my local dealership, but that's because I've got to know the staff there and they are always welcoming.
However, entering a one brand store that often has no customers or just one or two at any one time can be off-putting to anyone wanting to browse the products.
I remember some years ago visiting Geneva, and finding two shops on the same block. One was a specialist clock and watch shop with a counter at the rear of the shop facing the door, and a rather intimidating store owner stood begind the counter. He was probably very knowledgeable about what he was selling. There were no customers in the shop.
Further along the block was a general gift shop, with a clock and watch display on one wall. The counter was next to the door but facing inwards, and there was a young shop assistant behind the counter. The shop was full of customers. Needless to say that was the shop where we bought a watch despite feeling that we would have got good advice at the other more specialist store. Shop layouts are important, and customers attract more customers.
Graham
Just a further thought on this, but is not part of the problem that our high streets, at least here in the UK, seemed to have moved away from the traditional HiFi shop and now there are few of these and they seem to be independants. Plenty of shops sell TVs alongside dishwashers and soundbars as an afterthought? worst still people seem to buy stuff from the supermarkets that all seem to sell TV's and Stereos now.
The high street has changed with chain shops just about everywhere. B&O does sell alongside other brands in places like selfdriges and harrods. Maybe they should form aliances with someone like BO Concept, John Lewis or independant upmarket retailers of luxury brands (furniture maybe), that way overheads are split and captive audiences drawn into shops.
ajames: Just a further thought on this, but is not part of the problem that our high streets, at least here in the UK, seemed to have moved away from the traditional HiFi shop and now there are few of these and they seem to be independants. Plenty of shops sell TVs alongside dishwashers and soundbars as an afterthought? worst still people seem to buy stuff from the supermarkets that all seem to sell TV's and Stereos now. The high street has changed with chain shops just about everywhere. B&O does sell alongside other brands in places like selfdriges and harrods. Maybe they should form aliances with someone like BO Concept, John Lewis or independant upmarket retailers of luxury brands (furniture maybe), that way overheads are split and captive audiences drawn into shops.
I do get where you're coming from, really - but if you go shopping for furniture, in a furniture store, you're not exactly in the frame of mind to spend thousands of pounds on an AV system.. surely?
As mentioned, I wouldn't make the decision to go down to my local B&O dealer for a new BeoVision Avant and buy a £4,000 sofa because they had one in the shop.
B&O in Harrods - in the AV Department. B&O in Selfridges - in the AV Department.
B&O needs to be next to other AV brands so the comparison can be made directly. Once you see B&O next to another mass-market product you can actually see why it's special, and more importantly why it's more expensive.
Lee
9 LEE: B&O needs to be next to other AV brands so the comparison can be made directly. Once you see B&O next to another mass-market product you can actually see why it's special, and more importantly why it's more expensive. Lee
Lee makes a very good point. B&O in a B&O store is one thing (everything seems to belong). But B&O next to other brands, even other higher end ones really shines through. The picture of a B&O TV will sell itself alongside over saturated televisions and the like. I think it is about time B&O reintroduced themselves into the high end AV stores here in the states.
I went to stores.bang-olufsen.com and holy cow are there a lot of stores! Granted, many are independently owned but still... exposure is one of a handful of things the brand needs. B&O Boutiques don't increase it.
Our Lexus dealership with a sneaky 9000 on the wall and a bv3-32,maybe time for an upgrade.My local dealership are always placing items in all the local high end shops and restaurants and they do very well.
Also there shop, is combined with linn,naim,bose etc,and the amount of 2 channel traditional hi fi customers they sell beovisions to is phenomenal.They have £40k linn systems combined with beovisions on display,it works for them.
Maybe time for a flatscreen, but the customers still comment on the picture quality.
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