Open House: two weeks untill I meet some very special customers

     The build out for my store is done and I am painting  and looking for shelving and things for inside the store.  The repair shop received its first job from Chicago.  There is a table top celeste on my work bench that I am refurbishing and will be in the store as a consignment item.  this is my seventh one to work on for a customer in Chicago.  They have a keyboard like a piano but bars like a bell set.  They are so much fun to work on.
     On Sept. 10th I am having an open house for music teachers or directors in schools, churches or giving private instruction.  If well attended I  will get to show these special people the store and introduce any teachers or repair personnel that I have at the time and I hope get to know what they would like to see in a music store.  I need to find out what would make my store distinctive from the competition.  Some instrument manufacturers are giving me some trouble about becoming a dealer because they say there are other stores too close to me that sell their product already.  The competition closest to my customers , however , is the internet.  Many of these teachers order from the internet and competing with the price on the internet is sometimes not possible but I can offer the customer the opportunity to see the product and I plan on delivering to schools and churches.
     The other thing I can do is offer some locally produced products that can't be ordered over the internet like pottery made by a local potter with musical themes in the design of the pieces.  I will offer tapestries some of which are designed by my sister.  The weaver can input her designs into the computer controlled press and the picture is woven into the fabric.  I know of a local maker of guitar straps.  I will be looking for any qaulity locally made product that displays excellent work.
     I am going to be very particular about any teachers or repair personnel working in my store also.  I want the store to have a reputation for quality offerings of product and services from the opening day which is
September 14th
     There is much to do but I am so looking forward to this day.