The season: return of the snow birds

     As excited as I was to open the store it is even more exciting to see the snow birds starting to return.  A snow bird is someone who lives up north during the summer and here in Florida during the winter.  my store opened at just the right time as I am open and building my stock.  I still have no bank loans, partners or other investors so I am still debt free.
     From the customer contact I have had so far I have a better idea about what stock is desired and have established relationships with distributors that can supply what is needed.  As I expected I really like the customer contact and getting to know the musicians around here.  As in many places the arts in the public schools are under attack.  I believe offering lessons and musical supplies will fight this trend.  I have always thought that the argument that we should drive all students into the computers, math and the sciences because the good jobs are there is ridiculous.  You do well at what you like and are gifted to do.  Some students have gifts and interests in music and they should have a chance to become great musicians.
      Many musicians have a second gig to pay the bills and that is not bad.  I drove limousines when needed but have persevered at music.  I taught for many years, moved into piano tuning and now I am running a music store and  still tuning and teaching private lessons.
     It will be a busy season as some of those snow birds are musicians.  Some that walked into my store this week identified themselves as snow birds and were very happy to see a music store here that would supply their musical needs.  The season will last through the holidays and then the population here will diminish by half again and then the summer heat comes so I am going to enjoy this time while it lasts.

Intense day but rewarding: the store opened

     Today Renshaw Music opened a music store.  My family was there, many friends from the business community, and many from the area of the store stopped by.  All the activity of the opening was compounded by a huge UPS delivery of accessories that came just before lunch. My whole staff were all working  unpacking , pricing and stocking things like box after box of reeds, guitar picks, and many other small musical products that had to be priced by size or strength and labeled correctly.  My staff did a great job and my sister and mom enjoyed the day too.
     One friend that was there commented that my dad would have loved to be there.  My dad died almost three years ago at age 95.  I think he would have been proud of the family pulling together and opening a large business like this one.  That thought added even more to the day.
     I was thinking to today about how different this is living and working as a businessman in a relatively small town to life in Chicago.  Chicago is a great city but here I feel a part of the business community and not a small entity trying to survive in a very big place. 
     Punta Gorda is a community  taken apart by hurricane Charlie not too many years ago but now there is a vibrancy to the community.  The economy is effecting things here adversely like it is in the rest of the country but today so many people were encouraged by my new store and I am happy to have a positive influence on this place.

The Lord is good: His peace is sure even 10 days before opening

     The opening of Renshaw Music is just 10 days away and the list of things yet to do is overwhelming.  One task I am looking forward to next week is placing my first orders.  The work up to now has been preparation for September 14th.  After so many years of being a service guy it will be great to be in one place most of the time and have customers come to me.
     Isiah 26:3 says : "Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."  The Lord has not promised the store will be successful, just His peace as I trust in Him.
     Now that I am almost up and running I am beginning to plan my first product order with probably half a dozen suppliers.  I have spent many months trying to study the market, but once I am open marketing will be a very different thing.  I will have some hard data to consider as I study what actually sells in the store and use this information to guide future stocking decisions.  This will be important to the success of the store, but of more importance will be getting to know my customers and listening to what they need.
     The open house event is only five days away and if well attended this should be a big help in serving the needs of music teachers in the area.  These folks control budgets but have many pressures to use funds wisely.  I was a public school band director for 23 years so I understand these pressures which I am hoping will help me serve these special people well.