Summer
NAMM Takes Over Nashville- Chuck Schultz
NAMM Takes Over Nashville- Chuck Schultz
A
new, state-of-the-art venue, more brands and major buying power built
to a lively crescendo as the music product industry converged in
Nashville for the largest Summer National Association of Music
Merchants (NAMM) in five years. NAMM members celebrated the move to
Nashville’s Music City Center conducting brisk business, but also
taking in the many opportunities to learn from peers and industry
icons, while networking with the leaders of the global music product
world.
new, state-of-the-art venue, more brands and major buying power built
to a lively crescendo as the music product industry converged in
Nashville for the largest Summer National Association of Music
Merchants (NAMM) in five years. NAMM members celebrated the move to
Nashville’s Music City Center conducting brisk business, but also
taking in the many opportunities to learn from peers and industry
icons, while networking with the leaders of the global music product
world.
“This
year’s Summer NAMM reminded me of some of the past Nashville shows
a decade ago when companies were really excited about growth and
opportunity,” said NAMM president and CEO Joe Lamond. “We’re
grateful to our members who came to exhibit, stock up for the fall
and holiday selling season and attend the increased educational and
networking sessions that NAMM produced.”
year’s Summer NAMM reminded me of some of the past Nashville shows
a decade ago when companies were really excited about growth and
opportunity,” said NAMM president and CEO Joe Lamond. “We’re
grateful to our members who came to exhibit, stock up for the fall
and holiday selling season and attend the increased educational and
networking sessions that NAMM produced.”
Held
July 11 – 13, 2013 NAMM’s Nashville-based event took advantage of
the new venue’s room to grow by increasing in exhibit square
footage by 25-percent over 2012. In total there were 422 exhibiting
companies, representing more than 1150 brands, which represented a
12% increase over the previous year. Part of the new growth can be
attributed to the 157 first-time exhibiting companies and many
returning brands, some after many years off.
July 11 – 13, 2013 NAMM’s Nashville-based event took advantage of
the new venue’s room to grow by increasing in exhibit square
footage by 25-percent over 2012. In total there were 422 exhibiting
companies, representing more than 1150 brands, which represented a
12% increase over the previous year. Part of the new growth can be
attributed to the 157 first-time exhibiting companies and many
returning brands, some after many years off.
Big
buying power met the increase in brands with the number of retail
businesses rising more than 26% from the previous year. In total
11,498 people registered for the show, not including Music Industry
Day, a slight increase over 2012. Retailers in the exhibit hall were
focused on finding the right products and accessories to fuel the
all-important 4th quarter and holiday season.
buying power met the increase in brands with the number of retail
businesses rising more than 26% from the previous year. In total
11,498 people registered for the show, not including Music Industry
Day, a slight increase over 2012. Retailers in the exhibit hall were
focused on finding the right products and accessories to fuel the
all-important 4th quarter and holiday season.
“We’re
here shopping fun, colorful, unique and price point items that will
make great holiday gifts, while also thinking about promotions to
sell what we are buying, which I wasn’t doing last year. I’m much
more focused this year, in part thanks to the opening morning Retail
Summit, which zeroed in on a very specific topic, holiday, and opened
my mind to opportunities that I may have missed in past seasons,”
said Gayle Beacock, co-owner of Beacock Music Company, Inc. in
Vancouver, WA, who was named the 2013 Dealer of the Year during
Summer NAMM.
here shopping fun, colorful, unique and price point items that will
make great holiday gifts, while also thinking about promotions to
sell what we are buying, which I wasn’t doing last year. I’m much
more focused this year, in part thanks to the opening morning Retail
Summit, which zeroed in on a very specific topic, holiday, and opened
my mind to opportunities that I may have missed in past seasons,”
said Gayle Beacock, co-owner of Beacock Music Company, Inc. in
Vancouver, WA, who was named the 2013 Dealer of the Year during
Summer NAMM.
Both
the quality of buyers and the number of retailers that exhibitors
hadn’t met before surpassed many exhibitors’ expectations. “The
bonus for us was that we got to meet dealers who don’t go to the
NAMM Show in Anaheim,” said Sheryl Laukat, CEO of Cannonball
Musical Instruments. “They are very important to us, and it was
great to sit down, see their faces and really connect. And we may
have picked up some new dealers; it’s looking really good.”
the quality of buyers and the number of retailers that exhibitors
hadn’t met before surpassed many exhibitors’ expectations. “The
bonus for us was that we got to meet dealers who don’t go to the
NAMM Show in Anaheim,” said Sheryl Laukat, CEO of Cannonball
Musical Instruments. “They are very important to us, and it was
great to sit down, see their faces and really connect. And we may
have picked up some new dealers; it’s looking really good.”
Summer
NAMM’s new digs, the Music City Center, proved a natural fit. The
refrain repeated by retailers and brands alike played clearly –
Music City Center might have been tailor-made for Summer NAMM.
Carolina Bridges of Deering Banjos noted MCC’s delightful sound
qualities. “The acoustics in here are perfect for people to hear
our instruments,” she said. While Scott Thompson, vice president of
sales for The Music Link noted the aesthetics, “The best thing
about the new Center is the natural light, which makes people happy
and makes our guitars and mandolins look just beautiful.”
NAMM’s new digs, the Music City Center, proved a natural fit. The
refrain repeated by retailers and brands alike played clearly –
Music City Center might have been tailor-made for Summer NAMM.
Carolina Bridges of Deering Banjos noted MCC’s delightful sound
qualities. “The acoustics in here are perfect for people to hear
our instruments,” she said. While Scott Thompson, vice president of
sales for The Music Link noted the aesthetics, “The best thing
about the new Center is the natural light, which makes people happy
and makes our guitars and mandolins look just beautiful.”
NAMM
didn’t end at show close each day. A new series of first-class
evening events brought the industry together for inspiration,
networking and good times. They kicked off with a tribute to Jimi
Hendrix’ Nashville years to warm-up the crowd on Wednesday night.
“The gatherings that NAMM hosts are a nice touch,” said Ron
Partain of Ron’s World of Music in Alabama. “It’s good, as a
member, to feel appreciated.”
didn’t end at show close each day. A new series of first-class
evening events brought the industry together for inspiration,
networking and good times. They kicked off with a tribute to Jimi
Hendrix’ Nashville years to warm-up the crowd on Wednesday night.
“The gatherings that NAMM hosts are a nice touch,” said Ron
Partain of Ron’s World of Music in Alabama. “It’s good, as a
member, to feel appreciated.”
With
the positive buzz coming from dealers as well as exhibitors, NAMM
members are anticipating a viable second half of 2013 and looking
toward 2014 with heightened expectations of an industry showing
encouraging vibrancy. Many are laying plans for future NAMM shows
already. “This is my first show. It’s crazy!” said Ronald
Irizarry of ARJ Percussion. “My only regret? I wish I had gotten a
bigger booth.”
the positive buzz coming from dealers as well as exhibitors, NAMM
members are anticipating a viable second half of 2013 and looking
toward 2014 with heightened expectations of an industry showing
encouraging vibrancy. Many are laying plans for future NAMM shows
already. “This is my first show. It’s crazy!” said Ronald
Irizarry of ARJ Percussion. “My only regret? I wish I had gotten a
bigger booth.”
Chuck Schultz for Country Music News International