T here are a few issues each year that the Music Inc. team deems as “must-keeps.” While every issue of Music Inc. is filled with gooey MI B2B goodness, these “must-keep” issues can be thought of as timeless treasure troves of business inspiration. And the Holiday Sales Guide issue you have in your hands right now is one of those. Each year, our editorial team speaks to retailing movers and shakers in the MI industry who are coming up with compelling and successful holiday promotions, events and product bundles. Starting on page 42, our editorial assistant, Kimberly Kapela, spoke to three retailers — Violin Shop Tampa, Kidder Music and Mike Risko Music PERSPECTIVE I BY KATIE KAILUS THIS ONE’S A KEEPER
— to share their top holiday sales strate- gies, from orchestral product bundles to holiday-themed in-store events. While a few of our past Holiday Sales Guides feature strategies tied to technology, many don’t. And quite a few stand the test of time when it comes to solid holiday sales inspiration — no doubt sending them into that “must-keep” category.
For example, in our 2024 Holiday Sales Guide, we shared Boothe Music’s idea of a rent-to-own program that lets families choose any guitar under $400 and spread out the payments. This holiday offering from the Spanish Fork, Utah-based dealer- ship provides parents with an affordable, flexible way to give their children the gift of music during the holiday season. You can find more about Boothe Music’s rent-to-own program on page 50 of the October 2024 issue. A standout holiday bundle idea appeared on page 50 of our October 2019 Holiday Sales Guide. Rand Cook, co-owner of Candyman Strings & Things in Santa Fe, New Mexico, shared how his full-line dealership makes it easier for non-musicians to shop for musicians with their Guitar Players’ Gift Bags — curated bundles of add-ons and accessories that players need but non-players might not think to buy. “When somebody buys a guitar [especially if the recipient is a first-time player], they’re going to need a bag, they’re going to need a stand and they’re going to need a tuner,” Cook said, adding that the Candyman team educates them as a part of the sale. “Buying for musicians is a difficult thing, and we do the best we can to sort of qualify them and guide them.” One oldie-but-goodie comes from Symphony Supply in Paducah, Kentucky, with its holiday tree promotion, which ran in our October 2018 Holiday Sales Guide (also on page 50). The strings-only retailer displays a Christmas tree decorated with numbered ornaments. When customers make a purchase, they get to pick an ornament off the tree and get a prize corresponding to the number. The main prize? A $20 gift certificate for Symphony Supply. Each October, our Holiday Sales Guide issues offer a wealth of Q4 promo- tional ideas. Hit the magazine archive page of musicincmag.com to browse past Holiday Sales Guides and jot down some promotional ideas to start your holiday planning now, because December will be here before we know it. Happy holiday selling! MI
8 I MUSIC INC. I OCTOBER 2025
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