1. If you give lessons, do recitals. Family recitals bring in other families who want to perform. – Myrna Sislen, Middle C Music
2. Are you opening at 9 a.m. when you could be opening at 10 a.m.? Do the latter and save up to $26,000 a year. – Tracy Leenman, Musical Innovations
3. When shipping out an order, include a handwritten “thank you” note on the receipt. (Amazon can’t do that personal touch!) – Marcia Stearns, Bookmark Music
4. Departmentalize your Facebook presence. Have a separate account for print department, combo department, piano, etc., to better target the customer with that specific interest and not have a piano teacher get a lot of posting about drums and guitars. – Tracy Moody, Beakcock Music
5. Give out a free store-logo T-shirt with every instrument rented, and then tell the students if they post of picture of themselves wearing the shirt on your Facebook page they get a gift certificate. – Tracy Leenman & Rebecca Ashe, Musical Innovations
6. Create a new profit center for your store by putting a vending machine in the lessons studio area. – Jessica Freehling-Kazzie, Art’s Music Shop
7. Put your great teachers to work making short product demonstrations in your store, then post on YouTube and link on your site. – Connie Smith, Ward-Brodt
