Steinway of Chicago Closes: Symbolic or Not?
Home >> Blogs >> Steinway of Chicago Closes: Symbolic or Not?
Tickling the Ivories Blog
Subscribe
Steinway of Chicago Closes: Symbolic or Not?
By Sam Bennett
1/5/2011 12:49:00 AM
I recently learned that Steinway of Chicago is closing.  Is this just another in a long list of prominent piano dealerships to lose their footing in this long recession or is it a reflection on the viability of iconic brands?  Or is it something deeper?  Quite a few established Steinway and Yamaha piano dealers around the country have closed, and I think it is worth evaluating.  In an online forum, someone's reaction to the Chicago new was to complain that Steinway's high prices were to blame, but I don't see it that way.

The industry evolves with the economy.  When stores open and close frequently, part of the support structure for local piano culture is lost.  The full factors at play in Chicago are unknown, but there is the symbolic effect of an iconic brand in flux...others look to them to see what they are doing.  I don't see price as the big issue.  The best information available to me indicates that Steinway's recent sales numbers are reflected in the piano market as a whole.  If they wish to beat the market, they have to focus on value.  Most reports indicate the factory is working to improve execution which I believe is the best way to raise value.  The Essex line offers good value (though best value is hotly debated) and I anticipate even more changes to the Boston line.  When the economy finds new footing (at whatever level that is) Steinway should be better positioned than before this recession.  A lot can go right or wrong, but I haven't seen a challenger for top dog emerge.  Some other great makers captured significant market share before the global recession, but that's as far as it went.  It's within Steinway's ability to stay on top if they do the right things.

As it relates to pricing and demand, if Steinway grands were suddenly $10k less, the effect would be shortsighted.  Of course, Steinway now has other lines to consider....

For now, supply and demand need to find some predictable relationship.  This would be good for everyone, not just Steinway dealers, but let us work on growing real demand.  We dealers need to plant more seeds and nurture the seedlings so there will be something to harvest year in, year out.  I've watched many dealers spend all there efforts harvesting, not planting, and guess what?

25 years ago, few people could afford Steinways but nearly everyone aspired to have one.  10 years ago, few people could afford Steinways but among those who could, some discovered Schimmel or Estonia or Mason & Hamlin.  Steinway will never be affordable for everyone, but as another 10 years goes by, a generation could grow up dreaming of something other than Steinway.  This is the challenge Steinway faces beyond the immediate downturn.  

As I write this, Atlanta is without a Yamaha piano dealer.  Neighboring Birmingham lost their Steinway dealer of over 100 years.  Phoenix Steinway has closed.  The Denver Steinway dealer is closing.  Even the piano store in Beverly Hills is closing.  The economy will turn, and new businesses will take their place, but what lessons will be learned in the changeover.  Will it be a Steinway dealer?  Will it be another brand?  Or will some other pasttime further displace the piano in our culture?  For my part, I will run my business by continuing to plant seeds and nurture the next generation of pianists.

     
Currently rated 0 by 0 people


Tags: Steinway, Piano Dealers, Yamaha Pianos
Categories: N/A
Bookmark and Share
Subscribe:  Email | RSS  

Comments:
No Comments have been submitted.

 
Include comments
Tag Cloud
Bechstein Bosendorfer Casio Charles Walter Digital Pianos Estonia Green piano lamps Grotrian Hailun Hailun Pianos House of Troy how to buy a piano Indrek Laul Knabe Mason & Hamlin music educators NAMM Piano Dealers Piano Insurance piano lamps piano moving piano restoration Piano Videos player pianos QRS Roland Samick Schimmel Seiler Social Media Starter Piano Starter pianos Steinway Story & Clark upright pianos Used Kawai Pianos Used Yamaha Pianos Yamaha Yamaha Pianos YouTube
 
Recent Posts
PianoWorks YouTube Channel Passes 250,000 Views
  Comments: 0
  Rating: 0 / 0
Benefit Piano Concert: Salvation Army School for the Blind in Jamaica
  Comments: 0
  Rating: 0 / 0
Bechstein Cooperates with Hailun
  Comments: 0
  Rating: 0 / 0
PianoWorks Expands Digital Piano Department
  Comments: 0
  Rating: 0 / 0
Seiler Selects PianoWorks As Atlanta's Authorized Dealer
  Comments: 0
  Rating: 0 / 0
NAMM 2012: Hanging out in Estonia Piano Booth
  Comments: 0
  Rating: 5 / 1
End of Summer, Back to Piano Concert (8-20-11 wrap up)
  Comments: 0
  Rating: 0 / 0
Mr. Hailun Chen of Hailun Pianos Visits PianoWorks
  Comments: 0
  Rating: 4 / 1
End of Summer, Back to Piano Concert
  Comments: 0
  Rating: 0 / 0
Spring Recital Bookings: Now Open!
  Comments: 0
  Rating: 0 / 0
 
Recent Comments
Retire Spinet Pianos: Good starter pianos and Bad starter pianos (10)
David Estey, Registered Piano Technician wrote: Not all spinets are created equal, and therefore c... [More]
Retire Spinet Pianos: Good starter pianos and Bad starter pianos (10)
Sam Bennett wrote: Dear Piano Teacher: historically speaking, spinet... [More]
Retire Spinet Pianos: Good starter pianos and Bad starter pianos (10)
Piano Teacher wrote: Many inexpensive (less then $2,000.00) pianos buil... [More]
Visit to SMC and the Knabe Assembly Line (2)
Jim Patrone wrote: I've owned Samick-made pianos over the last 30+ ye... [More]
Do I Need Piano Insurance? Guidance For Piano Owners (1)
Boston Moving Companies wrote: That's why it is really important to hire a moving... [More]
Retire Spinet Pianos: Good starter pianos and Bad starter pianos (10)
Brustvergrößerung wrote: I really like your website because you gave me abo... [More]
"Green" Piano Lamps: How California's Title 20 will affect us. (3)
stocks wrote: This is a delicate topic but you did a good job on... [More]
Bosendorfer Selection: Take a Trip to Vienna! (1)
Ray wrote: Nice !!

Thanks, guys- great seeing you last... [More]
"Green" Piano Lamps: How California's Title 20 will affect us. (3)
old fashioned lightbulbs banned wrote: I'm not really an expert on this. But I want to ap... [More]
GA Baptist Conference - Toccoa selects new Roland Digital Piano (2)
Glen Sloan wrote: If both George Houston and David Carnes both liked... [More]
 
Archive
2012
 April (1)
 March (2)
 February (3)
 
2011
 August (4)
 June (1)
 April (7)
 March (4)
 January (1)
 
 
Authors
Glen Sloan (1)
Hailun USA (1)
Jeannette Hughes (1)
Jennifer Gibson (9)
Mindy Dawn (2)
Sam Bennett (44)
 
Categories
Concerts (6)
PianoWorks in the Community (4)
PianoWorks Piano Pick of the Month (1)
Products and Brands (6)
 
Blog Roll
pppppp