April 15, 2009 - VOLUME 26, No.4
The Economy is Awful!
Guitar sales are down, but they are holding up just fine in perhaps the worst economic crisis of our lives.
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The Forgotten Few
MI could not operate without the service industry. However, the vital industry segment has never received its due. Until now that is.
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Comic Genius
Normandy Guitars has employed a very different marketing approach. Find out what it is.
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MI BUZZ
The Latest, Industry, Dealers, People and Product Buzz and Showcases.

COLUMNS
The Music & Sound Independent Retailer
We celebrate the 25th edition of the Music & Sound Independent Retailer by doing two things. First we feature a manufacturer so interested in indie dealers that it calls itself the Indie Guitar Co. Second, we feature independent dealers who have been the subject of recent newspaper/television stories. Believe us, there is good news out there.

NAMM Photo Collage
We take a look at the sights from The NAMM Show in Anaheim.

Print for Profit
Dan Vedda tells you how to take advantage of customers drawn to your store by NAMM’s “Wanna Play” campaign.

Five Minutes With
If you want all of the scoop about Fender and the industry, this is definitely the story for you. Fender’s Andy Rossi joins us for an entertaining interview.

MI Spy
MI Spy heads to the home of the 2008 World Series champions, Philadelphia, in search of championship service. There’s nothing better than thinking about baseball and spring right now, is there? Did the Philly retailers hit a home run or strike out?

Business & Marketing
The Rock House Method’s Joe Palombo offers tons of ways you can be more familiar with the likes and dislikes of the youths who walk in your doors.

Sales Guru
Gene Fresco gives up his secrets… His secrets to selling guitars. You can only find it here.

Veddatorial
When the going gets tough, Dan Vedda tells you how you can get going.

Formidable Females
Toby Nady; Toby Nady graduated from college with a degree in clinical psychology. What does that have to do with music? Nothing. It’s been a long, strange trip for her. But a very good and successful trip.
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