One of the bigger news stories to hit the music products industry over the past few months has been the creation of Zoom North America, a new company formed to distribute future product from Zoom Corp. (Japan) in the United States. Heading the company, which exhibited at Summer NAMM in July, is a robust team of recognized industry leaders, including CEO Scott Goodman and newly appointed Vice President of Sales and Strategic Planning Scott Hagen. At the Nashville show, Zoom North America showcased its new H6 Handy Recorder—now shipping, with a MAP of $399.99—to the widespread interest and enthusiasm of the dealers in attendance. A few weeks after the show, The Retailer sat down with Hagen, asking him about Zoom North America and the H6 Handy Recorder, and seeking to learn how the product changes the competitive landscape.
Speaking about Zoom North America’s creation, Hagen said, “It was really driven by the decision of Zoom Corp. to get closer to their customer base in the U.S.” The principal reasons for that, he said, were twofold: first, to continue to improve the level of service provided to the U.S. customer base and, second, to hear more about what customers and end users want and need. This, Hagen said, will enable the company to build better products and solutions that are more responsive to marketplace needs. But, although Zoom North America is only months old, that dedication to deliver what customers are clamoring…