The store I work at used to be one of those home organ/Piano stores. The owner had the vision to become a full MI retailer as organ sales died,But stayed in the Malls. You would be surprised at how much is sold to out of town visitors in a Mall Store, People a routinely shocked to see a two level Music store in a Mall. The Mall is high rent but you spend next to zero on advertising. Don;t have to. Everyone in town and out of town already knows you are there. We don't have to sell at higher prices and everything including the Pianos are priced at MAP. OF course you have to take every advantage of discounts including paying for all incoming stock within 30 days for an extra 2 or 3 points and don't pay interest or floor ANYTHING not paid for. Even on Pianos where you don't usually find transparency, we price them at MAP.

Clavinovas and Arrangers are the new Home organs. They are so good they have cut into piano sales as well. Uprights are dead, baby Grands are still decent sellers. MI is still doing well. Even in recessionary times people still look to home entertainment.