Regrettably, Barry Vogel, former president of the Mobile Enhancement Retailers Association, is closing up shop after 36 years.
Vogel is liquidating merchandise at his Oswego, NY-based car audio shop called the Ultimate Edge.
“Profitability has fallen and the competition is stiffer,” he said. “I don’t think we’re selling less in actual products, but we’re making a fraction of what we used to make.”
Vogel said he is looking for other opportunities in the industry.
Source: CEoutlook
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Wow, I am sorry to hear that. I applaud you Barry for having the courage
To close and do something else. Not every One knows when to call it quits.
As for those of you who want to say your business model is so
Much better I am sure you are more hype than flight! Don’t praise yourself
Let others recognize your merit then you can say! I have been to your
Trainings Barry and have seen you in mera Trainings and I want
To say you have helped me tons.! Guys grow up we are in this together
And NOBODY is making a killing in this industry so let’s keep it real.
As my wife says nobody is made of gold that everybody has to love you!
Speaking from experience, I can say that being Preident of MERA requires not taking your eye off the ball, which is that your own business must come first. As for the internet, margin pressures, etc – the key is to be constantly changing and evolving. One must fight today’s battles and realize that tomorrow’s will be different. Be prepared for the changes that will occur in your business or you will be swept away by change. If its not broken, break it before someone else does.
Good luck Barry, wish you the best
Mike Cofield – co-founder and former MERA president, Current President of MESA, most importantly – still in business and still growing both top and bottom line.
Join MESA today!!
After more than 40 yrs in the industry I see the young may have brains but no class.Kick a man when he is down-real class guys. GOOD LUCK BARRY.
Barry
I wish you all the best.
To great a guy that is a true gentleman
Mike
Man, I am not going to pretend to know everything like most of the posters on this thread. My store has been here for over 40 years and I am still learning.
WTF is Oswego? Making it 36 years in a town that conjures up images of a town built around a summer camp named after the original indigenous population is pretty amazing. Youth will be served, young guys open up and are able to attract a younger demo, old geezers like Barry (this is my 28th year and I’m still a pup) put their money away to enjoy the next stage. I heard Greensboro, NC dealers are printing money!
It’s sad to see any industry veteran go. My boss has been fighting tooth and nail to keep us afloat, but like someone said, people don’t appreciate good customer service expertise, and professionalism. Our biggest competition is the transshippers. People go there and don’t find us until there is a problem and the other shop declined to fix it. I really wish there were legislation in place to keep businesses like that out. I don’t mind fair competition from a good shop. We’ve had several and they’ve all gone away. But having to fight someone like that without stooping to their level is a lot tougher. And I refuse to stoop to their level.
Good luck to you Barry. After 22 years in the car audio retail business, we are constantly having to find more ways to be creative to compete in todays market and find new avenues to promote and advertise our stores without spending money.We work really hard at being “the experts” but most times that isn’t appreciated. Anyone who survives this is lucky, not a genius.
Guys like Barry and many others that knew everything (including trying to tell us how to run our business..hahaha) have realized the current 12 volt industry is almost done. Barry is the first of many to “cleanse” the 12 volt industry. Many of the “good old days”dealers that are sitting around waiting for the customers to start flocking back in to get overcharged are doomed. The internet has made the 12 volt customer smarter than the dealer. Full service “one stop shops” are the new business model i.e. rims, leather, tint, bumpers, etc. 12 volt Brands that embrace these guys versus the Big box stores that CANT SELL THE BETTER STUFF will survive and thrive. Protected areas and protected prices are like 56 Fords- GONE!!!!
You know the old saying: “those who cannot do…teach”
Barry may have been a great teacher but today’s business is different than it was years ago. You cannot fool the consumers anymore, you can’t install a sub-woofer in their car and charge them $1200 like the old days. If you built your business on such practice, you are guaranteed to fail and close shop in today’s market
We are also thinking of what to do daily. Money is really tight and credit people don’t know how hard it really is to survive in this business environment. I have about 1 year left.
Key Word is FORMER – president.
It seems many well established car audio retailers are shutting down, seems as though the older and more established you are the less you can innovate your way out of the business issues (ie margins and costs) that plague the industry.
I agree with Garwood, doesn’t bode well for what MERA teaches if your former president is shutting down a retail store.
let me get this straight. this is the guy teaching others how to run their businesses? speaks well for mera.