Sound Advice is embarking on a comeback, as the once 35-store chain and popular car audio destination, prepares to open its second store with plans for 8 locations in Florida.
The electronics specialist disappeared in 2008, more than 5 years after it was purchased by Boston-based Tweeter, which then went bankrupt.
Founder Peter Beshouri went back to the drawing board and is planning new locations for South Florida, Tampa and Orlando. And expanding out of state may be on the table.
The second store opens November 1 in Boca Raton, a year after the first revived Sound Advice store opened in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
It turns out that car audio is performing well–at 17 percent of the shop’s sales, the same level as in the past. “Car audio is rocking,” said Beshouri.
The 12-volt department is run by former senior VP merchandising for Car Toys, Dan Jeancola. He was also the original car audio buyer for Sound Advice and then a buyer at Tweeter.
Car audio accounts for 6,000 square feet (including the garage) of the store’s 15,000 feet. It has 2 bays that hold 4 cars in all.
The department includes 2 sound rooms and a marine area.
Jeancola said, “Marine has been such a large part of the business we will be incorporating a Marine Audio/Video Room into the 12V department. JL marine products are the main focus with other marine products such as large screen water resistant video products.”
Good car audio and home theater specialty shops are actually sparse, said Beshouri. “Make no mistake, there’s a void for what we’re doing. What’s the biggest problem manufacturers have? It’s getting their products displayed. You’re not going to get that at Best Buy. You won’t get it in an installer’s trunk.”
He adds, “One the mobile side, there were more car audio stores than hifi stores. Now, you’re hard pressed to find it.”
In home theater, Sound Advice will show 8 2-piece projectors, with a selection of screens ranging from about $2,000 to $50,000. “Most people can’t see the stuff. Most of it is in custom integrators and people can’t see it. They take your word.”
For car audio he sees a split in demographics between the teens and 20–somethings who want bass and the 30-plus crowd that wants to integrate an iPod, Droid or iPhone.
For Sound Advice, the ingredients to success are still the same, “Good brands, really good people, good products and service oriented, installation style,” Beshouri said.
Source: CEoutlook
Would love to see some more pics of their stores.