2015 Summer NAMM began with the “NAMM Retail Summit,” a NAMM U Breakfast Session that explored the strategies of NAMM Top 100 Dealers. In a series of one-on-one interviews with NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond, the session looked at how these music products retailers are rising above the rest in a hyper-competitive marketplace.

Sam Ash Music took home a NAMM Top 100 Award for Best Online Presentation. At the “NAMM Retail Summit,” Sammy Ash, COO of the Hicksville, N.Y.-based company, joined NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond for a candid conversation about how the chain retailer reached its 91st year in business.

Carter Vintage Guitars won a NAMM Top 100 Award for Best Exterior. But a pretty storefront is just a small part of Carter’s story. In two years, the Nashville retailer, led by Walter and Christie Carter, has grown into a nearly $4 million business with a bustling location. During the “NAMM Retail Summit,” the Carters revealed their success strategies to NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond. 

Gayle Beacock of Beacock Music in Vancouver, Wash., and Myrna Sislen of Middle C Music in Washington, D.C., operate under a simple but powerful strategy: Break down the barriers that keep people from making music. During the “NAMM Retail Summit,” NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond interviewed these two powerhouse independent retailers about how they execute this day in and day out.

At the “NAMM Retail Summit,” NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond called on Jon Haber, a previous NAMM Top 100 winner, for online retailing advice. Haber, owner of Middletown, N.Y.-based Alto Music, shared his strategies for transitioning from a brick-and-mortar-only retailer into a multichannel e-commerce powerhouse.

In 2014, Rand and Cindy Cook of The Candyman Strings and Things in Santa Fe, N.M., won NAMM’s Dealer of the Year award. Twelve months later, they regrouped with NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond at the “NAMM Retail Summit.” There, they delved into the strategy behind their award-winning full-line store.

School bids can be frustrating. At some point, you’ve probably spent hours working up a school bid, only to lose to a competitor. Still, there’s money to be made in school bidding, if you go about it the right way. Here, Tracy Leenman, owner of Musical Innovations in Greenville, S.C., looks at five ways music retailers can win in the school bid business. Get her tips for long-term success.

At the 2015 NAMM Show, three music retail veterans shared their wisdom on starting music retail businesses. Former Steinway Piano Gallery owner Greg Billings, the moderator, was joined by Ellen McDonald of Hartland Music and Menzie Pittman of Contemporary Music Center. They addressed common business pitfalls and what they’d do differently, looking back.

Rand and Cindy Cook of The Candyman Strings & Things have increased sales, gained loyal and long-term customers, and found a solution to the summer lessons lull, all while hosting a passion-producing, confidence-building program for the community youth. Their secret? An award-winning summer rock camp. Here, they share their guidelines for success.

Does your brick-and-mortar store need a makeover? Then check out this NAMM U session from the 2015 NAMM Show. Get great store design ideas from Jen Lowe of Boom Boom Percussion and a panel of forward-thinking music retailers—David Kalt of Chicago Music Exchange (pictured), Mike and Ray Guntren of Ray’s Midbell Music, and Mike Stryker of Spindrift Guitars.