More and more companies rather sell on sites like Amazon and Reverb directly.
Years ago I was in talks with one of the big brands of opening a shop for them. Like Apple.
I still think this online/offline sales model is the way to go, and seeing how it goes nowadays, I might be right and I had a good foresight.
Here in downtown Amsterdam, all the small, older drum shops closed because of the new age and crazy high rent and other costs.
Sometimes a shop moves to another city, or opens again but without a drum section.
As drums take up a lot of m2.
We have one big mostly drum shop that is hit hard with Covid and one small (but packed to the ceiling) only drum shop that has the stock in his house, so probably is more ok and doesn’t bother too much.
There is a big retailer with medium shop, but a really small drum section, so they have most of their income from stuff like DJ @ studio gear, and keyboards.
The same thing goes for live musis spots. We lost most of themdue to hugh costs, and complaining neighbours.
And then Covid hit, which basically anihilated the general Live scene.
I really wonder what will return after this. And if it returns, how many (paying) audience, places to play, or even players will be even left.