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Our Internet Philosophy
The
Internet is arguably the most significant tool to be put in the hands of
homo sapiens in all of history. It seemingly offers us previously
unimagined opportunities to act, as individuals, in our personal self
-interest. It is imperative, however, that it is an enlightened
self-interest we pursue and not merely short-term gain that will in subtle
ways erode, or even conflict with, our longer-term well being. May we
share our perspective?
Our
chosen vocation is retailing music, and more specifically, folk music.
While music is not a fundamental building block of civilization, it is an
art form that in all likelihood developed shortly after each society made
the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture. I’m confident
that some portion of the meager free time enjoyed by those early farmers
when the crops had been tended, was used to make music. And for millennia
thereafter, the only music was folk music.
Anyone
involved with folk music, in any manner, knows that it can only be enjoyed
to the fullest in community with others. If you are an amateur player, you
likely have the most fun making music in a ‘jam session’ with others. If
you are a listener, you undoubtedly have many vivid and treasured memories
of special concerts during which you were one of the members of an
audience. If you are a performer, there is no rush like that of being
before a large gathering of fans that truly appreciates what you have to
offer musically. From our standpoint, we have gotten our enjoyment out of
getting to know our customers almost as an extended family, out of hosting
‘jam sessions’ and workshops, out of producing concerts, out of selling
tickets to folk music events, and out of underwriting everything from radio
shows to concerts produced by others. Our greatest pleasure is the support
and appreciation of the community that participates in the events we host
and sponsor.
Enter
the Internet. In our nearly thirty years in the music business, we have had
the good fortune of being situated in the midst of an enlightened folk music
community that understands the importance of having a focal point such as
The Homestead Pickin’ Parlor® in the community at which folks of like
musical mind can gather and
from which that community can
grow. They
also understand that stores such as ours will only continue to exist as long
as they continue to support them. In recent years, we, like many small
retailers, have seen our business steadily decline due to the impact of the
Internet, but more disturbing to us is the complete loss of many similar
stores throughout the country. Add to that the loss of many small record
labels and their wonderful folk music catalogs, which used to be sold in the
now vanished stores. It’s a spectacle that does not speak well for a
healthy future for folk music.
What
does this mean to you, the consumer, who found us by using the Internet?
First of all, if you have a store such as The Homestead Pickin’ Parlor® in
your community, use the Internet to your hearts content to do your research
prior to making a purchase, but when it’s time to buy, our advice is to go
to your local merchant and spend your $$$$$s there. Let that dealer know
how much you appreciate their presence and encourage them to provide as much
support as possible to keep your music community alive and well. If
they’re not hosting jams, putting on workshops, or producing concerts,
encourage them to do so. Have them call us. We’ll cheerfully share our
experience with them. And encourage others in your musical community to add
their purchase $$$$s and personal encouragement to yours.
Research has shown that of each $1.00 you
spend with a locally owned independent business, an average of $ .68 is
re-circulated into the local economy as opposed to $ .43 when you make your
purchase at a national chain. Every folk music store that we have ever been
made aware of is, or lamentably, was, such an independent business. The
story is even more dismal when you make your purchase on-line from a
supplier that is many states or even countries away from where you live. In
that instance $ .00 of each $1.00 you spend on line is put to work in your
local economy. It’s in your enlightened economic self-interest to keep
locally owned music stores alive.
All of
that having been said, we invite you to continue perusing our web site.
If you
do not have a folk music retailer in your local community with whom you can
work, we’ll be happy to take your order. But it won’t be by clicking on an
“Add to Cart” button. Select what you want to buy and give us a call on our
toll-free number. Or if you don’t seem to find exactly what you are looking
for, give us a call as well. We’d love to talk with you and invite you to
become another member of our extended family. You can be assured that we
will re-invest in the folk music community and the next time you visit
Minnesota we’ll tell you where to enjoy the fruits of the purchases you’ve
made with us. If you do have such a local folk music retailer, don’t be
surprised if we steer you in their direction possibly even offering an
address and a phone number. The pennies on a dollar that you may save by
buying on the Internet are insignificant compared to the good you will be
doing to maintain a healthy musical community for yourself and for those
coming behind you when you buy where you live. That’s a lot better interest
than you will get at your local bank or S & L.
The
future of retailing in general, and of folk music in particular, is not of
necessity something that will be formulated by others and thrust upon you.
You have a significant role to play in its definition. Think globally, act
neighborly – in community.
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