THE Naim show 2016

Brilliant proposal, Tobyjug.  Bring the show to the west coast USA, and I would surely attend.

Great idea.It may be impractical but what about some deficated listening rooms at Naim HQ in Salisbury? The earlier classic systems could be on permanent, working display. It may mean some non-Naim components such as the Linn Sondek are part of it, but I am sure Naim is big enough to allow this. Of course economics and space would dictate whether it would be feasible.

Kiwi cat posted:

Great idea.It may be impractical but what about some deficated listening rooms at Naim HQ in Salisbury? The earlier classic systems could be on permanent, working display. It may mean some non-Naim components such as the Linn Sondek are part of it, but I am sure Naim is big enough to allow this. Of course economics and space would dictate whether it would be feasible.

Have you seen how much free space they have at HQ?  (Hint : very little!)

Why would Naim want to do it anyway? They must want to sell more new boxes, not encourage people to head off to the auction sites to look for bargain old units.

best

David

Naim could lease a dedicated facility in the Salisbury area where they could have a permanent demonstration of several systems but not for selling as this would undermine the dealer agreements.  

But in reality it would require considerable investment and would be an additional overhead resource that would be far better applied elsewhere i.e product development.  

Graham Clarke posted:

Kiwi cat posted:

Great idea.It may be impractical but what about some deficated listening rooms at Naim HQ in Salisbury? The earlier classic systems could be on permanent, working display. It may mean some non-Naim components such as the Linn Sondek are part of it, but I am sure Naim is big enough to allow this. Of course economics and space would dictate whether it would be feasible.

Have you seen how much free space they have at HQ?  (Hint : very little!)

Once they stop doing speakers they will have a bit more. 

I thought they were considering Stirling Castle...............

If they did set up a listening venue (in the UK) they could make it available to Retailers who could bring their potential customers along, including overseas customers et al.

It wouldn't need to be located in Salisbury.

Although I would like to visit such a show, I agree it is not very practicable for the reasons mentioned above. However, could there be a demand for a more inclusive classic British hifi museum - from BBC speakers onwards?

Clive

Auction sites are the friend of Naim.   Just like they are the friend of Porsche.  Just like they are the friend of the IPO.  The secondary markets make the primary market possible.  

"Why would Naim want to do it anyway? They must want to sell more new boxes, not encourage people to head off to the auction sites to look for bargain old units."

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Naim could lease a dedicated facility in the Salisbury area where they could have a permanent demonstration of several systems but not for selling as this would undermine the dealer agreements.  

But in reality it would require considerable investment and would be an additional overhead resource that would be far better applied elsewhere i.e product development.  

But why would they want to do this?  As you say, the danger is that this could undermine their dealers.  Isn't it the dealers' job to sell equipment to customers, not Naim's directly?

The cost would eat into their bottom line and given that people would have to travel to see this I think there would be limited appeal, certainly outside those on this forum who likely have less loyalty/allegiance to Naim.

Skip posted:

Auction sites are the friend of Naim.   Just like they are the friend of Porsche.  Just like they are the friend of the IPO.  The secondary markets make the primary market possible.  

 

"Why would Naim want to do it anyway? They must want to sell more new boxes, not encourage people to head off to the auction sites to look for bargain old units."

 

That's true to some extent but can also be cannibalistic.  For instance why buy a brand new £20K 552 when you can get an ex-demo one for maybe £15-16K or a second hand one for under £10K and then have it serviced to like new?

That's likely another reason why Naim continue to produce new equipment or upgrade existing models, to encourage new buyers when there are no deals to be had due to its newness.

Naim could buy a large articulated lorry and divide it into four rooms: 5 series, classic, 500 and Statement, and drive round the world providing personal demonstrations. The lorry could have a large roof box full of equipment for people to buy there and then. And Paul could be on hand to serve designer coffees and gourmet sandwiches. 

Don't forget the Ford Transit van following behind with muso and Qb .....

There would be gourmet potato crisps and Fever Tree fizzy drinks.

Good thought, and another commercial winner. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

Naim could buy a large articulated lorry and divide it into four rooms: 5 series, classic, 500 and Statement, and drive round the world providing personal demonstrations. The lorry could have a large roof box full of equipment for people to buy there and then. And Paul could be on hand to serve designer coffees and gourmet sandwiches. 

Might be tricky keeping the Fraim shelves from wobbling around.  Pretty sure the gourmet sandwiches would ruin the PRaT too.

Graham Clarke posted:

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Naim could lease a dedicated facility in the Salisbury area where they could have a permanent demonstration of several systems but not for selling as this would undermine the dealer agreements.  

But in reality it would require considerable investment and would be an additional overhead resource that would be far better applied elsewhere i.e product development.  

But why would they want to do this?  As you say, the danger is that this could undermine their dealers.  Isn't it the dealers' job to sell equipment to customers, not Naim's directly?

The cost would eat into their bottom line and given that people would have to travel to see this I think there would be limited appeal, certainly outside those on this forum who likely have less loyalty/allegiance to Naim.

Well some organisations do just that.  Ercol have a showroom at their factory in Princes Risborough but direct potential customers after viewing to one of their stockists so it needn't undermine.  It would be an investment - risk vs opportunity - decision.  In some ways an extension of what they do now - inviting customers on a factory tour and then into their dem room.  

We have been forgetting the contribution that Bentley could make to this endeavour. Perhaps Paul could serve the gourmet sandwiches from the boot of his Naim-equipped Bentley?

I would be delighted but I am more of a bacon roll kinda guy

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Graham Clarke posted:

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Naim could lease a dedicated facility in the Salisbury area where they could have a permanent demonstration of several systems but not for selling as this would undermine the dealer agreements.  

But in reality it would require considerable investment and would be an additional overhead resource that would be far better applied elsewhere i.e product development.  

But why would they want to do this?  As you say, the danger is that this could undermine their dealers.  Isn't it the dealers' job to sell equipment to customers, not Naim's directly?

The cost would eat into their bottom line and given that people would have to travel to see this I think there would be limited appeal, certainly outside those on this forum who likely have less loyalty/allegiance to Naim.

Well some organisations do just that.  Ercol have a showroom at their factory in Princes Risborough but direct potential customers after viewing to one of their stockists so it needn't undermine.  It would be an investment - risk vs opportunity - decision.  In some ways an extension of what they do now - inviting customers on a factory tour and then into their dem room.  

So today Naim expects its dealers to purchase stock for demonstration, presumably at a discount from retail price but still at a level where Naim makes a profit on the sale.  This no doubt helps their yearly results.

If they moved to a model (at least for the UK) where THEY owned and demoed the stock in a dedicated facility, not only would they have a depreciating capital asset on their books but they would lose some percentage of the demo unit revenue stream.

I appreciate that other vendors may have different business models (e.g. Ercol), but financially how would this help Naim?

Paul Stephenson posted:

I would be delighted but I am more of a bacon roll kinda guy

Oh I think bacon rolls could be accommodated within the concept if need be. After all it is 2016!

Paul Stephenson posted:

I would be delighted but I am more of a bacon roll kinda guy

Where would you like us to deliver the articulated lorry demonstrator Paul, to your Salisbury HQ?

Graham Clarke posted:

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Graham Clarke posted:

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Naim could lease a dedicated facility in the Salisbury area where they could have a permanent demonstration of several systems but not for selling as this would undermine the dealer agreements.  

But in reality it would require considerable investment and would be an additional overhead resource that would be far better applied elsewhere i.e product development.  

But why would they want to do this?  As you say, the danger is that this could undermine their dealers.  Isn't it the dealers' job to sell equipment to customers, not Naim's directly?

The cost would eat into their bottom line and given that people would have to travel to see this I think there would be limited appeal, certainly outside those on this forum who likely have less loyalty/allegiance to Naim.

Well some organisations do just that.  Ercol have a showroom at their factory in Princes Risborough but direct potential customers after viewing to one of their stockists so it needn't undermine.  It would be an investment - risk vs opportunity - decision.  In some ways an extension of what they do now - inviting customers on a factory tour and then into their dem room.  

So today Naim expects its dealers to purchase stock for demonstration, presumably at a discount from retail price but still at a level where Naim makes a profit on the sale.  This no doubt helps their yearly results.

If they moved to a model (at least for the UK) where THEY owned and demoed the stock in a dedicated facility, not only would they have a depreciating capital asset on their books but they would lose some percentage of the demo unit revenue stream.

I appreciate that other vendors may have different business models (e.g. Ercol), but financially how would this help Naim?

Well as I say it's risk vs opportunity.  Some take the view that to realise hard cash benefit you have to indulge in the soft. Provided the official dealers still had ultimate control of sale I could see it benefiting all concerned in that it would provoke an early insight into the Naim experience. The dealers would still have to demo and in potential customers homes 

In fact it could be a better investment than inviting the likes of us down to the factory - after all we already take communion at Salisbury. 

And if Paul is going to personally serve bacon butties - win, win surely!!

Regards,

Lindsay

Dear Paul,

Living near York, I'm reasonably within reach for most folks, so can I propose that Naim can have the use of my house as their demonstration facility?

I'd be happy to show off the entire range, from Mu-so QB, right through to Statement, and bacon butties and an endless supply of coffee will be on hand.

Just a thought. 

Dave.

dave marshall posted:

Dear Paul,

Living near York, I'm reasonably within reach for most folks, so can I propose that Naim can have the use of my house as their demonstration facility?

I'd be happy to show off the entire range, from Mu-so QB, right through to Statement, and bacon butties and an endless supply of coffee will be on hand.

Just a thought. 

Dave.

Now that is enterprise!!

The Strat (Fender) posted:

dave marshall posted:

Dear Paul,

Living near York, I'm reasonably within reach for most folks, so can I propose that Naim can have the use of my house as their demonstration facility?

I'd be happy to show off the entire range, from Mu-so QB, right through to Statement, and bacon butties and an endless supply of coffee will be on hand.

Just a thought. 

Dave.

Now that is enterprise!!

If you don't ask................etc.

I can dream, can't I? 

Dave.