Music for the masses!
Posted by: N. Mason on 15 November 2003
Whilst attending the Scottish Hi-Fi Show recently I delighted in the Naim demo of the new entry level products, namely the CD5I and the new Nait. These products have been designed whether we like it or not, to appeal to a broader market than before and the price for an entry level Naim system has just got lower.
But Naim, if you are serious about opening up to a new type of customer as well as retaining the values we have grown to admire, I humbly suggest you also increase the franchise to many more high street retailers; perhaps offer them the entry level products to market, leaving the Reference Series to your existing Dealers. The reason for suggesting this heresy is that I see little benefit to Naim from many of your chosen outlets, who sell Naim begrudgingly-these retailers are just as happy to sell non-Naim items, possibly even more so. In conversations with many I know who are interested in music and Hi-Fi, most have never heard (their loss!) of Naim Audio, but are aware of the likes of Linn, Rega etc. No-one can tell a Hi-Fi Retailer how to run its business; its a competative world but you have little to lose and everything to gain if only you would open up your franchise and increase your advertising budget.
Respectfully Yours, Neil Mason
But Naim, if you are serious about opening up to a new type of customer as well as retaining the values we have grown to admire, I humbly suggest you also increase the franchise to many more high street retailers; perhaps offer them the entry level products to market, leaving the Reference Series to your existing Dealers. The reason for suggesting this heresy is that I see little benefit to Naim from many of your chosen outlets, who sell Naim begrudgingly-these retailers are just as happy to sell non-Naim items, possibly even more so. In conversations with many I know who are interested in music and Hi-Fi, most have never heard (their loss!) of Naim Audio, but are aware of the likes of Linn, Rega etc. No-one can tell a Hi-Fi Retailer how to run its business; its a competative world but you have little to lose and everything to gain if only you would open up your franchise and increase your advertising budget.
Respectfully Yours, Neil Mason
Mmmm! buy your Nait5i and CD5i from Richer Sounds with a 20 percent discount, sounds like a neat idea but I doubt it'll catch on. 
Seriously though, I don't think Linn have done themselves a lot of favours by selling their stuff through non-specialist outlets. Many of these have a pretty poor reputation for demos and the like (e.g. Harrods).
David
Seriously though, I don't think Linn have done themselves a lot of favours by selling their stuff through non-specialist outlets. Many of these have a pretty poor reputation for demos and the like (e.g. Harrods).
David