Does music increase sales?

[Not your average framer]

We were handing out mince pies one christmas. I don't think that it had any effect upon sales, but some people stayed and chatted for while and gave me a chance to know some my customers a little better.

[Dave]

I used to do the same with chocolates, I ended up eating most of them myself.

[chris62]

I had the ppl people phone out of the blue, asked about my music in the gallery told them I don't play music to the public, next day I had an invoice for 300 notes
they obviously don't have an understanding of the english language. so then someone phoned me to have a few words. In the end I just told him to F*** Off and have not heard from them since

[prospero]

I've not had them, but some of these organisations work on projecting some sort of quasi-official persona and send out invoices in the hope that people will pay up just for the sake of a quiet life. And a lot do.

I find if you say no to everything you won't go far wrong.

[Grahame Case]

Day two of retail scenting - we are testing oak, so the shop smells very wooden at the moment. rich deep dark oak smell. it's rather warming

[Steve N]

Grahame Case wrote:
"Day two of retail scenting - we are testing oak, so the shop smells very wooden at the moment. rich deep dark oak smell. it's rather warming "

I find works just as well if you use sawdust on the floor, we use pine at Christmas Mmmm

As to music increase sales, I would think so, but it can also increase productivity, a bit of Rock helps keeps the staff going at a good pace, if we fall behind with the work flow, I play music at Benny Hill chase pace, put a 45 on the turntable at 78 rpm

[Not your average framer]

the shop smells very wooden at the moment. rich deep dark oak smell.

I wonder if it attracts woodworm?

Mind you, I think that this is something that I might try. Some years ago, I went into a shop which was dispensing a smell called "Christmas spice". It was a very nice, soothing smell!

[Grahame Case]

Here you are mark : http://www.daleair.com/yuletide-aroma?filter_name=spice that's what you want

[IFGL]

Jamie sometimes fills the air with scent , usually after a toilet break, I then spray round with oust, this dose not seem to increase sales, productivity takes a nose dive too as some staff elect to stand outside, until the air is breathable again.

[Steve N]

[Teresa]

I only once had a customer turn down a quote, I think it's because as I re tuned the radio saying I cant stand Steve Wright.they said he was a friend of theirs !

[silvercleave]

What is music?

noun
[mass noun]
1vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion:

So speaking could be considered as music?

[Tangent]

I think both music and scents can work
I have been known to play Mozart in my car when I am teaching very nervous people to drive - VERY quietly of course
Because it's relaxing

I also use essential oils in my car
Those that aid concentration and alertness

I would never play stuff that is not by the original artist but some of the stuff on JewelBeat that is original is great
http://www.jewelbeat.com/

I am using it on my YouTube videos

I really believe that something new is more interesting than the stuff that is widely recognised
Worth a try

[markw]

Anything that makes your customers feel relaxed and welcome will help make sales. Create a hostile and unpleasant shop and you will put customers off. Setting that right atmosphere is fairly difficult. As I personally hate music playing in shops I wanted something that just created a pleasant feeling yet wasn't intrusive - Birdsong was my solution and for me it works very well. It also doesn't upset the music police (yes I could rant on this subject - I have just paid my PPL and PRS subscriptions - bit like being legally mugged in my opinion. I need it because I had Radio 4 on in my workshop in the belief that talk radio didn't need PPL PRS - how wrong I was).
Birdsong has the advantage of creating a soft unobtrusive yet relaxing background. I often get customers asking me where the birds are - and commenting on how much they enjoy them. If you want to drive customers away try Royalty Free Radio - Its just about as bad as it gets. During a fairly prolonged battle with PPL I used RFR in the workshop and concluded I would rather pay to get back to Radio 4 than suffer. I only pay licence for the workshop and 2 employees - thus the birds are there to entertain the customers in the shop.
If you choose to play music in your business be aware that PRS and PPL tour around the country looking for unlicensed playing of music (including radio playing softly at your workbench). They innocently come in and ask what music you like - just another customer you think. a few weeks later you get a demand through the post - normally with a fine for not having a licence, potentially backdated from the start of your business. This can be a demand for thousands of pounds. You dont have a leg to stand on as fighting them is expensive and almost inevitably pointless as you will lose. Not paying just increases the penalty because they take very little time to put your debt into the hands of exceedingly aggressive debt collectors who ramp up the pressure with threatening letters and phone calls. So make the decision to play music then talk to the PPL and PRS and just get the inevitable payment out of the way - its cheaper and less hassle than getting caught and thinking you will fight them (I have the bruises - well mental ones anyway). Or play something royalty free - there are some good ones out there and you can tell the music police to sod off.

[Roboframer]

I hate PPL/PRS as much as I hate payday loan companies.

But I have coughed up - classic FM in the shop; in the workshop it's mosty BBC Radio 6 music or something through my phone app (tunein radio) like addict radio-alternative. Currently I'm listening to "FFH Digital - Soundtrack", nothing but film soundtracks.

[JohnMcafee]

I'm liking the birdsong idea, Mark.

I see a whole raft of "Natural Sounds" including birdsong, dolphin, rainfall, et cetera, on YouTube.

I'd like to give them a whirl.

But would I be safe from the music police, though?

[markw]

John. I suppose you might get an irate seagull demanding its cut. But I'me fairly sure the ones I use are free of any royalty obligations. You can get dolphin and whale sounds. Trickling water might be good for those customers who can't make up their minds.

[prospero]

I would avoid the trickling water.



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