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PAST SHOW ARCHIVES: |
NAMM 2010 I SHOWS I READ FULL COVERAGE Retailers, suppliers came to NAMM wary but ready to dream again “How many of you are happy that 2009’s over?” Harvey Levy, vice president of Levy’s Leathers, posed that question the day before The NAMM Show kicked off, speaking at the Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association meeting. Putting last year behind, in fact, turned out to be the unofficial theme of the show, held Jan. 14–17 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif. Music retailers scoured the exhibit floor ready to start dreaming again while remaining wary after 2009’s economic smackdown. And more than at previous conventions, many showgoers spoke openly about their businesses taking a hit last year. “The overall response we received from dealers was that they feel a cautious optimism,” said Anne Sobel, marketing manager of Carl Fischer. “Last year was very dark,” said Jon Haber, owner of Alto Music in Middletown, N.Y. “This year, everyone was still bitchin’, but at least they smiled when they complained.” |
