‘We are the music makers, we are the dreamers of dreams’

Have you ever wondered what it takes to run a successful music business?

For many it’s a childhood fantasy but for general manager of Musicmaker, John Paul Prior, it is a dream fulfilled.

Musicmaker, the iconic store on Dublin’s Exchequer Street, has been fulfilling the dreams of musicians for over 40 years.

In episode 4 of the AIB Merchant Services podcast Time Well Spent, we spoke to John Paul about 40 years of change and the need to adapt in a digital world.

When John Paul joined Musicmaker 16 years ago, the rise of the internet was beginning to shift customer behaviour.

As sales started moving online, it became clear that improving customer service and creating a welcoming in store experience was essential.

That renewed focus paid off.

Years of consistent service built strong customer loyalty, which carried through to the online store.

“During COVID, we were fully reliant on our eCommerce business, and I think there was a great loyalty shown by consumers.

“Using that brand equity that’s been built up over four decades of trading helped bolster that online business”.

Not only did the business have a new-found appreciation for eCommerce, it also taught them the importance of following the data.

With the help of AIB Merchant Services and Main Street Insights, John Paul and the team gained valuable insights into their in-store and online sales.

By implementing a new Clover POS system with built-in stock management capabilities, they uncovered unexpected trends and identified new growth opportunities in the business.

Claire Meany, Director Of Business Solutions at AIB Merchant Services, commented: “We focus on solutions and tools to support and grow businesses, such as point-of-sale devices that have stock-management capabilities, loyalty solutions and easy user interfaces for their staff.”

Today not only have they a successful retail store and eCommerce presence, but also a distribution, education, and accessories business.

“I think the key thing for Musicmaker and most independent retailers would be agility and a commitment to the opportunity that eCommerce and data brings,” said John Paul.

Over the years, finding a happy medium between in-store and online has been the making of Musicmaker.

“We’d be quite happy for you to come through our doors and buy from our site at MusicMaker.ie so I suppose our bricks and mortar store now has become a showcase for our eCommerce site,” added John Paul.

To find out more about the Musicmaker journey, search ‘Time Well Spent’ wherever you get your podcasts.

Photo: General manager of Musicmaker, John Paul Prior