What’s Happening
Altered Course Retailers share how the pandemic has sparked innovation, leading to increased productivity, revenue and efficiency. WORDS BY ROSA SOPHIA
Mobile Electronics magazine recently asked retailers to share ways they have altered course to continue serving clients during the pandemic, and how these changes might continue as new strategies within businesses. Some retailers have completely removed the waiting room, opting for vehicle drop-offs only. Roxanne Martin of Exotic Audio in Esther, Fla. said all vehicles are dropped off at the shop in the morning. “Almost everything is by appointment only now,” she noted, adding, “unless it’s something simple.” Although difficulties of the past year made changes necessary, retailers are now seeing positive results.
12 Mobile Electronics June 2021
Shops Pivot in Response to Product Shortage Car-Tunes, Inc. in Greenville, Miss. has been providing a multitude of automotive services since 1984, along with products in the home theater category and even musical instruments and DJ equipment. Located right on the Mississippi River where Arkansas meets Mississippi, Car-Tunes is about 15 minutes away from Louisiana, which means the business draws clients from numerous demographics. “Even though we’re in a rural area, we pull from many different cities around us that have different needs,” said owner Kimberly Trainer, adding that all the
lakes, rivers and agriculture lends to everything the shop is able to provide to its customers. Trainer has owned the shop for the past 20 years. Recently, she said product shortages during the pandemic inspired the business to change its approach when it came to subwoofer enclosures. The shop used to sell empty enclosures, but now it only sells enclosures with accompanying subwoofers. “After many months, this has definitely become a permanent sales plan,” she said. “Housing subwoofers and enclosures together saves space, promotes the proper enclosure for the designated subwoofers and allows us to wire the subwoofers
