Retail Marketing

In 1995 Triage began to experiment with releasing records under the Dot Dot Dash label. Though the label never became the prime focus of Triage's attention, it did manage to provide an outlet for a few fantastic artists and memorable albums. More importantly, it taught Triage just what promotion is good for: to sell records. Through releasing records, Triage came in direct contact with the world of distributors and indie record stores. We learned some very basic lessons about how to get records distributed, how to get them into stores and how to use radio exposure to get them sold. In 1997 Triage began to offer a very low-key type of retail marketing to compliment our radio promotion program. The basic idea was to find out which stores seemed connected to the best stations in the best indie rock/alternative music markets and keep them updated on which of our projects their area radio stations were playing. This was done simply by sending them in-store play copies several weeks after we've serviced promos to radio, and then following up with phone calls to the stores. Even though entering a new area such as this was at first intimidating, we found that most stores were very happy to work with us. As it turns out, they get just as many horrible, hype-babbling noise makers calling about bad records as radio does! They were more than eager to talk to us about interesting indie and import projects. And they were thrilled to finally get some decent in-store play c.d.s that they would actually want to hear. Over the years we have developed some very good ties with some of the best indie shops in the U.S. They appreciate our straight forward, no bullshit approach. They like getting useful information, such as which records are getting significant airplay in their area. And they are glad to check out interesting artists, records and labels that they otherwise might not hear about. We have really fine-tuned our working relationships with our stores, but our approach still remains direct and simple: send the best stores the records that they will be interested in tell them about whatever airplay those records are getting that might affect their sales provide any other background information of the record and artist that might help interest the store find out what the store buyer and clerks think of the records encourage the store to order, stock and sell the records make sure the store knows which distributors carry the records track the sales of the records with the store encourage the store to keep the records in stock if they sell through We generally contact our stores once every 3 or 4 weeks, depending on what is needed. We will usually track a record with them for about 3 months.

List of Stores We Deal With Info Sticker Sample Retail Report Sample Promotion Plans Rates Triage Distribution Mail Order