Today we’d like to introduce you to Chuck Taylor.
Hi Chuck, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have worked for Lane Music for 28 years. I am a drummer and have been a customer at Lane Music since 1987, literally the day it opened. When I was 14, it was summer and my mom would give me a couple bucks to ride my bike up to Exeter road & Farmington Blvd to get a sandwich with my buddies. That day I noticed a man in the window of the store next to the deli that was assembling a drum set (white Pearl kit). I looked through the window and the manager was nice enough to open the door and introduce himself. The Manager was Scott Lane he was opening a branch of their store from Franklin TN called Shuff’s Music. Scott & I hit it off, he and his wife Pook had just moved here so he literally knew no-one. I immediately began to hang out at the store, all the time I wasn’t in school. I would work there part time for a few year and spend all my money there, or my mom’s money :). Scott and his wife Pook purchased the store from Mr. Shuff in 1995. In 1997 I was working full time at Corky’s BBQ and Scott and his sister came into pick up a family to-go order and I saw his name on the ticket and came out to say hi. We visited for a few minutes and then he told me about a 2nd store he was about to open in the Wolfcahse area. I told him congratulations and whished him the best of luck and went back to work. The next day he called me and asked me if I would come work for him and manage his new store, I said yes!.
I have literally been here since day one. Scott and Pook are like family to me and entrust me with their 4 music stores. I handle most of the buying & selling and most of all working with the staff and the employees to keep the musical instruments moving in and out. It has been a crazy ride and I enjoy it everyday.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I wouldn’t call it smooth all the time :). It is pretty smooth most of the time. We did not know much about opening branch stores, but we figured it out and now we have 4 (Memphis, Germantown, Nashville & Knoxville). We are a pretty big dealer of new & used pianos, moving these heavy & delicate instruments always present challenges. We are a literal Mom & Pop business we have had our share of struggles as all independent business have. The housing crisis of 2008, & COVID of 2020 just to name a few. Those two specific events were challenges that everyone faced in different ways. We had to make some tough choices to keep the stores and staff up and running. It was a time I would not want to go back to, but makes me think we can get through anything.
I would say the biggest challenge for small business like ours is letting people know we are here and are willing to offer competitive pricing & great service. We will never have enough money to compete in our advertising so word of mouth & reputation is still the king to us.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Lane Music is a family of 4 musical instrument stores specializing in pianos and all other instruments. We are all through the state on Tennessee and can help you find the perfect piano for your living room or help your 3 year old get started with a violin. We are proud to be the exclusive dealers for Kawai Pianos & Yamaha Pianos. We carry everything from church organs to xylophones.
We offer lessons on most instruments in our stores so you can sign up on our website to get connect with a teacher for private instruction. We also offer a recital space for teachers to host their students. These spaces have projectors and sound systems and also a 9ft concert grand piano in each space. We would love to host your performance or masterclass.
We also offer piano services, tuning, repair, and moving. We have moved pianos literally across the world.
Lane Music is also a very busy guitar dealer, and sell brands like Martin, Fender, Yamaha, Gretsch, and others.. We love helping our customers find the perfect guitar come take your pick (no pun intended).
I am drummer and have played since I was 12 years old. I play in a local band “Tracking Giants” and with my church. I also play when invited with other bands and churches as well.
I have a wife of 29 years and 2 kids. One is 19 and in college and the other is a soon to be freshman. So it is busy at our house, to say the least.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
That is simple. I would say under promise, and over deliver! Nothing takes the place of doing the work and making sure everything you told a customer is what they got. I lose sleep thinking of loose ends and although we are not perfect, but we try really hard to be. One last thing I have learned, if you screw up, own it! The last thing customers want to hear is excuses. Just tell them the truth and if you make a mistake they are usually fine with it, as long as you take care of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lanemusic.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lanemusic
- Youtube: @circlemusiccenter901
