Pierre Circé
Mark Mulrenin
Justin McLean
Peter Lafferty
Mike McAvan
Roland Canada Announces Several Sales Staff Changes
Roland Canada has announced several
recent sales staff appointments. The new
appointments include a new nation-
al sales manager, a BOSS and guitar
products sales manager, a district sales
manager for the central region, a sales
manager for Alberta, and a BOSS sales
representative.
Pierre Circé, formerly the district
sales manager for Québec, has been
appointed as the national sales manager
for Roland Canada. With over 25 years’
experience, Circé will be responsible for
overseeing the company’s sales and dis-
tribution strategy across the country.
Justin McLean joins Roland Cana-
da as the new sales representative for
Alberta, based out of Edmonton. McLean
is a multi-instrumentalist who plays key-
boards, guitar, bass, and saxophone and
also has experience with recording and
live sound reinforcement.
Mark Mulrenin is now the new dis-
trict sales manager for the central region,
replacing Brad Smith. Mulrenin, who was
previously Roland Canada’s sales repre-
sentative for Ontario, now oversees the
day-to-day sales operations in Ontario,
Québec, and Eastern Canada.
Peter Lafferty is stepping into the role
LESSON PROGRAM
SURVEY
Canadian Music Trade surveyed MI retail professionals across the country to find out about their
experiences with in-store instrument lesson programs. Here are the results…
nt
lme
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ig
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last it decr
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76%
42%
of respondents’ stores or
businesses currently offer a
music lesson program
OF THOSE…
their lesson program
38% say
significantly impacts
100-200 students
42% teach
per week, while 33%
retail sales, while 62% say it has
“somewhat” of an impact
teach over 200 students per
week
57% say
50
ca
% say
a
is th
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enro best w , radio, ng in
ay t
lme
o bo online
nt
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ost l
esso tc.
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ory ost p itar/
for opu bas
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of BOSS and guitar product sales manag-
er. Lafferty brings both musical talent and
sales experience to this role, where he is
tasked with bringing focus to the BOSS
and guitar product lines across Canada.
Finally, Mike McAvan has moved
into the role of BOSS sales representative
from his former position as inside sales
representative. McAvan will work along-
side Lafferty promoting BOSS guitar and
amplifier products throughout Ontario.
For more information, contact Roland
Canada: 604-270-6626, FAX 877-270-6552,
www.roland.com.
SPEAKING OUT
What are some of the ways that
you’ve promoted your lesson program
that have either been very effective or
surprisingly ineffective, and what do
you think contributed to that?
“The internet has changed the retail
and lesson landscape in our store. We
have offered lessons for over 50 years.
More people are shopping online or
studying instruments online. One area
where there is an increase in students
is the number of seniors that sign up for
lessons.”
“Asking for referrals – literally just say-
ing, ‘Please tell everyone how much
fun you are having here.’ We have a lot
of senior students, the oldest being 90
this year.”
“Advertising in a community guide;
most parents look at these for activities
for their children.”
“Opening a dialogue about lessons
every time [an instrument] is pur-
chased, and engaging those who
are ‘just looking.’ Listen for cues from
clients about what they are trying to
achieve musically and inform them,
‘We can help with that.’ Being pushy
never works; that’s a sure way scare a
potential student out the front door.”
CANADIAN MUSIC TRADE
11