Recent widow looking at piano business

[Stephen Powell]

Hi Veda

I'm sorry that you have been through what must have been a very difficult
time.  As regards to your situation, if you are in the financial position to
do so, then hiring a tuner might be a good way to go.  That way, you could
continue to run the business, do the books, and anything in the workshop
that you feel able to contribute.  Perhaps you could also learn some new
repair techniques along the way at your own pace.  As to the "ins & outs" of
employing a technician, others on this list will be more qualified to advise
on this than I.

Just a couple of thoughts;  Regards and good luck with whatever you decide.

Stephen Powell RPT
Auckland, NZ

-----Original Message-----
From: Veda Mallory <veda88@usa.net>
To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Sunday, 14 May 2000 04:18 PM
Subject: Recent widow looking at piano business


>Hello,
>
>You haven't heard from me before -- my husband was a piano technician who
>loved to "lurk" on your list -- sometimes he would call me in to read some
of
>your funnies --
>
>Jim was diagnosed with cancer back in February and we thought he had more
time
>than he did. We had not figured out what to do about our business when he
got
>so much worse. He died only six weeks later. Now everybody is giving me
>different advice and I don't know what to do.
>
>I don't know how to do piano work myself, but I've got all Jim's
equipment --
>three accutuners and a brand new cradle he'd just ordered -- a shop full of
>all these neatly labeled and stored boxes of felts and key tops and
strings --
>he had just started experimenting with the CA and I was ordering it from a
>supplier-
>
>I did the books and orders and made the appointments for our business -- I
>helped Jim sometimes, and I liked the work -- but I liked doing the
>organizational part of the business more. I have a business degree, but
I've
>spent alot of years raising our kids and helping Jim.
>
>We have a really good clientele around here with not much competition in
the
>area. Alot of our friends and customers are encouraging me to learn the
>business and take up where Jim left off. I don't know exactly how to do
that,
>since he left me so unexpectedly soon -- and i don't know if an old girl
like
>me who's almost 50 could learn to do something so new anyway --
>
>Is it possible to sell a business like this -- sort of like a small-town
>doctor sells a practice? I hate to give up what we worked so hard to build.
>What do you guys think?
>
>Thanks -- Veda Mallory
>
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