 |
| April 30, 2008 |
| A place to do music |
Business name: Kenny's Music Box
Type of business: Music lessons, instrument sales and
repairs
Owners: Bruce Pucciarello and Kenny Segall
Address: 19 Route 10 East, Building 1, Suite 3A,
Succasunna
Phone: (973) 927-6711
E-mail: custserv@kennysmusicbox.com
Web site: http://www.kennysmusicbox.com/ |
| Hours of operation: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday; 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday |
| Founded: January 2008 |
| Why did you start the business? (Answers from Bruce Pucciarello) First
cousins and best friends since we were very young, Kenny and I played in
bands together professionally and always shared that common bond of our
love for music. When we heard that Tom Barth's Music Box was for sale,
we talked about the possibilities. Tom was a legend in the area, but
even more, he was an inspirational man, and his love of music touched
many people. When he passed away a couple of years ago, it created a
void for a lot of the folks who learned and shared their music with Tom.
Kenny and I took about an hour to decide that we could help, in our own
way, to fill that void. It seemed like a natural because we have that
same passion for bringing music into people's lives. So we bought the
store and recreated it the way we think that Tom would have wanted it if
we all were doing it together. In some ways, we did do it together,
because the essence that is Tom is still in that store with us every
day. |
(Photo: dawn benko / randolphroxburythis week)
Kenny Segall, a co-owner of Kenny's Music Box in Succasunna, stands
in the showroom.
|
| If you could do it again, what would you do differently?
I've been a successful businessman for a number of years and I know
enough about new business ventures not to prejudge or predict. Make a
plan, be passionate, love what you do and be patient. It's too early to
second guess anything. The store feels right. |
| What personality trait helps you the most? For sure, the fact that
Kenny, Doug Friedman (our piano teacher and co-store manager) and I love
the quality that music brings into our lives. Our passion is reflected
in our choices of instruments and even more when we developed the very
high standards to which we hold our select group of instructors. Passion
and sincerity are the traits that people want to encounter when they are
asked to spend their hard-earned money. |
(Photo: dawn benko / randolphroxburythis week)
At Kenny's Music Box, parents can watch on a video monitor while
their children take music lessons.
|
| What's the hardest part of the job? What could be hard about sharing
the thing you love with other people? What could be hard about bringing
music into children's lives? |
| The easiest? The easiest part of working at "The Box" is
being a part of the great conversations and the sharing of all things
musical with other people. |
| What's your least-expensive product or service? Expense is relative to
the benefit received. We have guitar picks that cost pennies. Our
lessons are with world-class players, and we have a consistency because
we have most of our lessons covered by full-time employees, so we don't
suffer the same transient environment that parents always complain
about. Technically, when you look for pure value, our lessons stand out. |
| The most expensive? We have high-end musical equipment.
Some items cost thousands of dollars. Paul Reed Smith guitars; and
Marshall, and Rivera amps are the best in the world -- we have the
distributorships. |
| Describe your worst customer or experience. Haven't met
that one yet. |
| When you leave the business, what will you do? We are far away from
considering this. Hopefully, this store will grow and stay in the family
for years and years. We have children, and then their children will have
this wonderful exposure to music. |
(Photo: dawn benko / randolphroxburythis week)
Kenny Segall designed these popular effect foot pedals, which are
used by many professionals in the music industry.
|
| In one sentence, tell us why customers should shop here. Coming to our
store is a celebration of sound ... it's a place to do music. Our
mission statement sums it up best. |
| OK, what is your mission statement? Music touches many people in many
different ways. It can relax you or stir hidden emotion. Music can be
your career or just a hobby. You can teach it, you can study it, or you
can use it to communicate in a very special way. Sometimes music is
spiritual. Music helps young people sharpen their skills and improve
academically. In a tradition started by Tom Barth when he originally
opened the Music Box, Kenny and the Music Box staff will continue to
provide an environment for the music in all of us. |
