The financial crisis is really getting to everyone. Today I was at a food centre and all the queues of the supposedly popular stores have vanished. More people are eating in instead of eating out. I think people will be more prudent with their spending, which means bad times for businesses.
Well, not all business are affected negatively. Pawnshops and second hand stores have reported brisk sales. Supermarkets have also seen an increase in people buying more groceries to cook at home instead of eating out.
So what's the direction going to be for Chinese musical instruments business? At the moment it seems the trend is down.
But I hope people realize that since they can't afford to change cars or houses so often, why not spend it on spiritually and culturally stimulating things like the erhu, pipa and dizi!
If you're thinking how are you going to learn to play the erhu, we have our online erhu lessons still going at an introductory price of US$480!
And for those who prefer a more in-your-face type of musical expression, you can consider our drums, gongs and cymbals! It is also a more economical stress reliever than St. Regis Monarch Resort. (Someone email my website address www.eason.com.sg to the executives of AIG)
Anyway, one of the reasons I went MIA recently is because I went to the music fair in Shanghai. Yes it is the time of the year again. Not a lot of surprises this year it seems. The number of exhibitors has in fact decreased. I did not see quite a lot of previously seen names at the fair. One told me that there were too many makers and those that cannot make the cut died off naturally.
The buyer power of the Chinese still seems very strong. Buyers are still seen in droves, buying at prices that even my most affluent customers would deem very expensive. How about 20,000-30,000 RMB for 1 erhu?
Anyway here are some pictures of the Shanghai fair. I'll post more later when I have the time.
>>The entrance to the expo centre
>>Registration area inside the expo centre
>>Big banner inside the expo centre
>>Funny looking pianos
>>Funny looking piano again
>>With a brand name that strikes a chord with Singaporean ah bengs and ah lians
>>A piano made of porcelin
>>The player of the piano made of porcelin
More later.--------------------------------
I've recently listed another product on the website.
It is one of the most well made bows I have seen so far. Although the rod is not very thick, it is a rather stiff bow.Read more about it here.
