Canadian Music Trade - December/January 2019 | Page 20

MASTER THE MOVE
BY ANDREW KING
Advice from Retailers, Realtors & More for a Smooth Relocation or Expansion
When
Dave Dudley opened
Dave’s Drum Shop, his
Ottawa-based drum
specialty store, back in 2007, the crammed-but-cozy
environment was undeniably part of its charm.
Dudley had taken over the converted residential
space at 390 Gladstone Ave. from Song Bird Music,
where he’d worked as the drum manager for years
prior, so he was used to the tight fit – as were many of
the customers he inherited from the well-known store.
Needless to say, it worked really well for him and
DAVE’S DRUM SHOP
his business for over a decade – “But I always had my eye open,” Dudley admits.
He’s speaking with Canadian Music Trade from Dave’s Drum Shop’s new location at 270
Catherine St. in the city’s Centretown neighbourhood – a location he was carefully considering
for three years before formally committing to the space in August 2017 and making the move
in early 2018.
In addition to practically doubling his showroom space, there were other enticing
aspects of the move. His new location is just three blocks from the old one, and in terms of
accessibility, is right across from Ottawa’s main bus terminal, just off of a main highway, and
has plenty of free parking onsite.
“I just said to myself, ‘I’ve been doing this for 10 years. I’m almost in my mid-50s. I’ve just
got to do it,” Dudley recalls, and he hasn’t looked back since … or at least until now, to discuss
his experience with Canadian Music Trade.
DAVE’S DRUM SHOP
11 TIPS FOR MOVING YOUR BUSINESS TO A NEW LOCATION
The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
has assembled a list of tips for businesses con-
sidering a move to a new location. Check out the
full article with advice from BDC Major Accounts
Manager Michael Poynton at www.bdc.ca.
1. Be Proactive – Don’t wait too long to
consider a move.
2. Analyze Your Space – Would a re-
design or reorganization be a better
solution than moving?
3.
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Set Your Budget – What you can af-
ford is likely the most important factor
in narrowing down your options.
CANADIAN MUSIC TRADE
4. Decide Whether to Buy or Lease –
Each has its share of pros and cons.
5. Research Locations – Consider
accessibility, parking and transit, con-
venience for shipping and receiving,
nearby services, zoning issues, room
for growth, and staff needs
6. Negotiate Effectively – Having a
trusted team of real estate advisors is
helpful.
7. Create a Timeline – Work with your
employees to plan out the transition.
8. Consider Your Inventory – Ensure
you’ve got enough stock for an unin-
terrupted supply for production needs
and customers.
9.
Give Yourself Extra Time – Transi-
tions often take longer than expected.
10. Consider a Staggered Move – If
possible, you can maintain both
spaces for a short time for a minimal
impact on workflow.
11. Communicate – Keep your staff,
customers, and suppliers in-the-know
throughout the process.