Retailer Comments

“If you are an independent retailer, you need to get your head out of the sand and grow. I’m glad (Integra) hounded me for a few months.”

Rick Poorman Footsteps Christian Books, Concord NC 704-788-9037

“myMEDIA BurnBar has allowed us to expand our selection of accompaniment tracks tremendously while at the same time cutting inventory dollars that used to go towards products that might sit on the shelf for months if not years. Another huge benefit for us has been that we have been able to take some of the space once dedicated to accompaniment tracks and devote it to video sales. We have been able to expand both sections at the same time without increasing floor space.
“After comparing six months of sales both before and after using myMEDIA BurnBar(MMBB) we have seen the sale of tracks triple in the six months after using MMBB. Now, it should be noted that the six months of sales prior to MMBB were from January through July. The six months of sales after MMBB were from October through February. MMBB is a great investment. How many times have you been able to add inventory while reducing inventory dollars and inventory shelf space? MMBB has helped us build a positive reputation with our accompaniment track customers. Whereas many times before we would have to order a track for a customer that could take anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks to get, MMBB has helped us gain a reputation of having what the customer needs when they need it.”

Raborn Johnson Cornerstone Bookstore, Boone NC 828-262-1226

“With the large number of tracks available on myMEDIA BurnBar(MMBB) I have cut down on my stock orders. I really only have to order new releases. The majority of my MMBB customers usually burn more than one track. It's wonderful and it really does increase sales. On a scale of 1 to 10, MMBB is a “10” in importance to my future.”

Terry Stover By His Grace Book Store, Beckley WV 304-252-9032

“I know we're getting sales (with myMEDIA BurnBar) that we would have lost and we're saving time on special orders. In significance for the future of my store, on a scale of 1 to 10, I’d rate MMBB a 7 for the store and a 10 for the music department. If you intend to carry music at all in the next few years, this is the only thing that will make it viable.”

Cliff Muller The Carpenter’s Son Parable Christian Store, Lafayette IN 765-448-6434

“Our customers expect us to be on the cutting edge. If you look at Amazon and other sites you will see how many downloads there are. We look forward to being able to provide all the content our customers are asking for. Our customers now expect us to be able to burn tracks. In the future, if we don't have the ability we might as well close our music section. We only use myMEDIA BurnBar. It is our exclusive source for accompaniment tracks. We will not, and do not order any other accompaniment tracks. Our sales are up 100%.
“Customers need the accompaniment track immediately not in the future. I had only lady buy it on the way to a wedding where she was singing within the hour. She had lost her track that she had purchased previously from another store and we were able to help her on the spot!!! We love this machine! If you are not planning to have one of these machines in your store it may be because you are anticipating closing your store in the somewhat near future and don't want to make any more investments. I can understand that. However, if not, you are missing the boat.”

Matt Nicholson Lakewood Christian Gift Center, Lakewood WA 253-722-2500

“I have been able to reduce my inventory and my special orders. We intend to completely get rid of our inventory except for the very best sellers. My sales are up 100% and still growing!”

Carmen Newman Hillsboro Book and Bible, Hillsboro OH 937-393-8002

“I cannot tell you what a difference myMEDIA BurnBar has made to our customers! First of all, we are clearly selling a lot more accompaniment tracks than we ever did before. This is a win-win-win deal. We win because we do not need to have valuable, non-existent money tied up in inventory. Anyplace stores can avoid inventory money today is important! The customer wins because we have the song they want 99% of the time INSTANTLY. The funeral where a very favorite song needs to be sung does not have a week or two to wait for a track to be ordered! Also – the customer gets so wrapped up in the fun of instantly having songs, that they generally buy more than one! There are 30 or 33 children’s tracks in the system. A little girl who had often come in with here mother to try to find tracks for her to use was so excited yesterday that she wanted one of each! The vendors win because if I am selling more tracks – so are they! Who losses?
“Thank you to David for continuing to beat this idea to fruition! It is a much needed vision today as I see independent Christian bookstores receiving less and less care and attention from vendors. This may very well be one small piece of making it possible for us to survive.”

Margaret Umble, J.O.Y. Bookstore, Sinking Spring PA 610-678-7627

“The physical track sales from 6/11 through 8/11 (when burning was available) at Long Beach totaled 246 which was just over 72% of the total track sales for that period of time. This means, overall accompaniment track sales have increased 28% as a result of having the myMEDIA BurnBar.
"Having the ability to burn on demand has allowed us to capture sales and make us the hero for having the exact track that was needed on short notice. The myMEDIA BurnBar has allowed us to dramatically increase our inventory selection without a corresponding increase in inventory cost."

Jeff Lofftus, Music Buyer-Lighthouse Christian Stores, Long Beach CA 562-425-1211

“The idea is great! Why would we (vendors and bookstores) not want to do this? In one month I guarantee I have and will sell at least 30 tracks that I would other wise not sell at all or have to order. And when everyone wants things now, I would say I lose at least half of my sales if it were up to ordering. Most of the time it is because it is needed quicker than when I can get it by special ordering.
“I cannot imagine who does not come out ahead with this system. The customer wins, the retailers' sales increas, so do the vendors. I cannot see a loss strategy in here anywhere. Please, Please, Please, continue to let this grow. At a time when music sales are declining in every Christian bookstore in the country, this has been the best strategy in 10 years for bringing sales back to the Christian market where it all started anyway.
“It is an incredible feeling to tell everyone I have over 5000 tracks in stock. What will it feel like to tell my customers I also have a slew of audio CD's, Bible on CD, computer programs, as well as albums and individual songs on demand. This will increase sales better than any sale or ‘buy one or two and get one free’ strategy, I guarantee it. And like I said, who loses?”

Jerry Cline, Omega Bookstore, Kansas City MO 816-436-1877

“For physical tracks, we sold 123 in June and 110 in July, which is crazy because we've sold about 100 on myMEDIA BurnBar between those 2 months! That means about 30% of all tracks we sold those months were through MMBB. And for us, MMBB is only gaining in momentum - we are suggesting it to almost every person looking for a specific song. This could soon match or surpass the amount of physical tracks we sell in a month."

Todd Whitaker, New Life, Lynchburg VA 434-237-6031

“myMEDIA BurnBar has been an instant hit with our customers. Due to space limitations, we do not carry accompaniment tracks in the store. Every track we sold had to be special ordered from a distributor. Now, I advertise that I carry over 5,000 accompaniment tracks. Our customers are thrilled not to have to shift though dozens of jewel cases trying to find that one track that works out of the limited store stock. Instead, they listen and search with ease and walk out with the exact track they want in about 5 minutes. In the few weeks that we have had MyMEDIA BurnBar, we have become known as THE place to get accompaniment tracks. In just our second month we sold 22 tracks without having any accompaniment tracks in stock.”

Bryan Brock, Christopher Matthews, Bel Air MD 410-569-0690

"We have reduced the number of tracks we carry in the store. With them being readily available on the myMEDIA BurnBar system, we have taken out the track displays and replaced them with 6 ( soon to be 7) stations for customers to use. We still have some tracks in the store, but that number has been greatly reduced. Our sales have increased 19.7%, and we're burning over 550 accompaniment tracks ever month.
"This is a great addition to any store. Just be ready to give one-on-one customer service to the customers to inform them of how to use the system. Normally, you only have to show them once and they will be hooked. You will be able to keep customers in your store instead of them going to other places to get a song you don't have in stock. myMEDIA BurnBar just provides a higher level of customer service."

Andrew L. Criswell, Sr., Pee Dee Christian Book & Supply SC 843-662-6643

"I have had a great response to the BurnBar, and yet most of our customers haven't even seen it yet. We got it up and running in mid-June, and so we have had it going in the slowest stretch of the year. I have had some customers remark on how nice it is to get the track while they wait, and some have bought up to four at once. Rarely ever would they but that many with tracks in the store. I expect that once all our track customers know we have the products available, we will double the number of tracks we are burning.”

Brian Campbell, Graceland CA 925-706-8791

“Wow- what an asset the BurnBar has been to our store! Besides making our customers happy "on the spot" it has created another reason for them to return. Thanks Integra! They are amazed at the ease of use and the time in which it takes to produce their product. And, needless to say, so are we ! We're looking forward to the changes in the future as well. Thanks so much!"

Cash Gilliss, Crosspointe Christian Books & Gifts, Yuba City CA 530-673-6188

“Before myMEDIA BurnBar we were out of stock 80% of the time. We could not afford to carry the thousands of trax that were out there. Now we are out of product only when we don't have all the top 50 from Daywind and top 50 from Provident. We have already sold more units through Christian World than we did in all of 2006.
“We still buy in stock product from all including Christian World but with this system we are NEVER OUT OF BUSINESS ON THE ITEMS IN THE SYSTEM. WE ARE RARELY IN STOCK ON THE ITEMS NOT IN THE SYSTEM. WHY? Because we usually only stock 2 or 3 of any trax because of the extreme breadth of titles SO after the third customer we're out of stock for a week or more costing us as much as 12 or more sales on a new or hot soundtrax."

Mike Tener, Christian Bookstore, Beckley WV 304-253-4831

“We are very pleased with the myMEDIA BurnBar. We are experiencing customer satisfaction and enthusiasm when they learn we can burn tracks immediately. Once we show them how to look up songs, they return to find their own and bring the printout to us for burning.
“We have reduced our track backlist substantially, as many songs were not selling anyway, so we had to order. Our employees are excited that we are ‘on the cutting edge’ of this technology and no one else in Jackson has anything close to it.
"Thanks for being a visionary in this area and providing the system."

Bill Blakemore, Agape Booksellers, Jackson MI 517-782-9491

“myMEDIA BurnBar is one of the main things our store is becoming known for. New customers who have heard about it from friends commonly drive 30 or 40 miles just to use it, and buy 6 to 10 tracks that they have been searching for, sometimes for years. They then go home and tell everyone else they know. I feel very safe in saying that myMEDIA Burnbar itself is responsible for well over a 100% increase. No one ever leaves with one track any more. Most people start with 2 or 3 and then find 1 or 2 more while they're waiting for those to burn.
"Add-on sales are incredibly significant. Most people go right back to the sampling system to look for more tracks while they're waiting, but some do shop other areas and buy other things. We are doing other good things, but this has been by far the best with so little effort on our part. People are excited about it, so they talk about it to their friends and it just keeps growing. If your store is within 100 miles of me, don't buy MMBB (just kidding)! I believe my system paid for itself in five months. I shouldn't have to say anything else."

Mike Meece, Handfuls On Purpose, Marion IL 618-983-5575

“I think the myMEDIA BurnBar has been a wonderful addition to our store. We’ve many happy customers that normally wouldn’t have had time to special order an accompaniment CD for the funeral, the wedding or the church service, but thanks to you we were able to make for them in just a few minutes. In July we burned 55 CDs. .I think we’ve had good sales for a new service that many of our singers aren’t even aware of yet.”

Jimmy Tucker, Music Buyer The Potter’s House, Valdosta GA 229-247-5262

“We had a customer enter the store asking if we sell accompaniment tracks. I over heard our frontliner tell him we don’t have many in stock but we can burn just about anyone you want. She went back with the customer to show him the system. The customer came forward with TWO to be burned. If vendors want their AC Tracks to sell, they better get them on line with myMEDIA BurnBar. From those the customers seem to be selecting.”

Paul Wiedenfeld, New Life, Crystal Lake IL 815-455-2700

“Our very first month we sold 29 burned CDs. I consider that to be a HUGE success, considering that this is our very slowest time of year. For the first month we have had our Burn Bar, accomp. CD sales have nearly doubled! This is just the best thing to help store like our be competitive and on the cutting edge. Thanks so much!"

Lorraine Valk, Parable Christian Store, St. Joseph MI 269-983-7883

“Our customers really like being able to pick their tracks and have them immediately. We were not able to have a large enough selection on hand and they do not have to wait for a special order to come. We are really excited about myMEDIA Burnbar and having it in the store.”

Bill Sharp, Living Room Bookstore Bastrop TX 512-321-0909

“We feel that the burning of CD's on Demand has a future. We encourage all vendors that can take part (in myMEDIA BurnBar) to do so. When a customer first learns that we can burn them an A/C track on the spot, they are surprised and elated.”

Chuck Broderick, Ling Word, Sarasota FL 941-342-4279