Navigating Growth and Culture: John Tarpley on Leading a Multi-Location Music Retailer

Music Retail Podcast

In this episode of the Music Retail Podcast, Donovan Bankhead interviews John Tarpley from Tarpley Music. They discuss the history and founding of Tarpley Music, which dates back to the 1920s. They also talk about the challenges and benefits of having multiple locations, as Tarpley Music has nine locations. They touch on the importance of culture by design and how it has helped shape their company. The conversation also explores the role of e-commerce in the music retail industry and the significance of the school music market. Tarpley Music is focused on building a strong company culture and maintaining a positive work environment. They use a culture method that emphasizes behaviors rather than platitudes or values. They have core fundamentals that they incorporate into their weekly emails and team meetings to reinforce their culture. Implementing this culture method has been a challenge, but they believe it is worth the effort. Tarpley Music also discussed their approach to e-commerce and the importance of having a functional website. They use the Shopify platform and have worked on improving their content and customer experience. They also discussed the challenges of keeping a family business going and the importance of having a clear plan for succession.

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