HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

We've been looking at ways of getting NVA in front of more people, outside of the traditional dealer network. One possibility under discussion is to have a small network of self-employed 'field agents' who would do home demonstrations, from leads generated by the NVA website and social media pages.

The agents would then take orders from customers and earn a percentage commission. So, a bit like dealers but without most of the overheads.

There would be an initial investment required to become an agent - to receive 'exclusivity' within a geographical area and to purchase a minimum amount of demonstration kit (at a 45% discount) - plus a monthly fee to contribute towards social media ads and the miscellaneous costs involved with running the agents scheme.

We think this could be an appealing opportunity for enthusiasts who might be recently retired and would like to earn money by doing something related to their hobby.

Thoughts? Questions?

I think it's a brilliant idea.

A bit more detail (nothing decided, all up for discussion)

Initially, we would want a minimum of 6 agents signed up before we would launch the scheme. We would probably eventually need around 12-15 agents to give decent coverage of most of the UK.

An agent would have much lower overheads than a dealer but would still have transport costs. A dealer typically takes around 45% of the sale price. It might vary a bit from item to item, but we are thinking that an average commission of around 20% could be do-able for us and attractive for the agent.

Also had a suggestion of something along the lines of the National Gardens Scheme for those who are happy to open up their listening rooms for people to hear NVA. This wouldn't work on commission but might entitle the enthusiast to money off NVA purchases for themselves?

Another suggestion received via FB is that this could appeal to those who work part time or who are putting together a portfolio career.

For clarity - if a customer placed an order after a home demo from a 'field agent', the 30 day home trial would still apply.

What sort of monthly fee?

And what sort of investment in equipment up front? £2000?

Lindsayt wrote: ↑Mon Aug 23, 2021 11:12 pm What sort of monthly fee?

And what sort of investment in equipment up front? £2000?

Minimum kit outlay is in that sort of ballpark, I would think, Lindsay.

The agents would sell the Artisan range (there's not enough margin in the Model Worker range to fund a commission).

At 45% off retail, you could get a P50sa, M300s, a BMU and a small selection of cables, as an example.

We will point potential customers towards the agents who stock the items they are interested in, so the more of the range you stock, the more leads you will get.

£100 a month feels about right as a fee - most of that will go into online advertising to get leads for the agents. If we start with 6 agents then £500 a month of that £600 would be spent on on advertising, and NVA would add to that figure.

I'm travelling most of today. Please do keep asking questions and I'll post again tomorrow.

savvypaul wrote: ↑Mon Aug 23, 2021 7:53 pm

Also had a suggestion of something along the lines of the National Gardens Scheme for those who are happy to open up their listening rooms for people to hear NVA. This wouldn't work on commission but might entitle the enthusiast to money off NVA purchases for themselves?

RD started a thread on these lines and I was one of the ones who put their name down. The offer still stands, but anyone entering the house would need to be double jabbed.

I thought it was going well until the £100 a month advertising fee was floated - I have not crunched the numbers it's more a gut reaction

NSNO2021 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 24, 2021 9:49 pm I thought it was going well until the £100 a month advertising fee was floated - I have not crunched the numbers it's more a gut reaction

Make a certain level of sales in a month and we'll waive the fee for that month. Without sales, or a fee, then it's simply a way for someone to get 45% off the kit. Compare the suggested cost of entry (and ongoing fees) to other franchise type opportunities that have a recognised brand behind them.