While traditional music retailers are scrambling for solutions to their evaporating market, a Los Angeles business owner has countered shifting market conditions to the tune of sales over $ 1 million annually.
The mail-order retailer delivers cassette tapes and CDs to America’s 2.3 million prisoners. In an unique piracy-free environment, they circumvent piracy and illegal downloading due to prisoners lack of internet access.
People thought owner Bob Paris was crazy when he started stockpiling cassette tapes about 5 years ago. However cassette tapes account for over 60% of his sales due to CDs being considered contraband in many prisons.
I thought this was a great example of an entrepreneur nuturing a niche for success. For the complete article vist the New York Times.
