Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Rail.
Nick joined band in fourth grade on cornet, switching to trumpet and tenor sax in high school. He studied music at UC Berkeley and UC Santa Barbara, followed by band instrument repair back east. In 1974 he returned to Santa Barbara, taking a job as a repair tech at another local music store before starting his own business in 1986. The company began adding locations in the late 1990’s; in 2006 Nick acquired the 30-plus year-old Musicraft in San Diego, changing the name to Nick Rail Music.
Nick Rail Music provides band and orchestral instruments to both the school market and the private or professional musician. Their percussion department covers concert, marching and drum set. They also carry acoustic guitars, electric guitars and basses, digital keyboards, sound reinforcement, and related combo products.
Has it been a smooth road?
Music retail is a relationship business, where our daily job is to help people learn, play and enjoy music. When we go to work, we get to sell fun, education and artistic expression; none of which are destined to go out of style anytime soon. Weathering economic downturns, finding and keeping good employees, maintaining good banking and supplier relationships are ongoing challenges for any business, all of which pale by comparison to the good we’re able to do for folks every day!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We help people play music, from the complete novice all the way through to the adult hobbyist and professional musician. Our specialty is band instruments, both brass and woodwinds. We stock a variety of major name brands, including (but not limited to) Yamaha, Bach and Selmer, ranging from instruments suitable for the beginner up to and including top of the line pro models.
In addition, we offer orchestral strings (from violin to string bass), all facets of percussion, guitars, keyboards, sheet music and all related accessories.
Complementing the retail side, we have an excellent lesson program supported by a dedicated staff of teachers, plus a popular rental program and a full service repair department for both band and orchestral instruments.
As a company, we pride ourselves on the service and support we offer to school music programs throughout Southern California. The quality of our brands, our wide selection of product, and our exceptional customer service are what set us apart from other music stores.
Where do you see your industry going over the next 5-10 years? Any big shifts, changes, trends, etc?
We have the great fortune of being in the business of helping people play music, an art form as old as humanity itself. As a society, we’re doing much better at recognizing the win-win relationship between music and the classroom. Students who play in band get better grades, and the benefits are lifelong.
Contact Info:
- Address: 12640 Sabre Springs Pkwy
San Diego, CA 92128 - Website: www.nickrailmusic.com
- Phone: 858-679-7333
- Email: cody@nickrailmusic.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickrailmusicsd
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/nick-rail-music-san-diego-2
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