Index 1. What’s been happening since January 2. New Forum 3. Pianos and much more 4. We really do want to hear from you 5. What people have to say about Pianoshop 1 What’s been happening since January Sorry we haven’t sent out a Newsletter since the Festive Season. Now, with another holiday nearly upon us, I thought it’s a good time to bring you up-to-date with what’s been going on behind the scenes at Pianoshop. Good news! As part of our continuing improvements to Pianoshop web site http://pianoshop.co.uk/ we have now improved the "Find a Local Piano Shop"section After many months of waiting and customers asking us, we have created a "Search by Area" function. This means there is now a "Drop Down List" of towns and counties where you just select an area and all the shops in that area are listed - check it out at http://pianoshop.co.uk/shops/ Please check your listing on the "Shops" page and if there are any errors please email amendments to info at pianoshop.co.uk This change is part of gradual improvements to the web site Part of the reason we hadn't done it before was the complexity of programming this functionality. It has now been made really easy thanks to the "myDBase" tool - http://www.mydbase.co.uk/ There are so many improvements and the major breakthrough has been the introduction of the mydbase database system. Previously when someone was added or details such as phone number or e-mail address needed to be changed in the shops, dealers, tuners, pianists and piano teachers listings, it meant that Craig had to do the input. He, unlike me, speaks and writes in computer language. All of Pianoshop databases (is there such a word) are now set up using this wonderful invention www.mydbase.co.uk. It really is very easy to use – even I find it easy and learnt to do the whole thing in 15 minutes. You can edit and add information by a copy and paste format from an Excel spreadsheet with the click of two links – don’t take my word for it – go to www.mydbase.co.uk and have a look. It's an administrator's dream!. 2. New Forum If you haven’t visited the new Forum then go to www.pianoshop/froum and take a look. It’s easier to use and read than the old one and it’s very popular. If you don’t have a question you may be able to solve someone else’s problem. 3. Pianos and much more Don’t forget its not just pianos advertised for sale on the web site, there is an excellent selection of piano stools available in a wide variety of woods, fabrics, styles and finishes. You can advertise your pianos or piano products at Pianoshop. E-mail or phone Pat on info@pianoshop.co.uk or 023 9225 3797. 4. We really do want to hear from you We would really like to hear from you. You can submit piano-related articles or send them to us and we’ll submit them for you. E-mail them to info@pianoshop.co.uk We’d like to think it’s your site – there are masses of new information pages coming soon so there’s more to it than selling pianos – although we do specialise in that and Pianoshop is the place to advertise your piano to the best advantage. Concerts, master classes, piano courses can all be advertised on the site free of charge. E-mail me the details and tell over 100,000 people every month about your piano related event. 5. What people have to say about Pianoshop “I sold my piano via your site and was writing to let you know. I was really pleased with the service, I sold my piano with the minimum of fuss to a lady in Canada for her father in Lancashire!” “I think I have already had one person from your site; hope all goes well for you”. From a piano teacher listed in the teacher’s database. “Regarding my advertisement for the above piano I am writing to inform you that it is now sold. Please withdraw the piano from your web site. The piano sold on the first day of advertising”. “We at Clare Pianos are very pleased with the service we receive from the Virtual Piano Shop. The exposure from advertising our pianos on the Virtual Piano shop is excellent and has undoubtedly resulted in increased sales. Clients are able to view our pianos on the very easy to use 'user friendly' site and we continually hear our clients and enquirers telling us that they first saw or heard about us from seeing us on Pianoshop. I have no hesitation in saying congratulations to the Virtual Piano Shop for providing this first class service. I advise anyone wishing to sell pianos to use this very superior quality service. Good luck”. That all for now. Have a really good Easter holiday and fingers crossed the weather will improve. Pat and Craig Craig Greenhouse -Managing Director of Pianoshop Pat Evans - Site administrator