The Candyman Honored by the
Santa Fe Small Business Development Center
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT: Rand or Cindy Cook
Co-Owners,
The Candyman Strings & Things
505-983-5906
info@candymanstringsandthings.com
Santa Fe Music Store Honored by the
Santa Fe Small Business Development Center
Santa Fe, NM, March 13,
2013 — Rand and Cindy
Cook, owners of
The Candyman Strings & Things, were selected by the Santa Fe Small
Business
Development Center (SBDC) as its Success Client of the Year. They were
nominated
by SBDC Business Advisor, Deborah Collins, who provided no-cost
management assistance,
business resources and entrepreneurial education through the Santa Fe
SBDC. The SBDCs work in partnership with the U.S. Small Business
Administration.
The Candyman has been a
presence in Santa Fe since 1969, serving northern New Mexico musicians. Rand
Cook had been in management at the company for 19 years when the former owner
decided to retire for health reasons. It was then that Rand and his wife Cindy
were given the opportunity to purchase the business.
The Cooks approached the SBDC
for help with their business plan and received their funding successfully from
a local community bank. They also received a $25,000 EDPPlus grant from the
Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas). Since then, they’ve become
advocates of SBA programs.
Cindy explained, "When the opportunity to purchase The
Candyman Strings & Things came along, the Santa Fe SBDC gave us invaluable
advice and resources...allowing us to secure the funding needed for our
business. Ms. Collins, our SBDC Advisor, has helped us the past three years
with a variety of business assistance from personnel to business plan
revisions, to financial health and growth planning. We consider her an extension of our management
team and part of The Candyman family and we look forward to continuing to
utilize SBDC resources as our business grows and changes.”
The couple has implemented
their vision for The Candyman Strings & Things to become Santa Fe's Community Music Center. To accomplish this mission, they added additional elements to the musical instrument store
including a space for shoppers to hang out and have a cup of coffee with access
to free WiFi, lesson studios for
a private and ensemble lessons program and a band instrument
rental program. Believing that it is important for youth to be exposed to
making music, Rand and Cindy also implemented Rock School and Summer Rock Camp
programs, created The Candyman Scholarship Fund for kids to play music with
others and provide gift cards annually to music teachers at the public schools to
help fund classroom supply needs.
The Candyman’s staff members
are veteran musicians from the community who have been with the store for
years. As experts in their own right, they provide stellar customer service. The
Candyman has been acknowledged with five national awards for merchandising,
their Rock School and Summer Rock Camp programs, marketing and making a
positive difference in lives through music. In addition, sales have increased
each year since the Cooks took ownership of The Candyman, despite the weak
national economy.
On February 27th,
The Candyman, along with 21 other Success Clients from New Mexico SBDCs across
the state, was treated to a reception where they were recognized by Lt.
Governor John Sanchez for their sacrifice and dedication to entrepreneurial
excellence. The day following, the businesses were introduced to the state
Senate and House during the 15th Annual New Mexico SBDC Day at the
Legislature. It was a monumental day as the Senate memorialized the
contributions of the NMSBDC and declared February 28th, 2013 "New Mexico
Small Business Development Center Day."
During a press conference,
several speeches from astute ranks were delivered to honor the small businesses
including: John Woosley, District Director U.S. Small Business Administration;
Senator Clemente Sanchez and Cabinet Secretaries Jon Barela and Celina Bussey.
In response to receiving the
award, Rand Cook stated, "In New
Mexico, small business owners are responsible for 77% of New Mexico's jobs,
spur economic growth and are responsible for massive amounts of tax revenues.
Owning and operating a business is oftentimes a thankless role so we were thrilled
at the recognition and were pleased when Cabinet Secretary, Jon Barela stated
during the press conference that the small businesses present and those they
represent are 'economic patriots.'
It's always nice to be recognized for your hard work, but it was über special
to be commended as being a main component in the engine of the American
economy."
About The Candyman Strings & Things
Established in 1969 and located
in its own landmark building in Santa Fe’s historic Triangle District, the facility features showrooms for acoustic guitars,
drums and percussion, electric guitars,
amplifiers and
pro sound, keyboards,
and accessories
and educational
materials; as well as a band/orchestra
instrument rental and sales counter; teaching and
ensemble studios and a coffee
bar and lounge.
About Rand and Cindy Cook
Rand and his wife Cindy are both
entrepreneurial spirits and have worked hard toward making The Candyman a
success. Born and raised in Santa Fe, and a bass player himself, Rand really
knows his market. His passion for playing led him to The Candyman where he
developed the skills to manage a staff of 13 employees and 20 subcontract
teachers, create sales strategies, negotiate contracts and create lasting beneficial
relationships with vendors as well as the music community. Cindy comes from an
entrepreneurial background where she began a home-based virtual assistance and
graphic design business prior to purchasing The Candyman Strings & Things with
her husband. She pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Communication at
Denver University and she has sharpened her skills in social media as well as
conventional marketing.
About Santa Fe Small Business
Development Center
The New Mexico Small Business Development Center
(NMSBDC) network was created in 1989 by the New Mexico State Legislature. For
20 years it has supported the expanding, planning, business financing, and
management efforts of more than 79,000 New Mexico businesses,
providing free small business consulting, affordable workshops, and business
training. Their network of experts is
comprised of highly experienced, educated and dedicated staff located in 20
statewide service centers and the International Business Accelerator (IBA) on
the US/Mexico border.
Since its inception, the NMSBDC has been
affiliated with 17 of New Mexico's schools of higher education and partnership
with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the New Mexico State
Legislature. Their statewide presence has been made possible through those
partnerships in small rural communities or metropolitan centers with the
resources, talent, and encouragement needed to make sound business decisions. They
are a nationally accredited business program and member of Association of Small
Business Development Centers. Their mission is to provide quality direct
assistance, entrepreneurial education and resource links for potential and
existing small businesses to strengthen the economy of New Mexico.
Left to Right: District Director, U.S. SBA John Woosley, Santa Fe SBDC Advisor, Deborah Collins, Cindy Cook
Rand E. Cook, State Director NMSBDC Michael A. Rivera,
The Candyman Honored at National Music Products
Industry Trade Show
SANTA FE, NM, August 30, 2012—The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) honored The
Candyman Strings & Things in Santa Fe, NM, for the 'Best Merchandising and
Display,’ ‘Best Rock Schools and Camps,’ and the Best ‘Wanna Play? “Music Makes
a Difference”’ awards at the 2012 Top 100 Dealer awards ceremony in Nashville,
TN.
“I used to think music was good for kids, now I know that music
changes kids’ lives,” said an emotional Rand Cook, co-owner of Candyman Strings
& Things based in Santa Fe, NM. “I used to run a store…now it is so much
more,” he stated as he received the “Wanna Play Music Makes a Difference” award
at the event dubbed the “Oscars of the Musical Products Industry.”
The
National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) began recognizing excellence in the
music products and instruments retail industry at the inaugural 2011 Top 100
Dealer awards to celebrate the best business practices by U.S. retailers, as
the music products industry gathers in Nashville for the Summer NAMM show. The
Candyman Strings & Things was also honored as one of the Nation’s Top 100
Dealers.
“With
thousands of members eligible, we’re still reeling from last year’s event when
The Candyman was named winners in two of the Best Of categories including the
‘Wanna Play Dealer of the Year’ and ‘Best in Social Media’ and was also named
as a Top 100 Dealer in the Nation. With five wins and finalists in several of
the categories since the inception of this national event, we hold the record
for the most awards received. Not bad for a local music store in Santa Fe, NM,”
said Rand.
A panel of impartial, expert judges selected by, but not otherwise
affiliated with NAMM, first select the Top 100 dealers using a numeric rating
based on five main criteria. Then, the panel scores retailers’ submissions for
awards in ten other specific ‘Best of’ categories. Then scores are tallied and
stores are ranked to reveal the music product industry’s ‘Dealer of the Year.’
“The Top 100 Dealer Awards are an opportunity for NAMM members to
come together and celebrate excellence in retailing,” said Joe Lamond, NAMM
president and CEO. “No two stores are alike and we can all learn from each
other; I suspect many NAMM members will use these winning ideas in their own
businesses, leading to an improvement in the entire trade.”
It's truly humbling to be recognized as the best in the nation for our work and the hard work and dedication of our staff. It means so much to be honored for the work that we do with the kids
in our community and changing people’s lives in positive ways through music. To
be recognized by our peers for these honors is just icing on the cake,” said
Cindy Cook, Co-owner of The Candyman."
Rand and Cindy Cook accept The 'Best Rock
Schools and Camps" Award at Summer NAMM 2012.
Rand and Cindy Cook accept The 'Best
Merchandising and Display’ Award at Summer NAMM 2012
Rand and Cindy Cook accept the ‘Wanna Play
Music Makes a Difference” Award at Summer NAMM 2012
About NAMM
The National Association of Music Merchants, commonly called NAMM in reference
to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit
association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global musical
instruments and products industry. NAMM's activities and programs are designed
to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of more than
9,000 Member companies. For more information about NAMM, interested parties can
visit www.namm.org or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).