BUENA PARK, Calif. — When dealers choose Yamaha, they're buying more than goods and services - they're gaining access to world class dealer support, highly-trained service technicians and unparalleled on-line assistance. The Band & Orchestral Division's Dealer Development Services, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, lies at the heart of this philosophy.

Alan Friedman presenting seminar in Las Vegas 2008.

Founded in 1998, this program has consistently earned rave reviews from dealers nationwide who have participated in the program's informative sessions and have utilized the Yamaha Certified Sales Professional on-line training course. Currently, Yamaha's Dealer Development Services encompasses a number of support programs for authorized Yamaha dealers, including product, sales and merchandising training, repair technician training, employee development opportunities and practical financial and business management.

"Being a Yamaha dealer means far more than just selling our instruments," says Roger Eaton, Director of Marketing, Yamaha Band & Orchestral Division. "Through Dealer Development Services, we offer our dealers the latest information, the best practices, and, most importantly, an ongoing sense of the larger Yamaha community. The tenth anniversary of this vital program is a testament to its value in the music industry."

In the "classroom style" dealer sessions, which Yamaha organizes throughout the country, attendees have the opportunity to learn the latest sales techniques and strategies. The program additionally covers research and studies of advanced buyer psychology, plus professional selling skills, providing a whole new outlook on the sales process. In 2009, plans are in place to offer a state-of-the-art instrument maintenance and repair method class, including preventive maintenance, timesaving tips, and many other skills key to building customer satisfaction, trust and loyalty. This training will take place at the brand new Los Angeles Atelier.

Launched in 2008, the highly acclaimed Financial Advantage seminar examines the contemporary issues facing today's music retailers through a fictional case study led by industry veteran and CPA Alan Friedman. This seminar provides real world solutions to the challenges of today's music retailer.

"Every DDS session I've attended - and I've been to all of them - has been a home run," says Nick Rail of Nick Rail Music in Southern California. "The fact that I've been able to bring so many employees to so many classes is invaluable and very much appreciated."

Dealer Development's appeal lies not only in the breadth of information presented but also the fact that it's essentially free, thus offering dealers incomparable value. "This seminar will transfer to a direct increase of my profitability," said David Schmidt of Schmidt's Music in Pensacola, FL. "I was amazed that so much could be covered so quickly," he adds.

In the spring of 2008, Yamaha announced the milestone 30,000th download of the Yamaha Certified Sales Professional (YCSP) program at www.yamaha.com/ycsp. The program is currently on track to complete its 50,000th session in early 2009. The YCSP program, a core part of the of Dealer Development Services consists of a series of audiovisual-based on-line training modules and supplementary quizzes designed to provide detailed information to help dealers with an overall understanding of Yamaha Band & Orchestral instruments.

To build on the success of YCSP, Yamaha recently introduced YCSP 2.0, which instructs users how to handle different buyer situations and explore various customer psychology concepts. Participants in the on-line program also learn how to create a store atmosphere that customers will want to experience again and again. Scheduled to debut in the winter of 2009, YCSP 2.5 is now in the planning stages and will focus on racks, fixtures, product displays, accessories and the role of today's physical retail space.

For more information on the Dealer Development Services, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011, e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamaha.com/band.

For more information on the Yamaha Certified Sales Professional (YCSP) program please visit www.yamaha.com/ycsp.