Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Broome.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Daniel. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was commuting 2 hours a day working at a corporate job I didn’t love. Even though my future there seemed bright and I was earning a very comfortable wage, I didn’t feel fulfilled. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset and the long commutes provided me with plenty of time to strategize, research, and build the courage to pursue something more fulfilling.
My wife Tram, whom has been a huge contributor to the success of Bonsai Music Supply Co., also worked a full time corporate job at the time, and still does. She and I would get home from our jobs, briefly eat dinner, then work on the business sometimes until 11:30pm. We did that 5 days a week, and many weekends, for months. It wasn’t easy, but we hoped it would be worth it.
Over time, online sales and reputation began to grow. Things got to a point where I could see all the things that I could be working on to grow the business instead of working at my 9-5, and made the decision to leave my job to pursue BMSC full time in April 2016.
Since then, it’s been my full-time job. It’s been important to me all along that the business grows organically. I haven’t taken out any business loans and instead try to invest profits back in to the business by adding new products, advertising, etc. We’re still a fairly small operation but constantly making forward progress which is really the only thing that is important to me.
The ultimate goal is to help make the world a better place through the healing power of music. Our philosophy is that music is medicinal. Many of us would never have survived our teenage years without it. The death of a loved one, difficult breakups/ divorces, veterans struggling with traumatic experiences, homeless people who cannot afford instruments/ listening equipment, and so many others can dramatically benefit from music. Our mission is to put ourselves in a position to help as many as we can, in as many ways as we can.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
In the beginning, everyone thought I was crazy giving up the steady paycheck I was earning. Employment wise, I used to make the amount of money to be made my highest priority. I guess I’ve kind of evolved and spending my time doing something I enjoy is more important to me now. The initial sacrifice proved to be worth it.
The biggest challenge I’d say is finding time to get everything done and implement my ideas. Orders come in constantly and they must be packed and shipped daily. That is time consuming. Making time to advertise, research new products, handle customer service, maintain existing inventory, accounting, and all of the other things that go along with running a business is sometimes a challenge. At some point in the near future, we’ll be looking to hire at least a couple people so that I can focus more on strategy and the future of the organization.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Bonsai Music Supply story. Tell us more about the business.
We currently sell predominantly guitar accessories: tuners, effects pedals, loopers, straps, capos, etc. Eventually we’ll expand to offer a wide variety of instruments and instrument accessories. Basically, anything related to facilitating the enjoyment of music. Perhaps someday we’ll produce our own line of guitars. Our ultimate goal however is to help make the world a better place by making music lessons, concert tickets, instruments, and listening equipment more accessible to those that can benefit from it most. People struggling with addiction, PTSD, an abusive environment, and many other of life’s struggles can oftentimes find themselves in a better place due to the inspiration and/or escape that music provides. Music can inspire us to find the courage, patience, identity etc to make it through many of these challenges that life presents. Our primary mission will become helping people access this power.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I think we’re all presented with challenges and obstacles, in almost everything we do. What’s most important is our ability to be resilient and have the will to overcome the obstacles. When what we are pursuing isn’t worth going to the trouble, that’s when we fail.
That being said, I’ve been very fortunate to have been exposed to the prior experience and work ethic that the military and my father taught me. I’m lucky to have had the opportunity to have worked in certain sales roles that have helped me develop my advertising and customer service skills. I’m fortunate to be married to such a supportive and smart woman that has skills that I lack. If it weren’t for the support of many of my friends and suppliers (that have become friends), the business wouldn’t be where it is today. I’m also very fortunate to have been exposed to, and inspired by, such a wide range of music beginning at a very young age.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bonsaimusicsupply.com
- Phone: 2144622611
- Email: bonsaimusicstore@gmail.com
- Instagram: @bonsaimusicsupply
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/BonsaiMusicSupplyCo/
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
