Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Cooper.
Hi Laura, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My great great Grandpa started our company back in 1906. At the time, it was “Cooper Brothers” in New Kennsington, PA. My Grandpa moved the company to Atlanta in the late 70s and we’ve been at our current location since 1983. I didn’t get seriously involved in the business until after high school and started full-time in October 2018. My grandpa passed in 2016 so we didn’t get to overlap, but he talked a lot about me being involved in the business and really encouraged it. Currently, my uncle runs the company. There’s no firm timeline, but I will be taking over operations within a couple of years. It’s really a dream come true for me to have the privilege to take on this company that has been a part of our family’s identity for 117 years and I hope to carry it on as well as the generations before me have.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No way! There’s nothing smooth about running a small business! My uncle always says “if we never sold anything, we’d never have any problems” However our team is amazing and takes everything in stride. Some of our staff have been with us for 10-20 years, which makes it feel even more like a true family business. Having the support of our team is what really gives me the confidence to get through the hard stuff.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The piano industry is a very unique and old part of the music industry that we’ve been a part of for 117 years. Selling pianos is a very different kind of retail because of how emotional a purchase it is. Sometimes people get pianos as a piece of furniture, but most of the time its an investment in themselves and their families. What sets us apart from others is our wide variety of brands and price points, giving us the ability to serve as many people as we can! Every piano we sell, we stand behind, so we give 20 years warranties on new pianos and ten years on used pianos. Because we are a full-service piano company (sales, moves, tunes, repairs, etc.) we are able to stick with our customers for every piano need they come across.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
ALWAYS prioritizing the customer. As much as I respect a work-life balance, I make a point of always being available for our customers. It’s different with a family business because it’s way more than a job, it’s my life! Also, treating our employees with kindness and respect is an important part of our success. We would be nothing without them. They treat our customers amazingly and represent our company and values so well.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cooperpiano.com
- Instagram: @cooperpiano
- Facebook: @cooperpianos
