7/14/2023 0 Comments Keytouch spyNaperville is an especially affluent Chicagoland suburb and a ripe market for the music retailers I was visiting for this mission. While technically located in Aurora, Ill., this Guitar Center bills itself with the name of the city whose limits begin literally across the street to the store’s east. Then I made my way through the unusually light Chicago traffic to the safehouse and hunkered down to make my final preparations for the following day’s store visits. With the thin crowd, I breezed through arrival and my rental car checkout. The ride was smooth, and the window-seat view was beautiful. The flight attendants seemed delighted to see me, eyes crinkling in smiles above their masks. “Will do, Chief!” This was great news! I was finally going to jump back into action again after doing virtual visits for months!Īs I journeyed to Chicago, I noticed that the airport crowd and the number of people on my plane were understandably sparse. We’ll send a car in the morning to pick you up from your flight. I’m just doing the retailer rounds to update my product and pricing recommendations list. I’ll pose as a local music schoolteacher being asked by students and parents for my shopping suggestions on first or upgrade instruments. Keyboards for serious students, huh? That’ll mean a full 88 keys, weighted and with a pedal. What’s the new normal? How are they protecting their customers and staff? What’s the instore vibe now, and how do they feel about it?” “And, generally, we need to know how retailers are bouncing back from this pandemic shutdown. “Specifically, we’re looking for intel on entry- and intermediate-level keyboards for serious students, from stores along the western corridor reaching out of the city,” he ordered. “Sounds great, Chief,” I replied too quickly. You were there recently, but we need you to go back and check out the west suburban market.” Things are starting to open back up again,” the Chief started. So when the Chief finally called with this month’s mission, I was thoroughly bored, and quite pleased at the prospect of a fresh assignment. Three months of eating far too much, trying to jog it off on steep and solitary mountain-path runs, and binge-watching espionage thrillers on Netflix. ![]() I’ve been hunkered down for more than three months in the MI Spy Cave because of the COVID-19 pandemic. MI Spy is back in the stores! The stealthy shopper returns to Chicago in part one of a two-part feature.
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