Article from an Ohio newspaper ;)
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2011/01/09/majestic-creations.html?sid=101 (http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2011/01/09/majestic-creations.html?sid=101)
QuoteToday's industry includes about 50organ-makers in the United States and Canada and about 200 smaller shops that do mostly tuning, repairs and restoration, according to the most-recent annual report that Ebert completed for the American Institute of Organbuilders. Annual sales are around $100 million, including about 70 organs built in 2009.
QuoteLike most businesses, organ-makers were hit hard by the recent recession. Churches scaled back on building plans, and the number of major projects dwindled.
And yet, the leaders of Bunn-Minnick are optimistic. Some churches have rediscovered organ music, part of a desire to "bring the mystique back" to services, Minnick said. This has inspired several restorations of old organs and new construction, which might be the seeds of a trend.
Ebert is waiting for a trend to show up in sales figures.
That doesn't diminish the enthusiasm at Bunn-Minnick.
"I think this is one of the most exciting times ever," Minnick said.
Such sentiment is one of the reasons that neither of the co-founders plans to retire soon.
The men view the business as their ministry, their way to spread their belief that religious services should be as grand as a major chord played on a pipe organ.
Eric
KB7DQH