Givens Violins Website Receives Rave Review by:
We were so thrilled to have our website reviewed by The Music & Sound Retailer Online. Thank you, MI (Musical Instrument) Spy, for featuring Givens Violins as part of your analysis of music shop websites in Minneapolis!
“MI Spy could not visit stores due to many stay-at-home orders. So he/she did the next best thing: reviewed MI store websites. In this part one of a two-part story, MI Spy virtually checked out Minneapolis…
Claire Givens Violins
In a nutshell, Claire Givens Violins sells, makes and restores violins, violas, cellos and bows. If you want to see what an eye-catching, serious and comprehensive website can be, then go to this site. It has lots of attractive photos, the layout is easy to use, the prices and descriptions of instruments are clear, and there are even parts of the website that offer lessons in musical instrumentation and design.
MI Spy has noticed over the years that websites for stores that specialize in classical string instruments tend to be more serious than many of the sites that cater to the “woo yeah, rock ‘n roll” type of purchases. They are going for the classical music crowd, so it’s not surprising that they have a more sophisticated look. But this site is not stuffy; it is inviting and professional.
The homepage shows a rotating series of photographs of the store and the staff at work making and maintaining instruments. Underneath that are links for the store’s inventory and service offerings, plus information about its restoration service, Andrew Dipper Restorations. You can also click the “Tour Givens Violins” link, which takes you to a rather well-produced YouTube video of the store owner, Claire Givens, as she leads you on a walkthrough of the store, including its classrooms and instrument shops.
The website has a series of blog posts as well, which make for informative and lively reading. The staff members are presented with their headshots and brief bios. There is even a page called “Anatomy of a Violin,” which is a good introduction to the instrument.
If you are a novice or a professional, and interested in this specific set of musical instruments, this is a very good, informative website for what appears to be a very approachable business.”
