Boomer Nashua, feature NH Telegraph, special Audio section

For many of us, the drive to and from work can offer a time of reflection, a brief solace from the outside world and the opportunity to focus on the challenges and pleasures ahead. For me, listening to a favorite CD can usually be the ideal mood enhancer, and today I’m in desperate need for a little reflection. A few hundred yards out of my driveway, I press play on my receiver and immediately feel a sense of release, as the cool and majestic groove of the Miles Davis quintet flows from the speakers. I crank up the volume a little more, and within a few measures the band kicks into a hot groove and my mood begins to brighten.

Today’s morning commute will take me to Boomer Nashua McLoud Extreme Car Audio in Nashua. The same guys who sold and installed my cars audio system (a work in progress) and whom I’m honored to have allowed me to write my fourth story for them in as many years. They are now celebrating their fifth birthday and sales are…. well, Booming!

When I enter the building, Ron Mackey, the stores manager, sales representative, and technician, greets me while simultaneously handling a customer phone call. At Boomers, this type of multi-tasking is the norm, so I decided to poke around at the stockpile of new accessories that abound. Speakers, subwoofers, power amps, navigation and security systems, radar detectors, remote car starters, speaker wire, after market speed parts, XM and Sirius satellite radios and now a wall-mounted display of custom rims. Boomer also has a myriad of oddball items that are sure to intrigue almost any car enthusiast. These items had multiplied exponentially since my first visit to Boomers three years ago. And hence, more than ever, I was bearing witness to the stores phenomenal growth. “We have definitely maximized the facilities potential,” explained Sean Strasshofer, one of the young and gifted technicians at Boomers.

After about twenty minutes of roaming around, I knew I wasn’t going to get to speak with Ron for sometime, as he was now explaining to a customer how to operate her newly installed remote starter. Now, several customers were patiently waiting to speak with Ron, while store owner, Jamie Page was in the Boomers sound room explaining to an astonished customer the benefits of installing “waterproof subwoofers” in his Jeep. Feeling the voltage around the store begin to climb, as often happens whenever Jamie goes into one of his high octane and expertly researched product descriptions, I sat down and relaxed on Boomers comfy couch to listen in and learn from his deft salesmanship. This particular customer was a sportsman, who enjoyed fishing and off-roading in the summer months. He preferred to drive with the top down and needed a speaker designed for the marine environment. A little skeptical, he explained to Jamie that he wanted to mount the subwoofers into a wooden enclosure to protect them from water. Jamie shot a big smile, then said, “Actually sir, you don’t have to waste your time and effort, I have actually seen these subwoofers placed underwater in a bathtub and they performed perfectly well.” The man burst out laughing, his face red and slightly contorted in amazement said, “I’ll take ‘em!” Jamie closed the deal by discounting the price and extending the warrantee, because he knew the man would not be able to enjoy them for another several months.

Now it was time to take a stroll out back to the Boomers garage and ask a few questions to Ryan, Norman, Josh and Sean. The three bay garage was buzzing with industrious noise, as each of them was working with a quiet, focused intensity. After all, Boomers customers were expecting their vehicles to be ready after work, so like any efficient workplace, there was a time frame for the majority of jobs to be completed. As I asked questions, none of the technicians ever stopped working. They talked to me about new technologies, such as the Ipod, and how it’s enormous impact in the past few years, has forced companies to fashion their products around Ipod integration. And how Bluetooth technology is the next big thing and is eliminating fiber optics. Or how a new product, which is little black box built by JL Audio called the ‘clean sweep’, will allow you to increase the fidelity of most factory installed radios and MP3 players without having to purchase a new receiver.

“What a day,” I thought as I walked outside to my car, happy and invigorated that I got to spend a few hours with such a great bunch of guys, (i.e. fanatics), who for the third straight year were nominated for Nashua’s Best Small Business Award. Certainly, one expects a business that receives such a nomination to offer superb services and excellent customer service. But Boomers has an intangible quality that defines greatness.

And what might this be? This is a question I’ve contemplated on several occasions over the past four years, and here’s what I’ve arrived at. All of us have a skill. Many of us are even good at several things. If you combine this with a little perseverance, and a sprinkle of luck, we all have the opportunity to be successful. However, this does not necessarily mean we will be happy. It’s a small percentage of us who are lucky enough to know and follow our true passion. I believe it’s hard enough to know what your true passion is, let alone follow it. But if and when you discover it, this happiness, or bliss, can drive you to achieve great things. It’s this unique quality, this unwavering passion that puts Boomer McLoud in the forefront of their profession.

Boomer McLoud is located at 419 Amherst Street, Nashua, NH 03060. Take Exit 7W off Rte. 3. Boomer McLoud is 1.5 miles up on the right, across from Building 19.

Feel free to contact Jamie, or Ron at 603-889-9799. Their fax # is 603-889-9775.

Visit (Boomer Nashua) on the Web at https://www.nh-car-audio.com