CHICAGO (PTA) — Well before Axpona 2019 was under way in Chicago, the team at VPI Industries was diligently at work preparing over twenty turntables to show with various dealers, manufacturers and industry partners. From there, came a fun way to experience all things VPI had to offer, and possibly win a prize.

The Story

If you are in the market for a turntable or just interested in keeping apprised of the latest and greatest in analog reproduction, then it is likely VPI Industries is no stranger to you Google search bar. If it so happens that tried and true analog sound isn’t your thing, and you’ve just happened upon this article, then let me clue you in on a few things. VPI Industries is a family owned high-end audio turntable manufacturer located in Cliffwood, New Jersey, USA. VPI was started by Sheila and Harry Weisfeld, who are the founders of VPI Industries. Thirty-five years later the company is still family owned and run by Harry and son Mat Weisfeld.

Mat Weisfeld (VPI Industries President), grew up at VPI, and while he originally didn’t plan on following the VPI Industries path, it became the love he didn’t realize he had (next to his wife Jane Weisfeld). Mat has taken the helm of a strong foundation and VPI tradition created by his mother and father. He continues to grow and improve upon the company with new technology, lean manufacturing, and more. Mat was previously a high school and college technology teacher/professional. His first solo design at VPI Industries was the VPI Prime and JMW 3D tonearm, which has been the identity focus for the company since Mat has taken the control.

Growth is important for any entity, and at VPI Industries growth is the name of the game — or better yet BINGO.

The Game

Under Mat’s leadership, VPI Industries has done many things to reach new audiences, aside from the usual channels. Enter the BINGO. VPI turntables were located around the Axpona to an almost unavoidable level, as were the Bingo cards. Bingo cards were distributed to VPI exhibiting partners on Thursday before the show opened, along with special VPI stamps for VPI Bingo players to collect with each visit to VPI exhibit location. The cards also conveniently doubled as a useful guide to aid attendees in locating the most current VPI models exhibiting at the show.

Players were instructed to take their completed (fully stamped) VPI Bingo cards to the Audio-Technica booth located in the Axpona Expo Hall, where each player would be rewarded with a VPI Hero Medal, and be entered into a drawing for a brand new VPI Player turntable.

Many of the show attendees I spoke with remarked that the game was spot-on in reflecting the spirit the VPI family, and a great way to bring a little fun into the turntable hunting and show-going experience. As for myself, I had enough fun just covering the gaming action with VPI Industries’ Office Manager, Mr. Marc Boyle.