NEW YORK -- Only a year ago, Richard Taylor was a young leading tenor with New York City Opera. He had sung the top Verdi roles and sung in Massenet's 'Manon' opposite Beverly Sills. Now he is opening a chain of computer software supermarkets.
The first was opened March 20 at Westbury on Long Island and the next two will be in northern New Jersey and Manhattan. These three are to be company owned to set up a definite pattern for a nationwide franchised chain.
Why did Taylor quit the operatic stage just when he seemed on the verge of reaching the top?
'For one thing,' he said, 'I began to realize what tremendous sacrifices one has to make to be an operatic star. I became increasingly disenchanted with the idea of spending my whole life traveling around to all the world's opera houses.'
However, he admits luck played an even bigger part in his decision. 'By sheer happenstance, I bought a personal computer,' he told UPI. 'I had absolutely no practical use for it. I was just fascinated by the gadget, but I learned to use it quite effectively.'
Taylor had a friend who also was fascinated with personal computers. The friend is the son of Carl Stanley, who founded the 500-unit Cut and Curl chain of franchised beauty shops along with entertainer Edie Adams.
Taylor and young Stanley worked out some computer software programs for Cut and Curl's business operations that fascinated the elder Stanley. The upshot of this was the idea for Programs Unlimited -- the software department store, operating somewhat like a record store or an electronic hardware department store.
They hope for a chain of 100 franchised stores within a few years. The business is a subsidiary of Cut and Curl.
'We are offering a solution,' Taylor said, 'to some of the common problems that plague computer users, particularly a chance to actually experiment with software before buying it, and the ability to get it over the counter rather than having to order it by mail.'
Justas a large musical recording store has booths with hi-fi equipment where the customer can listen to the recording before paying for it, Programs Unlimited has a battery of the most popular makes of mini-computers set up in 15 work stations, where customers can try out any of the hundreds of the software programs offered for sale.
Another purpose of the computer supermarket, Taylor said, is to offer a broad spectrum of software over the counter under one roof.
'A limited variety of software programs are available in stores that sell small computers,' Taylor said, 'but in the main, good standard software has to be ordered by mail, from catalogues or advertisements in specialty publications.
'Much of the best of it now can be obtained only from one source, the manufacturer of a particular computer. This situation is a contradiction of the efficiency the users of the computer are striving for in the first place. We are out to rectify that,' Taylor said. 'We already have available for over-the -counter sale about 600 standard programs that normally must be obtained by mail order and we intend to scour all the sources of new programs for small computers and stock those that seem to meet a fair demand.'
He said Programs Unlimited would pre-test every program and item before putting it on the shelves.
The company also will produce computer programs on its own and market them along with the products of other software houses.
