Members cerebrix Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 what brands would you carry? its your shop. what do YOU think people are buying these days? keep it realistic though. lets say you have enough capital to carry 4 guitar lines, 4 amp lines, and 4 pedal / effects lines. for me. id pick... Gibson / EpiphoneSuhrHanser brands (michael kelly, bc rich, rockfield)Paul Reed Smith OrangePeavey (i guess i could double up amps here)RolandBugera Fractal Audio SystemsRocktronBossDanelectro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Electric Blues Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 what brands would you carry? its your shop. what do YOU think people are buying these days?keep it realistic though. lets say you have enough capital to carry 4 guitar lines, 4 amp lines, and 4 pedal / effects lines.for me. id pick...Gibson / EpiphoneSuhrHanser brands (michael kelly, bc rich, rockfield)Paul Reed SmithOrangePeavey (i guess i could double up amps here)RolandBugeraFractal Audio SystemsRocktronBossDanelectro Fender / SquierHamerIbanezYamaha FenderMesaVoxMarshallYTaynor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RJpilot Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 Fender / SquierHamerIbanezYamahaFenderMesaVoxMarshallYTaynor Wouldn't you want to do a better job offering somethin other than the GC brands. I agree that you need to carry Fender but why not try carrying Peavy, Dr. Z, Godin. Keep Traynor and Yamaha and you prolly gotta have line6 stuff. In my dreams I would run a used gear shop and carry everything I could get my hands on. Prolly not a lot of money in it but I would love to have a store like Guitar Maniacs in tacoma WA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ssureshot Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 Fender / SquierPRSHammerI'd keep some knock offs, SX, Douglas, Agile, Xaviere.. FenderVoxMarshallPeavey As for pedals Id keep that diverse... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Virgman Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 Johnson & Johnson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cincy_cosmo Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 I'm convinced that if you can sell: US Music Corp (Parker, Washburn etc) - guitars and bassesRoland/Boss - keyboard, recording, drumsFender/Squier/Fender accessories - guitars, amps, basses strings etcLine 6 - effects and amps You can make it. HOWEVER, I tried this very thing...opening a store...3 years ago. What you WANNA sell and what they will LET you sell are two entirely different things, but I don't think this thread is about reality in the musical instrument business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Graves Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 I would only carry EG brand customs. Hey, we're dreaming, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super Bass Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 I'd only carry used guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kit_strong Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 I would probably try and carry some brands that aren't that well represented in the area. Of course my shop would probably fail miserably for that very reason. But for guitars I'm thinkingReverendWashburn (see a lot of shops with their acoustics but their electrics are really overlooked).VoxLaceSt. BluesYamaha I'm sure I'd also try and carry Fender/Squire and Gibson/Epiphone since there are a lot of people who won't look at anything but those brands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Maess Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 GuitarsGibson / EpiphoneFenderPRSIbanez AmpsMesaFenderVoxMarshall EffectsBossIbanezDigitechLine6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members uberthrall Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 I'd only carry used guitars. Gotta agree.....though maybe not to the extent of selling only used gear, but I'd really concentrate heavily on that end. Nothing I hate more than going into a store and seeing the same old Fender/Gibson/PRS stuff all over the place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members knotty Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 My shop would def carry Yamaha. Apart from the odd Pacifica I have never seen a new yamaha, in the flesh, in a UK shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jim85IROC Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 I don't think 4 guitar brands is enough if you expect to offer a decent selection of acoustics and electrics. Personally, I'd try to make sure I covered the following areas:Steel string acousticsClassical acousticselectric humbuckerelectric single coilelectric metalelectric jazz/semi-hollow and in all cases I need to cover the range from entry level to premium quality. Can I adequately cover all those areas with 4 brands? Maybe.1. Gibson/Epi2. Fender/Squier3. Ibanez or Schecter4. PRS, LTD or Peavey That leaves out acoustics. Gotta have:1. Martin2. Taylor3. Yamaha or Takamine For amps:1. Fender2. Marshall3. Peavey4. Mesa or some high end brand. Effects? 1. MXR2. Digitech3. Boss4. Some boutique brand One thing I'd try to do is select companies that offer more than just one type of product. That way even if I only stock their guitars, I could order their amps, or vise versa. That gives me access to more product even if I don't keep it in stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members eellox Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 For guitars- Esp/ltdfendergibsonibanez For amps-PeaveyFenderMarshallMesa Effects-BossdigitechDanlectroElectro-Harmonix I think these brands would keep me in business. I would also carry alot of lesser known brands, but since you only allow me 4 in each catagory, these are the ones I would go with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stratotak Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 Id only stock air guitars..maybe when things picked up id stock air drums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Clonexx Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 For guitars-Esp/ltdfendergibsonibanezFor amps-PeaveyFenderMarshallMesaEffects-BossdigitechDanlectroElectro-Harmonix I think these brands would keep me in business. I would also carry alot of lesser known brands, but since you only allow me 4 in each catagory, these are the ones I would go with. You basically just opened a Guitar Center =P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Virgman Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 I'd just take my money and throw it out the car window at 65mph. It would save the hassle of filing all those bankruptcy papers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Strat87 Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 GuitarsFenderGibsonHamerSuhr AmpsFenderOrangeMarshallVox EffectsFulltoneCatalinbreadEHXBoss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MahaloVision Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 I'd just take my money and throw it out the car window at 65mph.It would save the hassle of filing all those bankruptcy papers. There's the realistic answer. Having said that, if I had to open a retail store, I'd probably specialize in high-end acoustics and sell to snorkledicks. I'd also probably stock mandolins and banjos, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dimmypage Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 Ibanez PeaveyYamahaG&LHamerBlackCatTaylorCort Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Yavin Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 Gotta agree.....though maybe not to the extent of selling only used gear, but I'd really concentrate heavily on that end. Nothing I hate more than going into a store and seeing the same old Fender/Gibson/PRS stuff all over the place. +1 Used is the way to go. Too much big box competition for the mainstream brands. I would do this today if I could find the gear to buy! Mostly I would like to do mid-level stuff with some higher end items here and there when you can get it right. Buy, Sell and Trade. Pay a little more than the pawn shops, know what you are talking about and deal fair and I think you could make it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Flogger59 Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 How do you make a small fortune in musical retail?Start with a large fortune. I've been in wholesale nearly 20 years, and in retail for a decade before that. The above answers are typical of people who are in it for the love of the gear, and not business people.Get lines that are not well represented in your area, or on the web. You're just going to be dealing with dicks who know the price of everything, and the value of nothing, matching website pricing because you can't explain that your service has a value, and that the customer can leave today with an instrument that they have played and inspected in hand, with the bonus of set-ups, lessons, accessories and the like, instead of waiting 2 weeks for Gawd knows what to show up ojn the doorstep with no setup, another 4 week process for the service issues, and relying on luck of the draw. You'll just be a showroom for some jerk to sell the same item online for a 5% markup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members V-man Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 If pure volume and internet sales allowed me a decent enough price break I would consider being a dedicated dealer of 1-2 high-end, popular brands that GC doesn't touch Like Jackson USA (non-imports), etc. Otherwise, I would look into some decent but hungry luthiers and broker a deal on their line or a set number of pieces and showcase their brands. Thus, the shop would have a reputation for bringing forth affordable customs from up and coming luthiers and maybe 1 or 2 lines of an established well-priced line from a small company. When faced with spending $899 for a clearance priced, fingerprinted Gibson V in Heritage Cherry with 3 dings (that went for $999 for 6 months as it sat there collecting prints and dings) or spending $1,199 for a US-made honeyburst or Korina V from a luthier who brokered a deal with me for 25-50 of them in a year, the business may have some appeal. The problem would be the hit or miss nature of the business. If it worked at all, luthiers would do this as a sacrifice to get exposure and recognition. Once they became a sensation, there would be little impetus to deal on the same terms, so I would have to look for 1-2 new luthiers every year or so. The other issue would be if for a year or two that 4 out of the 5 stocked luthiers/lines were more miss than hit. That could chill the business all together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Strat87 Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 I'd only carry used guitars. The more I think about it the more I really like your answer. I'd love a shop with vintage and near-vintage gear, especially the more affordable stuff like 80's MIJ fenders and the like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members U R A DUMBASS Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 The more I think about it the more I really like your answer. I'd love a shop with vintage and near-vintage gear, especially the more affordable stuff like 80's MIJ fenders and the like. That's a great idea. You could also offer to sell stuff for musicians on consignment, or hold items as collateral against small cash loans. Maybe you could even expand your business to include things like car audio, jewelry and guns. OH {censored}ING HELL YOU OWN A {censored}ING PAWN SHOP YOU {censored}ING GENIUS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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