a question for you fine folks....

[cusebassman]

Yea... one of the selling points of a non-GC guitar store would be at elast somewhat competitive pricing. I hate going into smaller stores and finding equipment that either costs a LOT more, or gear that is far lesser quality that costs the same as a particular brand/model at a different store.

Of course, the no-pressure sales approach is nice as well - I hate being accosted in GC every time I walk in because they want to earn an extra buck. I am much less inclined to buy in-store there now because of the attitude. I tend to go to a smaller place in town that has a much calmer atmosphere, or order online if they don't carry something.

You can only go so far with the cheap instruments, btw. A lot of smaller places I've seen try to carry ALL cheap, beginner gear, and of course, since I am not walking into a music store for the first time ever, I don't care how many strats you have for 99.99

That's fine for the beginner, but ya gotta mix it up!

 

[gvarko]

I doubt you could compete selling major brand names. GC buys in such quantities they can afford to discount. Besides, Gibson would probably only sell in large quantities. That puts them out of the reach of most smaller stores.

I have always felt brands like Washburn, Schecter and ESP are overlooked. I think if you had a deep selection of those brands that would be competitive. IMO it's better to sell 1,000 $500 guitars than to sell 50 $3,000 guitars.

 

[ggunn]

I doubt you could compete selling major brand names. GC buys in such quantities they can afford to discount. Besides, Gibson would probably only sell in large quantities. That puts them out of the reach of most smaller stores.

In other forums I have read some reports of the Gibson business model, which reportedly is forcing their outlets to carry a large inventory of their stuff (read: very expensive for a small indy shop) or be cut off. Contrary to that, however, there is a small shop here in Austin (South Austin Music) which has only three new Gibbys out on the floor, so I dunno...

 

[gvarko]

Contrary to that, however, there is a small shop here in Austin (South Austin Music) which has only three new Gibbys out on the floor, so I dunno...

I would bet they were purchased from a GC or somewhere else. I doubt they were direct shipped from Gibson. I don't think Gibson would even talk to you unless you were talking quantities of 100+ per order.

 

[cusebassman]

I have always felt brands like Washburn, Schecter and ESP are overlooked. I think if you had a deep selection of those brands that would be competitive. IMO it's better to sell 1,000 $500 guitars than to sell 50 $3,000 guitars.

I didn't mean the whole store should be filled with Heritage archtops....






only one side

 

[CoolCat]

interesting thread.. i noticed many lean towards the higher end stuff GC doesn't do.
GC has gotten to have a "cheapness" to it, imo. A WalMart atmosphere vibe.

I remember my first trip to GC, it was frkn too amazing with the largeness and all the guitars on the wall...now its filled with crap, and so much crap you can't hardly walk thru the store and it makes the whole trip just like going to WalMart.

the intensity of the cheap, cheaper, sale deal...with all the marketing hype humans have come up with to date. a barrage of items....

maybe boutique is where the money is? the older crew with money hate GC mostly, and the young kids don't have any money and haven't learned the appreciation between a well made guitar and one thats just painted cool.

I'll shurrup...interesting topic... display cases? ...I mean if its boutique, as several have mentioned going high end, its a good sales thing, imo, to have it displayed as such a work of art, special, well kept.

GC has nice guitars but in their garage-sale of WalMartville..even their expensive ones seem to have a cheapness? strange??
... like buying a diamond ring at WalMart in a scurvy glass case with kid snot wiped on it, ...

yet the exact same Diamond ring in a nice place and a nice case. meticulously kept, just has the "vibe" man... it sells me anyway.

and then there's the rumor some casino's in Las Vegas pump oxygen into the building to keep the humans awake and gambling all night....

I digress, so quickly...

 

[cusebassman]

You probably want to steer clear of the display cases for most of the guitars, if you want to maintain that air in the place that makes people feel comfortable, and not so limited

 

[donkeystyle]

In other forums I have read some reports of the Gibson business model, which reportedly is forcing their outlets to carry a large inventory of their stuff (read: very expensive for a small indy shop) or be cut off. Contrary to that, however, there is a small shop here in Austin (South Austin Music) which has only three new Gibbys out on the floor, so I dunno...

after the initial buy in (which for a new store is a minimum of 100,000 dollars) I don't think they have a minimum order.

 

[TheRockDoc]

I'd offer this to you

service-
Like a great setup person.
Like having access to stock for parts.

I'd have to imagine that there are quite a few lines that getting squeezed from GC and MF that would be happy to deal and merchandise with you.

I would also know your market. Gorilla amps at $89 can be just as useless as high end stuf that doesn't sell

FWIW

TRD

 

[CoolCat]

You probably want to steer clear of the display cases for most of the guitars, if you want to maintain that air in the place that makes people feel comfortable, and not so limited

yeah for most the guitars, I agree, but I was thinking the display case, kind of like a showroom floor thing at an auto dealer. a little futzbah! a few extra dinero for the super wax job and detail..showcase a few select specials$$.

quantity or quality....McDonalds burgers or a good steak. I'll guess most Boutique buyers will appreciate the care and environment given to the gear, and will buy the "showroom floor" stuff.

hell I don't really know...damn interesting post though.

How to compete with GC?

or at a minimum use them to your advantage.

 

[cusebassman]

Good call on the chicken selects being kept on display (in playing with your McDonald's metaphor )

"We keep the 100k+ guitars in this case over here"

 

[ggunn]

and then there's the rumor some casino's in Las Vegas pump oxygen into the building to keep the humans awake and gambling all night....

I digress, so quickly...

I have heard that, too, but I seriously doubt that it really happens. In the first place, refined oxygen is expensive and the casino rooms are gigantic; it would be hugely expensive to significantly raise the O2 concentration in one of those rooms. In the second place, even a slight bump in the concentration of oxygen greatly increases the risk of fire and makes fires burn a lot hotter and faster.

According to a Boston Legal scenario, they do it with pheremones... ;^)

 

[KaveKong]

My suggestion would be to go for the high end clientele. You'll never beat the GC at their own game.

That pretty much sums it up. High end.


Seriously, the rich are getting richer, big time (I'm not trying to get political here), and you should see what retail is doing:

Walmart is struggling a bit lately, but Niemans and Nordstrom are doing exceptionally well. Small boat sales (fishing boats, speed boats, etc.), are struggling big time because of gas prices, but yacht sales are up (the rich don't care about 3 dollar gas).


So, go very high-end and cater to the guys with the big bucks.

Some kid with 200 bucks who wants a new guitar and an amp is going to get one of those crappy specials at GC anyway. So like several people have said, don't even think of trying to beat Guitar Center.


That's difficult, because GC also has high-end gear. They have 7 thousdand dollar guitars on the wall, and they encourage you to pick it up and play it.


I actually like Guitar Center for that reason. I can go in, tell the salespeople to back off, then grab all the guitars I want and play up a storm. They let me touch everything I want. Most of the people working there are posers, but that's no big deal. They're friendly enough and give me good advice on software (which is what I mostly buy these days).

The one thing I can't stand about Guitar Center is all the dorks who play the same damn riffs I've been hearing in music stores for the last twenty years: Iron Man, Smoke on the Water, Sunshine of my Love, Seek and Destroy, The Trooper, and God knows how many Led Zepplin riffs. I love all those songs, but for the love of peace, PLEASE stop playing them in music stores.

The way I look at it is this: If you are not in the market for an amp, stop cranking it up so loud. Put on some headphones. Geesh. Nobody is impressed (except 14 year-old boys) if you can play stairway to Heaven, Black Dog, or (this is the worst), that bass solo from Metallica's first album.


Sorry about the rant, but everytime I go into Guitar Center, it's louder than hell, and not from anything worth listening to. If there were a band jamming, that would be one thing, but it's always some pimply-faced teenager and his 13-year-old girlfriend (who is bored but trying to pretend to be impressed) jamming Metallica (or Nickelback) riffs through an amp turned to ELEVEN.


Continue....

 

[cusebassman]

Sorry about the rant, but everytime I go into Guitar Center, it's louder than hell, and not from anything worth listening to. If there were a band jamming, that would be one thing, but it's always some pimply-faced teenager and his 13-year-old girlfriend (who is bored but trying to pretend to be impressed) jamming Metallica (or Nickelback) riffs through an amp turned to ELEVEN.

Hey, I know exactly where you're coming from. I still hate the sales people enough that I rarely go in there though - unless I want to buy something that I can either justify the sales tax on vs. waiting for it to be shipped free from whatever online store will do so, or the thing is too bulky/delicate to have shipped.

The GC staff Ive dealt with are not informed about anything more than the very basic, standard shit, and I guess my taste has gotten too eclectic in gear, but they rarely have in stock what I want anyway. Case in point, I like to try out the new Heritage guitars that come out, but oh - GC doesn't stock them because they don't provide anywhere near the sales that Gibson does... which is fine, but it also keeps me in the smaller, boutique stores more often - just like this guy wants to open!

Nickelback

I just vomited a little in my mouth.