Thinking of opening a guitar store? You might be picturing a cool hangout, filled with awesome gear and passionate customers. The reality, especially if you’re envisioning a traditional brick-and-mortar store, could be a harsh awakening. Before you sink your savings into that dream, consider a dose of reality, especially in the age of the Guitar Store Online.
Let’s be blunt: running a physical guitar store is incredibly tough. Imagine dealing with customers constantly trying to haggle you down on price. Expect a significant chunk of your sales – potentially up to 75% – coming back as returns. Then there’s the general public, who, surprisingly, aren’t always gentle with your precious inventory. Guitars get knocked over, amps get cranked to eleven by curious hands, and stock gets damaged. It’s a constant battle to keep things in sellable condition.
And it’s not just the customers. Manufacturers often demand large orders, pushing you to buy more stock than you can realistically move. Meanwhile, giant chains like Guitar Center and Sam Ash are getting sweetheart deals you can only dream of, allowing them to undercut your prices at every turn. You’ll always be playing catch-up, struggling to compete.
Forget about work-life balance too. To even stand a chance, you’re looking at being open six days a week, and long hours are the norm. Weekends? Evenings? Say goodbye to those. Trying to maintain a gigging musician’s life on top of that? Practically impossible.
The allure of a physical guitar store is understandable. But in today’s market, particularly with the rise of the guitar store online, it’s a seriously uphill battle. Before you jump into the deep end of physical retail, do your homework and maybe, just maybe, explore if there are less punishing ways to pursue your passion for guitars. You might find that the digital realm of a guitar store online offers a different, and potentially less bruising, path.
