Can Brick-and-Mortar Guitar Shops Survive the Online Era?

Dipped In Tone

This week’s episode is a state of the union on brick-and-mortar guitar retail stores. With news of the family-owned chain Sam Ash shutting down its operations and filing for bankruptcy, and Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto’s recent comments indicating a giant shift for the company, it’s a touchy time for IRL guitar sales.

Rhett and Zach agree that all physical retailers aren’t going to disappear any time soon, but guitar sellers are going to have to get competitive if they want to outlive the likes of Sam Ash. Maybe some need to build up their social media marketing and create innovative branding, while others could go all in on a top-tier customer experience. Rhett borrows from his love of outdoor co-op retailer REI and wonders: Could Guitar Center have a house brand of guitars?

Plus, tune in to hear about the best and worst Guitar Center locations in the U.S. After listening, hop in the comments to share your thoughts on how your favorite guitar store can avoid the Sam Ash death knell.

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Dipped in Tone is:

Rhett Shull https://www.rhettshull.com/

Zach Broyles / Mythos Pedals https://mythospedals.com

Premier Guitar https://www.premierguitar.com/