“Bring the competition on”: Guitar Center CEO says he’s not afraid of big brands like Gibson and Fender selling products direct
The move from brick-and-mortar stores to widespread online shopping has meant that brands can sell their products directly to consumers, without the need for middle men in the form of retail partners.
And while the shift certainly presents a threat to established music retailers like Guitar Center – with reputable brands like Fender and Gibson able to sell their instruments directly to musicians – CEO Gabe Dalporto isn’t worried, and instead sees it as an opportunity for his organisation to adapt.
READ MORE: “Dude, come on!”: Tetrarch’s Diamond Rowe claims Slipknot’s Jim Root once asked her for guitar lessons
It’s worth noting, too, that retailers like Guitar Center face a threat not only from online direct sales, but from some of the biggest guitar brands opening up their own flagship stores, including Fender, Gibson, Yamaha and others.
Now, in a new interview with Guitar World, Dalporto suggests he isn’t phased by the modern-day challenges which may potentially affect his business.
“This is a competitive market. It always has been,” he says. “We welcome it. I think if we give an amazing experience, we win.”
Dalporto says that while Fender and Gibson may be pivoting to a direct-to-consumer approach, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll scoop up a significant share of the market. He cites sports brands who have tried the same thing to back up his point.
“Nike tried to go direct and tried to pull back from retailers,” he continues, “and Nike got crushed. It’s important, if you are a brand, to have those relationships with your vendors, but bring the competition on. I just think we have a much larger, more integrated experience. You can experience all the products, not just one.”
In light of the ever-changing market conditions, Gabe Dalporto has explained numerous times in recent months how Guitar Center plans to offer a unique experience to its customers. And one way it plans to do so is by featuring more high-end guitars on its shelves.
“We’ve unlocked all of our guitars, and I can walk in and grab a really nice guitar off the wall, plug it in to these brand new massive pedal tables,” Dalporto said in a conversation with YouTuber Phillip McKnight back in March. “Actual time spent in our stores is up 25% because of that.”
McKnight added his opinion that “Amazon is ineffective in every way at selling high-end guitars”.
“Fender used to try and sell high-end guitars on Amazon but they don’t even do that anymore, because no-one’s buying a $1,800 guitar on Amazon.”
The post “Bring the competition on”: Guitar Center CEO says he’s not afraid of big brands like Gibson and Fender selling products direct appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.
Source: www.guitar-bass.net
