Narbeth
Dan Gold, Owner
Outlook for 2014? Between the big box stores, mass merchant stores, and Internet, the manufacturers have hyper-saturated the market. And when you factor in sluggish turnover, super high shipping costs and the discounting I must do to compete, profitability is pretty slim. I’m hoping for a strong holiday season, and the sales numbers are definitely ramping up each year.
New brands or lines you took on in 2013 with success? Fender, Squier, Seagull (Godin), and Lanikai ukes have been my main lines, although I’ve experimented with a few others; Gretsch, Guild, Schecter, Ashdown, Jackson, Wechter, and Morgan Monroe. Acoustics are selling much more briskly than electrics.
Product of the Year? Seagulls have been a very successful acoustic guitar line for me; attractive price points, “made in North America” (Quebec Canada), good margins, and their people are a pleasure to deal with.
In Today’s Music Business… Time-Tested Practices Still Serve You Well