Recent

2025 MMR Dealers’ Choice Awards Nominations – Ballot Closes 9/5!

August 22, 2025
Paul Reed Smith and Governor Wes Moore: photo credit Stephanie Lemus/PRS Guitars

Paul Reed Smith Day Declared by Maryland Governor Wes Moore

August 22, 2025

Timeless Elegance Meets Modern Performance: Introducing The ADJ Vintage Bar

August 22, 2025

Slingerland Launches Radio King and Studio King Outfits, Plus Spare Parts

August 22, 2025

Seattle Cascades Now a Fully Powered KHS America Drum & Bugle Corps

August 22, 2025
Reid Peterson (Audio-Technica U.S. Executive Director of Sales, Professional Markets); Julie Van Berg (Mavric Incorporated sales associate); Kazuo Matsushita (Audio-Technica Corporation CEO/President); Pete Petty (Mavric Incorporated principal); Manabu Aoki (Audio-Technica U.S. CEO/President); Jeff Beck (Audio-Technica U.S. Regional Sales Manager, System Solutions); and David Barrett, Jerry Silhavy and John Herr (Mavric Incorporated sales associates). Photo credit: Corey Walthall, Clyne Media

Audio-Technica honors Mavric, Inc. with its President’s Award

August 22, 2025

Solid State Logic Appoints Mark Skipper to National Sales Manager, Eastern U.S., for Broadcast & Live Audio Production Systems

August 22, 2025

Boston Crusaders Win 1st-Ever DCI Gold Medal Playing Pearl/Adams

August 22, 2025
Saturday, August 23, 2025
  • Contact
MMR Magazine
  • Subscribe Now!
    • Subscribe Now!
  • Advertise
  • Email Press Releases!
  • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Newsroom
    • News
    • MMR Global
    • Supplier Scene
    • Upfront
    • People
  • Awards
    • Dealers’ Choice Awards Ballot 2024
    • Don Johnson Award Winners Archive
  • Directory
  • Get Support!
No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe Now!
    • Subscribe Now!
  • Advertise
  • Email Press Releases!
  • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Newsroom
    • News
    • MMR Global
    • Supplier Scene
    • Upfront
    • People
  • Awards
    • Dealers’ Choice Awards Ballot 2024
    • Don Johnson Award Winners Archive
  • Directory
  • Get Support!
No Result
View All Result
MMR Magazine
No Result
View All Result

Guitar Center’s Gene Joly Responds to Employee Unionization Efforts

Christian Wissmuller by Christian Wissmuller
June 14, 2013
in Upfront Q&A
0
Guitar Center executive VP of sales Gene Joly.

Guitar Center executive VP of sales Gene Joly.

938
SHARES
2.3k
VIEWS
Share on Facebook
ADVERTISEMENT

Earlier this spring, a flurry of criticism aimed at the nation’s largest MI retailer, Guitar Center, began sprouting up online. GC workers in New York City ramped up an aggressive campaign for unionization, including a petition which lists a number of high profile artist endorsees of the initiative.

In May, Guitar Center’s executive VP of stores, Gene Joly, sat down for an exclusive interview with MMR to offer his take on the complaints being leveled
against GC, his views on the company’s relationship with employees, and more…

ADVERTISEMENT

MMR: Can you discuss how – from your and GC’s point of view – this whole unionization effort came about? What was the catalyst?

Gene Joly: Well, I find it interesting that there’s a union office located on the same block as our Manhattan store – but I don’t want to speculate beyond that. I think only they know for sure why they’re doing this, but it’s not complicated – the RWDSU [Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union]
is a business, too, and they need to grow
revenues just like every other business.

MMR: My understanding is that in the past few years, GC’s employee turnover rate is actually down, salaries for some are up, and so on – in light of that data, how and why would now be the right time to launch such an aggressive unionization effort, if that’s truly the case?

GJ: I’m glad you’re reporting that, because that part of the story often gets overlooked. Look, our people are paramount to this
organization and anyone who doubts that for even a moment should just look at how heavily we’ve invested in them over the past five years. We’ve made significant increases in training, improved our processes, upgraded IT infrastructure, and delivered critical new customer service tools for them across the country. Right now, our average sales associate has actually seen a double-digit pay increase and store turnover has decreased 38 percent over the last five years. Are we there yet? Of course not, but we’ve been working hard to introduce new programs and systems to improve our people’s career skills, work life, and compensation potential long before this issue was on anyone’s radar.

MMR: Certain media channels are making something of a big deal out of the Bain
Capital connection, even linking to the past year’s presidential campaign (Romney) and larger social and economical issues. How do you respond – Fair? Nonsense?

GJ: I think it’s absurd – total nonsense on several fronts. I’ve been in the M.I. industry for almost 40 years and I’ve worked with a variety of different owners. My past few years experience with Bain Capital has been extremely positive. These guys are smart, fair and they’re hard-working people. Working with them has helped us advance our skills in analytics/decision support and store site selection, as well. More importantly, they’re not trying to trip us up or interfere with Guitar Center’s executive leadership team. We manage the company day-to-day and we’re the ones who are accountable to every individual who works hard for this company. Our mission is clear and we’re free to pursue it our way. We’re going to continue helping people make music by providing our customers with a great mix of products and services at competitive prices, delivered by knowledgeable and empowered sales and operations associates, repair techs and teachers.

MMR: What about the allegations of
commissions being docked if GC employees don’t meet certain goals or quotas?

GJ: Very few sales associates have their commission docked, and that’s less about meeting a quota than it is about accountability for consistently meeting customer service standards.

MMR: Moving forward, what steps – if any – is GC hoping to take to resolve these unionization efforts?

GJ: It’s not our place to stop a union from attempting an organizing drive – it’s a free country. Unions are businesses that need revenue, and like most businesses they desire new sources. Guitar Center has expanded and grown over the years, and that makes us a more attractive target for unions.

MMR: Lastly, can you comment on the status of GC’s debt repayment that was to made in April of this year?

GJ: Yes – we paid off the $129.8 Mil note in April without a hitch – exactly as we said we would – and there are no additional debt payments due until 2017.

MMR:   Thanks   much   for   your   time, Gene.                

 

Tags: Gene JolyGuitar CenterNew YorkUnionUnionization
Previous Post

The Fret Shop

Next Post

Tribute to MMR Publisher Sidney Davis

Related Posts

Magazine Archive

‘I Have Been Honored to be a Part of the Story’ – Hal Leonard’s Brad Smith on the Company’s Growing MI Distribution Business

December 17, 2024
Magazine Archive

UpFront Q&A: Nadine Skolaude of Teufel

December 17, 2024
Melvin Quinones, founder of Victory Musical Instruments, at the company’s warehouse in Port Saint Lucie, Florida
Magazine Archive

The MI World Discovers Victory: Melvin Quinones of Victory Musical Instruments

April 5, 2024
Magazine Archive

Armadillo Enterprises’ Owner & CEO Pam Rubinson: Continuing an Upward Trajectory

April 5, 2024
Magazine Archive

‘A Company with a Heart and Great People’: New CEO Mike Clem Discusses What’s Next for Sweetwater

December 13, 2023
Upfront Q&A

Fender’s Tammy Van Donk: Examining the Widespread Popularity of the Player Series Line of Guitars and Basses

August 9, 2023
Next Post
Former MMR publisher Sidney Davis.

Tribute to MMR Publisher Sidney Davis

Please login to join discussion
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

Furch Guitars Introduces Pioneer Series: All-Solid-Wood, Travel-Friendly Short-Scale Guitars

July 21, 2025

Jessica Tropea Joins Neutrik Americas as Customer Solutions Engineer

August 15, 2025

Music Sales swoops for Carisch

April 8, 2015

NAMM’s Top 100 Dealer Awards Rebranded as The NAMM Retail Awards

July 21, 2025
Paul Reed Smith and Governor Wes Moore: photo credit Stephanie Lemus/PRS Guitars

Paul Reed Smith Day Declared by Maryland Governor Wes Moore

Timeless Elegance Meets Modern Performance: Introducing The ADJ Vintage Bar

Slingerland Launches Radio King and Studio King Outfits, Plus Spare Parts

Seattle Cascades Now a Fully Powered KHS America Drum & Bugle Corps

2025 MMR Dealers’ Choice Awards Nominations – Ballot Closes 9/5!

August 22, 2025
Paul Reed Smith and Governor Wes Moore: photo credit Stephanie Lemus/PRS Guitars

Paul Reed Smith Day Declared by Maryland Governor Wes Moore

August 22, 2025

Timeless Elegance Meets Modern Performance: Introducing The ADJ Vintage Bar

August 22, 2025

Slingerland Launches Radio King and Studio King Outfits, Plus Spare Parts

August 22, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
The Latest News and Gear in Your Inbox - Sign Up Today!
  • August 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • July 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • June 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • May 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • April 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
© 2005 - 2025 artistpro, LLC
7012 City Center Way, Suite 207
Fairview, Tennessee 37062
(800) 682-8114

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe Now!
    • Subscribe Now!
  • Advertise
  • Email Press Releases!
  • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Newsroom
    • News
    • MMR Global
    • Supplier Scene
    • Upfront
    • People
  • Awards
    • Dealers’ Choice Awards Ballot 2024
    • Don Johnson Award Winners Archive
  • Directory
  • Get Support!

© 2005 – 2024 artistpro, LLC 7012 City Center Way, Suite 207 Fairview, Tennessee 37062 (800) 682-8114

This is Modal Title

Click Me
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?