Business is slow
- Thread starter TinPan
- Start date
LowBudgetViking
New member
Re: Business is slow
With local shops handling most work like this and covering most bases you need to specialize. You need to offer something they can't or won't.
Here's an idea...do swaps and work by appointment and while they wait. Offer same-day service; drop off your axe at 10 AM and it's ready by noon. Better yet, do it overnight; in by 6 PM and it's ready by 9 AM. This would likely be amenable to shops as they typically have someone doing services AND working the register and floor...customers that want this sort of service are a nuisance to them. So if you can take them off their hands they'd likely appreciate being able to keep that customer even if they didn't get that service sale.
As far as promotion that's where you need to get creative. Talk to local bands and offer to do setups and repair work in exchange for them wearing shirts with your logo on them to gigs. Get comfortable doing videos and posting them on YouTube. Have a presence on Twitter and Instagram and connect with local bands and artists.
With local shops handling most work like this and covering most bases you need to specialize. You need to offer something they can't or won't.
Here's an idea...do swaps and work by appointment and while they wait. Offer same-day service; drop off your axe at 10 AM and it's ready by noon. Better yet, do it overnight; in by 6 PM and it's ready by 9 AM. This would likely be amenable to shops as they typically have someone doing services AND working the register and floor...customers that want this sort of service are a nuisance to them. So if you can take them off their hands they'd likely appreciate being able to keep that customer even if they didn't get that service sale.
As far as promotion that's where you need to get creative. Talk to local bands and offer to do setups and repair work in exchange for them wearing shirts with your logo on them to gigs. Get comfortable doing videos and posting them on YouTube. Have a presence on Twitter and Instagram and connect with local bands and artists.
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: Business is slow
The guy I go to (his small store of him and two employees has darn near run GC out of town) says that a big part of it was doing the job fast, right, and doing something a little extra. A lot of times if someone comes in with a fretboard that looks dry, he'll offer to oil it free of charge. Little things like that don't end up costing him a lot, but it makes the customers happy and word starts to get around.
And if you've got the money as it's a bit more pricey, a radio ad on the local classic rock station can reach most of your target audience.
The guy I go to (his small store of him and two employees has darn near run GC out of town) says that a big part of it was doing the job fast, right, and doing something a little extra. A lot of times if someone comes in with a fretboard that looks dry, he'll offer to oil it free of charge. Little things like that don't end up costing him a lot, but it makes the customers happy and word starts to get around.
And if you've got the money as it's a bit more pricey, a radio ad on the local classic rock station can reach most of your target audience.
metalchurch79
New member
Re: Business is slow
Do good work and word will get out. Do a refer a friend program where you cut them a break on their bill if they tell one of their buddies.
Do good work and word will get out. Do a refer a friend program where you cut them a break on their bill if they tell one of their buddies.
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: Business is slow
Thats a rough hustle, its not something people need every day. Especially now with all the information available on the internet you really have to have something to offer a customer. If it was me I would offer things that they cant get easily, help with pickups and pots is no father than a few forum posts away. If it was me i would get into stuff people wont do. But you a NICE fret dressing kit, straight edge and files and start doing set ups. Learn to cut and install nuts. Things like that take time to learn and many people will just pay rather than learn to do it themselves.
You gotta be marketable
and a business like this relies on reputation, word of mouth is your advertising.
Thats a rough hustle, its not something people need every day. Especially now with all the information available on the internet you really have to have something to offer a customer. If it was me I would offer things that they cant get easily, help with pickups and pots is no father than a few forum posts away. If it was me i would get into stuff people wont do. But you a NICE fret dressing kit, straight edge and files and start doing set ups. Learn to cut and install nuts. Things like that take time to learn and many people will just pay rather than learn to do it themselves.
You gotta be marketable
and a business like this relies on reputation, word of mouth is your advertising.
NegativeEase
New member
Re: Business is slow
Agree with Mincer -You can get hyper regionalized advertising with Social Media now -they can use a group of permutations to target your customers . -like location tags and guitar/instrument related tags and likes.
Other than that, you have to improve word of mouth -find the best or known guitar players in you area (with bigger mouths or social media presence) and offer some discount or even free work. I mod some amps and build some pedals for some well known players on occasion, and get DMs and emails all the time from players wanting the same -especially when the player posts on social media and say something like "check out my new custom pedal or modded amp made by my friend ****" . -then the requests go nuts. -I've actually got a few people in Poland asking for pedal boards because of a post made from show in Warsaw in Feb.
And I don't do modding for a living (it's a red ocean), just in search of great tones with my friends - so someone doing professional guitar work really needs to be on the scene to beef up the roster -at the clubs and bars given out cards or social media info.
I'd also get to known every local and regional club, and get your cards in the clubs for tour emergencies (the doctor is in!)-they'll also let you in their shows free to work the crowd as a teamwork type of thing knowing your their go to fixer. That's what my buddy does, and he's had everyone from JMascis to Dweezil Zappa getting a quick repair when I was swinging by his shop all the time in 2017
Get out there and move the meter!
**edit** sorry . one more -Parents, you have to get word of mouth with newer players and their parents -maybe flyers at school music departments, social media to hit parents, and get flyers up in music related places like book, music, and coffee shops.
Agree with Mincer -You can get hyper regionalized advertising with Social Media now -they can use a group of permutations to target your customers . -like location tags and guitar/instrument related tags and likes.
Other than that, you have to improve word of mouth -find the best or known guitar players in you area (with bigger mouths or social media presence) and offer some discount or even free work. I mod some amps and build some pedals for some well known players on occasion, and get DMs and emails all the time from players wanting the same -especially when the player posts on social media and say something like "check out my new custom pedal or modded amp made by my friend ****" . -then the requests go nuts. -I've actually got a few people in Poland asking for pedal boards because of a post made from show in Warsaw in Feb.
And I don't do modding for a living (it's a red ocean), just in search of great tones with my friends - so someone doing professional guitar work really needs to be on the scene to beef up the roster -at the clubs and bars given out cards or social media info.
I'd also get to known every local and regional club, and get your cards in the clubs for tour emergencies (the doctor is in!)-they'll also let you in their shows free to work the crowd as a teamwork type of thing knowing your their go to fixer. That's what my buddy does, and he's had everyone from JMascis to Dweezil Zappa getting a quick repair when I was swinging by his shop all the time in 2017
Get out there and move the meter!
**edit** sorry . one more -Parents, you have to get word of mouth with newer players and their parents -maybe flyers at school music departments, social media to hit parents, and get flyers up in music related places like book, music, and coffee shops.
Last edited:
OsvyRock
New member
Re: Business is slow
THIS!!!
Networking with local musicians and letting them know about your talents (services) is very important for your business.
THIS!!!
Networking with local musicians and letting them know about your talents (services) is very important for your business.
mistermikev
New member
Re: Business is slow
If this was something I wanted to do I'd try to pair up with a few local music shops. Go talk to 10 of them. Repair is one of the only things keeping them alive so perhaps you could work at a few of them a few hours here and there.
If I was bringing a guitar to someone - they'd have to have a business storefront and reputation for me to leave a 2k guitar there. That's what you are up against and those would be the folks you'd want to work for.
honestly w/o offering refrets, repairs, builds... I don't see it keeping someone that busy as in the age of internet... pretty easy to figure out how to wire up a guitar. I don't mean that in a negative way... I mean - go buy a guitar with crap frets and learn it.
hope it works out for you.
If this was something I wanted to do I'd try to pair up with a few local music shops. Go talk to 10 of them. Repair is one of the only things keeping them alive so perhaps you could work at a few of them a few hours here and there.
If I was bringing a guitar to someone - they'd have to have a business storefront and reputation for me to leave a 2k guitar there. That's what you are up against and those would be the folks you'd want to work for.
honestly w/o offering refrets, repairs, builds... I don't see it keeping someone that busy as in the age of internet... pretty easy to figure out how to wire up a guitar. I don't mean that in a negative way... I mean - go buy a guitar with crap frets and learn it.
hope it works out for you.
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