August 30, 2016
AM Guitar Works: Teaching More than Just Music
By Alan Morrison
AM Guitar Works
AM Guitar Works started as a part time venture in my home. I was teaching guitar lessons and doing repairs for my students and friends for extra income. In 2008 I launched a website and began doing repairs for a large guitar store. I started selling guitar parts online as well.
The business grew to the point that I left my 22 year corporate career to focus on the business full time in January of 2009. In 2010 we moved the business into our first commercial space.
We moved to our current location, 5259 Jersey Ridge Road in Davenport in 2012. We added a showroom full of guitars, amplifiers, ukuleles, banjos, and mandolins. I hired my daughter, Brianna, as administrative assistant.
We currently have 3 part time employees and recently added another guitar instructor. All of them were hand-picked customers or students who I thought would be a good fit for the team. We also have an online guitar store.
Even though we are a small business, we are able to compete with the bigger stores. We are competitively priced and differentiate ourselves by setting up every instrument we sell for ease of playing. We are also able to provide knowledgeable, personal customer service.
Owning a guitar shop is a “dream come true.” There have been several unexpected benefits. I enjoy mentoring the young people who work for me. They are learning how small business works and gaining valuable skills that will help them succeed in the future. They learn marketing, web design, accounting, guitar maintenance, sales, and customer service skills. (My daughter left to start her own successful photography business.)
Through giving lessons, I have seen first-hand how music has benefited my students including those with disabilities, medical conditions, or even those dealing with the loss of a family member. We have also donated instruments to various causes. We truly believe in “using our powers for good.”
For additional info, follow us on Facebook and check out amguitarworks.com. My book “How to Make Money in the Guitar Biz” will give you more history and information on my business strategies.
