So Luthiers are rarely connected to a large enterprises with some exceptions but most of us are on our own endlessly toiling by candle light with sharp chisel in hand....
Romance ya know....
When we started our shop we had the opportunity to take over a 50+ year old music store in Ann Arbor and we declined. We did not want to be a retail store and get any of that on us... Especially one that failed prior.
We only wanted to repair guitars AND remain agnostic to brands, models, products etc. so we could give unbiased advice to our clients.
I also did not want to carry much inventory of anything from pick-ups to parts I only wanted what we need to do our jobs and if we need a part it can be ordered and/or the client can source things such as pick-ups wherever they like and bring them to us or have it drop shipped to us.
Before lutherie I was an enterprise software guy specializing in ERP, SAP, EDI, JIT and reverse auctioning which I licensed GE's offerings and participated in the very first client reverse action that saved them $7M in a single evening.
But as a two person shop my bleeding edge tech was not applicable, or was it....
Amazon has changed the game for us in a good way. If I need to lube my nuts... I can have Nut Sauce here in 24 - 48 hours. Sunday I needed an obscure truss rod wrench size and it was here Monday on my front porch.
This is by definition JIT (just in time) inventory where we only stock what moves and will quickly receive anything else from a trusted supplier.
Ain't life great
When we hit the ground with our business we took over the repair shop that Dan Earlewine got his start at with Luthier Herb David RIP. So we inherited all the parts that luthiers purchase thinking it's the next big thing and then it isn't and they get stuck with it. From brand new Zero fret conversions that no one in our neck of the woods wanted to countless electric guitar parts I estimated the inherited parts inventory for us at north of $30K.
I also thought what a dang shame that $30K could have paid people and/or made lives better instead of sitting in drawers only to be transferred when the business fails.
Anyway I'm a fan of Amazon as a concept and the reality of what it can do for me and our clients. It's changed how we Looth in our shop knowing that anything we need is often 24 hours away and even less sometimes.
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