The demise of many shops is firmly placed at the hands of the Internet. Can the customer service provided, the advice and retailers’ follow up of purchase problems compete with the lower prices and rapid response of Internet shopping? Because, let’s face it, the Internet shopping experience is not going away…
New websites are being designed and will soon go live from Guitar Base and Fuzz, together with my personal one. Two will have an online shop, displaying what is available at both Guitar Base and Fuzz, though I would still prefer people to come into the shops and get advice and try before they buy. Buying cheaply does not always mean you get the instruments, amps or accessories you need, but if it is not possible to physically get to the shops, then how is it possible to get over the ‘feel’, passion and enthusiasm we have into an online situation?
Let’s get the heavy sell over first. Guitar Base and Fuzz will have an online presence where people can buy. Luckily we have some items that are hard to come by so we can maintain prices, whilst some other goods will be at competitive prices. There will be two websites – www.guitar-base.com and www.fuzzguitarboutique.co.uk but only one online shop.
This makes it like any other online shop, but we hope that we can convey a flavour of what each shop is really about. Fuzz, in the former lace market area of Nottingham, has a feel all of its own - a great deal of Gibson, Epiphone, Fender, Blackstar, Marshall, Orange and Mark Bass amps mingled with boutique T-shirts and a very different environment with retro Cadillac seating, a fridge containing strings and an ‘amp’ counter that you can plug into and play. The website will have a virtual tour of the shop and area, video reviews of stock items and news of offers, open evenings and other events in the shop and locality. A shop for the enthusiast as well as the professional musician.
Guitar Base, in West Bridgford, will stress the importance of involvement with an emphasis on tuition and starter and improver guitars, Weekend Warriors, repairs and servicing and a multitude of accessories! Tanglewood acoustics figure highly, as do Ibanez and Fender Squier ranges of starter electrics. A virtual tour of the shop plus video demos and links to our Weekend Warrior programme, tuition, local groups and venues will all be there. A shop with an easy going, welcoming style.
Can both of these online shops convey the real spirit of Fuzz and Guitar Base? The answer I believe is ‘Yes!’ as with blogs and Twitter and Facebook and other networking sites we hope to engage people and their interests much as we would with real contact.
There is a third site coming online – www.colinhyland.co.uk – but not for instant fame or notoriety or self-indulgence. Growing up in Merseyside in the 60s was challenging at times, but one word does come to mind and that is ‘fun’. I was a teenager, Everton were winning things and little-known groups such as the Beatles, the Big Three and Gerry and the Pacemakers appeared at local halls and clubs and music was fun! Since then I have always enjoyed music and I would like to pass that enjoyment on to more and more people, preferably playing but if not by appreciating local talent. I hope this website will inspire you to get involved. It will point you to events, gigs, new products, and hopefully there will be tips to keep you playing, plus involvement from the legendary Professor Hans Glockenspiel from the University of Hockley, and if we are lucky a glimpse of Superguitarrepairman to guide you through those tricky guitar problems.
Look out for the new websites, pass them on to others, get involved, get others interested. The Internet is here to stay – live with it!
