One of the UK’s more unusual music retailers, London’s The North American Guitar, is seeking crowdfunding via CrowdCube for its plans to accelerate future growth.
Led by singer songwriter and BBC Radio 2 artist Ben Montague, award winning guitarist Michael Watts and international logistics specialist Robert J Montague CBE, The North American Guitar says it has increased turnover fifteen fold in the last three years (2013:>£40k; 2016: <£600,000) and is predicting exponential growth on the back of current trends with a plan to increase 2017 turnover to over £1m.
‘Luthiers are artists and our role is to showcase their talent much like a specialist art dealer would’, says managing director Ben Montague. ‘They work best with a well organised dealer to take the administration pressure off their plate leaving them with the time to create these stunning instruments. It’s a very personal and artistic business.
‘In recent years we have demonstrated to these craftsmen that we are dedicated curators of their output and can find discriminating buyers who love their instruments. Outside the USA is it is virtually impossible to acquire such high end guitars other than through TNAG. This funding will allow us to add names to our selective roster of builders and bring more of the world’s finest guitars to the UK. It is a very exciting time for the everyone involved.’
‘We use a two-channel approach focusing on our beautiful, state of the art showroom but also reaching out directly from there by email, social media, customised video and real-time chat to potential customers’, company director Michael Watts says. ‘In the showroom, aficionados can come and sample, play and enjoy these guitars, talk to experts and soak in the handmade guitar culture.
‘Buyers from outside London can access that atmosphere and tap into that level of knowledge online. The plan is to upgrade the London showroom and consolidate our position as one of the world’s leading guitar retail hubs bringing the highest levels of client service both online and offline.’
Info: www.crowdcube.com/tnag and www.thenorthamericanguitar.com