POST-PANDEMIC RETAIL MAKES MOVES
GLASGOW BASED GUITARGUITAR DOUBLE DOWN THEIR BET ON PHYSICAL RETAIL WITH EUROPE EXCLUSIVE
THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN EUROPE, GUITARGUITAR PARTNERS WITH GLOBAL MUSIC BRAND ROLAND TO BRING AN INTERACTIVE AND IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE TO THE CITY, CHANGING THE FACE OF GLASGOW’S MUSIC CREDENTIALS FOLLOWING MONTHS OF LOCKDOWN, ALONGSIDE ONE OTHER STORE IN THE WORLD
BEGINNER INSTRUMENT SALES UP 50% AS UK DISCOVERS THE JOY OF MAKING MUSIC DURING LOCKDOWN
guitarguitar’s flagship store in Glasgow today announce the launch of Europe’s first Roland Store; a specialised area where music aficionados can try out the new face of retail, defying high street trends following months of lockdown and an extremely challenging retail environment, only in Glasgow city centre. With the ability to tailor the experience to each customer, guitarguitar Glasgow and Roland can now create an in-store experience like no other, adapting light, videos and music to each customer’s preference to create a personalised shopping experience, thought to be the first of its kind. Only in Glasgow can music fans experiment with the latest and best Roland and BOSS products.
With a 50% increase of sales on beginner instruments from April 2020 until March 2021 guitarguitar is now investing in a new style of retail after people across the country discovered the joy of making music in 2020. Amongst the doom and gloom of lockdown, guitarguitar saw more and more customers pick up an instrument for the first time ever, with a 50% increase in beginner musicians purchasing across the country, proving that in hard times, people turned to music to get them through.
With people creating and listening to music more than ever over the past year, the store is tangible proof that Glasgow’s budding music scene is as energetic as always, despite a year of no live music. In store, top tier Roland gear is wired up and ready to play, meaning thousands of aspiring musicians across the country now have the chance to experience some of the world’s most influential products first hand, an investment in Glasgow’s music scene as well as retail options.
Europe’s first Roland store also includes a dedicated in-house Roland Senior Product Specialist so customers can book a one-on-one session to assist with choosing the best equipment or advice on using products in real-world scenarios. Designed to help ‘Learn, Create or Perform’, customers can now play along to their favourite tracks from their own phone on Roland’s award winning V-Drums, test drive the latest range of BOSS guitar effects, or with the press of a button, let BOSS Artists Rabea Massaad do the guitar playing for you. Customers can watch demonstrations from one of many interactive touch screens throughout the store, or test drive the Roland DJ controllers with full BPM Supreme library. With something for every level of musician, guitarguitar’s new Roland experience is like no other, with the only other store like it in the world located in San Francisco.
Graham Bell, Co-Founder of guitarguitar, said: “The last year has been one of the toughest retail in the country has ever faced – and not one we’ll forget anytime soon. Our belief is that we need to double down on the investment we make in the physical retail experience, supported by a best-in-class online experience. Our stores are somewhere we wholeheartedly believe should be a hub of the musical community that provide unforgettable experiences for customers, and that is exactly what our brand new Roland store will do!”
Corin Birchall, Roland Global Retail Operations and creator of the Roland In Store experience in Glasgow said, “Just as retailers are welcoming customers back into physical stores in Scotland, we are excited to launch our new Roland Store at guitarguitar in Glasgow. We’ve worked closely with guitarguitar to create an exciting and inspiring space for musicians and music lovers alike who want to ‘Learn, Create or Perform’ wherever they currently are on their musical journey. If you are a creative, you should come in and see our vision for the future of music stores.”
Founded by Graham Bell and Christopher McBay in Corstorphine, outside Edinburgh in 2004, guitarguitar is the UK’s largest guitar retailer and now has everything musicians could possibly need, whether they’re just starting out or are looking for the latest and best instrument to take them to next level.
To be one of the first in Scotland to try out guitarguitar’s Roland experience, book a FREE instore appointment HERE.
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