Guitar Center

For a highly specialized retailer like specialty music chain Guitar Center, keeping track of store labor can pose extra challenges.

“Our customers want knowledgeable associates for specific instruments,” explained Alex Khamudis, manager of store labor for Westlake Village, California-based Guitar Center. “How do you figure out when to schedule experts, and how many, across four separate departments like guitar and drums?”

A department store and a beauty specialty retailer have the best momentum in social media going into the holiday season. Meanwhile, an online giant is losing steam.

Musicians are notoriously individualistic people, and specialty instrument retailer Guitar Center is launching a redesigned website with this user base in mind.

Westlake Village, California-based, 270-store Guitar Center has launched a new redesigned website with a more seamless omnichannel user interface. Based on the current Oracle Commerce platform, the redesign is the result of a two-year initiative that involved customer insight and user experience teams, both of whom worked together with end-users and consultants.

A change at the top has given new energy to Boston-based specialty retailer City Sports. In July, the company tapped veteran retail executive Marty Hanaka as CEO. He replaced Edward Albertian, who resigned in June.

Guitar Center has crowned the winner of its Cover Me promotion, which aims to jump-start the career of amateur musicians.

The retailer along with DJ Zedd have selected Tyler Acord, aka Scout, as the winner of Guitar Center's Cover Me contest.

Boston -- A veteran retailer with experience in running big national chains has joined City Sports as its new chief executive.

The Boston-based company tapped Marty Hanaka, who has served on the board of directors of City Sports since 2008, as its new chief executive. Hanaka was the interim CEO of Guitar Center from January 2013 to April 2013. Previously, he served as CEO of Golfsmith Holdings (from June 2008 to November 2012) and of The Sports Authority (from September 1998 to August 2003.) Prior to that, he was the president and COO of Staples.

A veteran retailer with experience in running big national chains has joined City Sports as its new chief executive.

Guitar Center has teamed up with Grammy Award-winning musician-DJ-producer superstar Zedd on an innovative omnichannel promotion to give aspiring musicians the chance to take their careers to the next level.

Aspiring musicians with big dreams but no way to pay for them now have options thanks to a new credit initiative launched at the nation’s leading musical instrument retailer.

Guitar Center, operator of 260 stores nationwide, and Synchrony Bank, formerly GE Capital Retail Finance, reached a multi-year agreement that allows Guitar Center to provide a private label credit card program. The program is expected to launch in the third quarter of 2015 and also includes a stipulation that Synchrony Bank acquire the assets of an existing card program.

Millbury, Mass. -- Douglas Wine & Spirits, Visionworks and DSW are opening in early 2015 at The Shoppes at Blackstone Valley, in Millbury, Massachusetts.
 
Douglas Wine & Spirits opened February 1st and occupies a 5,400-sq.-ft. space between Sleepy’s and Guitar Center. Visionworks will be in opening in March in a 2,700-sq.-ft. space between Sephora and Feng Asian Bistro.

DSW will be making its appearance in early April in a 15,000-sq.-ft. space adjacent to Marshall’s.