Exploring Life & Business with Jason Ward of Guitar Pickers

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Ward.

Hi Jason, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Guitar Pickers has been in Wilmington, NC, since 2011. During the COVID lockdown, Eddie Benton, the original owner, had made a decision that it was time to close the store and retire. As a guitar player myself in the Wilmington music scene, I was a longtime customer of Guitar Pickers and decided to approach Eddie about buying the business from him. I emptied my savings and cashed out a 401k in order to make it happen, and, with the support of my wife, I put my two weeks in at my job. The first day of owning the shop, I wondered what I had actually gotten myself into. That was July of 2020. Fast forward to today, Guitar Pickers is a thriving business, serving as a hub for local musicians and anyone with an interest in the instrument. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
After buying the store in the midst of COVID in 2020, it was a struggle to get inventory in the store due to several factories being shut down. Although we were set on limited hours and mask mandates, time marched on, and customers started to come back once they realized we were still up and running. We encouraged people to consign, trade, and sell us instruments to keep the store stocked up with used items and contacted local NC vendors, guitar, and pedal dealers to start carrying their products in the store. Guitar Pickers used to focus on used equipment, but now we also have a long list of new items. The aesthetic of the store was dated and a bit worn down, so after about a year of us taking it over, we remodeled the store with new floors, paint, lights, etc. We also built a website and new social media page to bring more traffic into the store. 

As you know, we’re big fans of Guitar Pickers. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
Guitar Pickers is a local new and used guitar shop in the heart of Wilmington, NC. We specialize in guitars, amps, pedals, and accessories. We focus on lessons and repairs, vintage guitars, as well as helping beginners find their first guitar. We are also known for having an assortment of used guitars, amps, and pedals in stock. What sets us apart from other shops is although we have new guitars and pedals, our main focus is on used and vintage guitars and amps. We also have an awesome cat named Fender who lives in our shop that has become such a fixture people will come just to see him. He has become our brand’s logo and is feature on shirts and stickers. When people see our logo, they know it is Guitar Pickers. 

We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
We specialize in guitar repairs, setups, pickup swaps, and lessons. We also have a beautiful furry cat name Fender who loves to say hey to everyone. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.guitarpickersilm.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guitarpickersilm/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guitarpickersg

Image Credits
David Calhoun
Calhoun Productions