been missing out on the guitar shopping
experience. Taylor Guitars wants customers
and potential customers to have the full
experience. Having a new guitar at home
is FUN, but the shopping experience is
75% of that fun. Customers can now have
a full Taylor Guitar Experience at Tobias
Music. Taylor Guitars has been a great
partner for Tobias for over 30 years.
Interestingly, Taylor has opened these
Boutique Showrooms in Stockholm, Berlin,
Ontario,
Canada,
England,
Japan,
Hollywood, and now
Downers Grove!!
By David Gedge
THE TAYLOR BOUTIQUE
Taylor Guitars Boutique
at Tobias Music
Downers Grove-based Tobias Music has
joined forces with California's renowned
Taylor Guitars to introduce one of the country's first store-within a store Taylor Guitar
Boutique concepts. The only other Taylor
Boutique Store is in Hollywood, CA. We sat
down with co-owner Paul Tobias to discuss the
grand opening for the store and the events coming on February 5th and 6th.
IE: You've been one of Taylor Guitars top
dealers in the country for many years now.
Tell us how the Boutique Room concept
came together?
Paul Tobias: True, my parents were one of
Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug's original
[Taylor Guitars] dealers. It's been well over
30 years now. Taylor approached us last
summer to see if we were interested in
adding one of these boutique showrooms
to our offerings here in suburban Chicago.
As guitar purchasing via the internet has
steadily increased over the years, both
Taylor and Tobias feel the consumer has
IE: Wow. How long
did construction take
to do the in-store
remodel?
PT: We started construction
in
late
September 2015 and
finished in early January, taking a short
break during the holiday shopping season.
We're proud to say that we did 95% of the
work ourselves, which adds to our Mom
and Pop Guitar Shop feel. Not to brag, but
the the showroom turned out very nicely.
Not bad for a bunch of guitar players
swinging heavy hammers.
IE: What can customers and other Taylor
Guitars fans expect on Grand Opening
weekend?
PT: Taylor will have one of their national
representatives here and we will be showcasing all of Taylor's new models for 2016.
Taylor is also introducing a new marketing
concept for Taylor - The 2016 Roll-Out
Event. Rather than looking at pictures
online, or waiting for the new models to
arrive in stores, guitarists will be able to
come by and be one of the first to try these
exceptional guitars. I can tell you that there
will be some cool 12-strings and 12-frets
here. You can also enter a drawing for a
free Baby Taylor guitar to be given away
on February 5th and 6th. Taylor will have
some free TaylorWare giveaways (while
supplies last). My wife is also baking a guitar shaped cake and possibly a little champagne! For those folks
who can't make it. the
grand opening - we'll
be offering special discount pricing on all
Taylor Guitars during
the month of February.
News & Notes
R&B Productions Guitar
Show in Hillside
The friendly folks from R&B
Productions and Bakes Guitars are back
with their 26th Annual Guitar Show on
Sunday, February 28, from 10 a.m until 4
p.m., at the Best Western in Hillside (4400
Frontage Rd., (708) 544-9300). Dealers from
all over the Midwest (including some great
local stores) will be buying, selling, and
trading new and used guitars, amplifiers,
parts, and accessories.
Like last year's show you'll find some cool
memorabilia too, including signed photos,
posters, vinyl and more. Admission is $10,
but only $5 buck