Hi there my friends,

2020 has been the busiest year of my life. I've just done the numbers and jobs this year are about 30-40% up on last year (which was also busy!). 

That might not sound like much compared to what many retailers experienced but, given that I only have a fixed number of hours in the week to do the work, it was a pretty big jump. I did a LOT of overtime!

The increase was spread across two "financial years" so hopefully I won't get hit too hard by the tax office! 

The increased business was, of course, Covid-related. The entire industry boomed as folk stayed home and played their guitars. I also got lots of people getting back into it after 20 years or more, lots of new players, and guitars that had clearly been in the attic or the shed for decades coming in for restoration.

So.

I always take two weeks off at the end of the year so that I can do the family stuff and re-charge my batteries. This year I'm going to treat myself to an extra week.

The shop will be back open on Tuesday 19th January.

Best wishes to all of you, take care, be safe, and we'll catch up in 2021.

Andrew

 

 Hi Everyone,

well, it's flood time again! Actually, from the weather bureau's predictions it doesn't look like we'll have another disaster like 2017 but if there's one thing about predictions it's that they are unpredictable. I just heard on the radio that Lismore has had 180mm of rain so far today - the bureau predicted 30mm...

But even that much rain, plus what we've received over the last few days, is still less than we got in 24 hours back in'17. So fingers crossed.

Just letting you know that all completed but un-collected repairs, all repairs yet to be finished, and all consignment guitars are safe and dry on higher ground.

I don't take chances - at the slightest risk of flooding I start moving stuff out of the shop. 

Every time this happens (and it's probably the tenth time I've emptied the place) I wonder if I should move the shop to a higher location. But each time I decide that the idea of being in the centre of town is SO convenient (for me as well as you guys) that I decide to stay. I like my little shop! And have a very good landlord, too.

Stay dry,

Andrew