Retail industry veteran will help Guitar Center generate growth
and stimulate the brand's sales culture
WESTLAKE
VILLAGE, Calif., Oct. 15,
2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Guitar Center, Inc.
(the "Company" or "Guitar Center"), the world's largest
omni-channel musical instrument retailer, has appointed
Mike Schultheis as Executive Vice
President (EVP) and Chief Stores Officer, effective October 7. In his new role, Schultheis will
oversee and manage every facet of Guitar Center retail stores. He
will report directly to CEO Gabe
Dalporto. Schultheis' appointment reflects Guitar Center's
ongoing initiatives to generate growth through a fun, engaging and
experiential store environment supported by deeply knowledgeable
and engaging sales team.
"With a proven retail track record of
boosting revenue, expanding capabilities, streamlining processes,
and developing top-notch teams, Mike will empower our Guitar Center
stores to deliver the growth we know we are capable of." Stated
Guitar Center CEO Gabe
Dalporto
Most recently, Schultheis was the SVP of U.S. Stores at
PetSmart, where he led the store teams to increased revenues of
over 40% within five years. He practices a hands-on leadership
style of learning from the front lines by often visiting stores in
person and connecting with associates and customers. His previous
experience includes building selling cultures, managing
service-based business, delivering deep product expertise and
training, and enhancing operational efficiencies – all while
delivering an outstanding customer experience.
Dalporto remarks, "With a proven retail track record of boosting
revenue, expanding capabilities, streamlining processes, and
developing top-notch teams, Mike will empower our Guitar Center
stores to deliver the growth we know we are capable of. He brings
over 30 years of experience at well-known companies such as
PetSmart and Office Depot. He is the exceptional leader that our
store teams deserve, and I am extremely excited for our Associates
to collaborate with him."
Schultheis adds, "I am thrilled to join the Guitar Center
leadership team. Guitar Center is a brand with a loyal customer
base of the world's most passionate musicians, and I plan to help
further reinforce and bolster that to deliver a best-in-class store
experience. I look forward to collaborating with Gabe and the other
talented Associates to work toward this common goal."
About Guitar Center:
Guitar Center is the leading retailer of musical instruments,
lessons, repairs, and rentals in the U.S. With more than 300 stores
across the U.S. and one of the top direct sales websites in the
industry, Guitar Center has helped people make music for more than
50 years. Guitar Center also provides customers with various
musician-based services, including Guitar Center Lessons, where
musicians of all ages and skill levels can learn to play a variety
of instruments in many music genres, GC Repairs, an on-site
maintenance and repairs service, and GC Rentals, a program offering
easy rentals of instruments and other sound reinforcement gear.
Additionally, Guitar Center's sister brands include Music &
Arts, which operates more than 250 stores specializing in band
& orchestral instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers,
band directors, college professors, parents and students, and
Musician's Friend, a leading direct marketer of musical instruments
in the United States. For more
information about Guitar Center, please visit guitarcenter.com.
Media Contact
Robert Clyne, Guitar Center, 1
6156621616, robert@clynemedia.com, www.guitarcenter.com
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SOURCE Guitar Center