good morning my name Anne Maynard Through ZDNet.fr podcasts I invite you to discover the world of digital transformation in small and very small businesses.
Today I am talking to you about a guitar enthusiast who, since he was eighteen years old, has been making his instruments as an amateur, and who, thanks to digital instruments, has been able to turn his passion into a profession, into that of a luthier.
After his studies, in 2007, Clément Guéton began working, with a degree in Industrial Design. It was quickly set up by a company specializing in the manufacture of wood stoves and fireplaces.
Armed with a mouse or a pencil
Armed with a mouse or a pencil, he then painted the two heating elements throughout the day according to the clients’ wishes within technical limitations.
At the same time, Kleiman devoted all his free time to his favorite instrument, the guitar. He played it, of course, but also made it thanks to the experience gained during his studies.
Years passed and the business fell. So much so that Clément, in 2014, was thanked for the compensation. The opportunity for an amateur luthier to get started. Without a shop and to make himself known, he simply chose to sell his guitars on a website, where he bet everything. He has also trained for this, to be as good a reference as possible. Site name: ligerie-guitare.fr.
On this site everything is there, catalog, photos of prototypes, prices
On this site everything is there, the catalog, pictures of prototypes, prices … but also a configurator that allows customers to choose the characteristics of their guitar before placing an order …. a number of options are available in the manufacture of the future instrument.
The site also includes all parts of the repair, with each time, an illustration and the price of changing the guitar chord or microphone.
Faced with such a wide choice of options, does the customer not lose out? He can always email questions or simply call Clément in person.
As a result, there is no need for physical stores
And it works, because the site is now the second site Google recommends for everything “Made in France guitars” or even “custom guitars”.
But Clément is not only an executor of the wishes of customers, as it was for wood-burning stoves, he designs and manufactures tools himself. With a sheet of paper and a plate but also with a quantity of computer gadgets that leave the choice to his imagination in terms of colours, graphics or even materials. What many musicians appreciate, some of whom are more or less known in the middle of rock metal… who make word of mouth work.
Clément has also created small demonstration videos of his tools on his Youtube channel. Here, too, all communications are controlled … The pictures and sound are of good quality, and the videos for guitars are informative and well explained.
Therefore, there is no need for physical buffers. In any case, two-thirds of Clément’s customers do not live in his area.
Many orders are made only by email, instant message, and phone, and then the finished guitar is sent through the carrier.
Overall, Clément feels proud and satisfied that they have started the adventure but he has only one regret… He no longer has time to play his own instrument.