10 Questions with...Alan Morrison, owner of AM Guitar Repair

We're reaching back in the vault to interview our June winner of the 'Dream Big Grow Here' contest - Alan Morrison.

What was your first entrepreneurial endeavor?

I did the lawn mowing thing and I also did quite a bit of farm work growing up in the Greenfield area. 

What is your current business all about and how did you get it started?

I currently run AM Guitar Repair - www.amguitarrepair.com in Davenport.  As the name suggestions I do a lot of guitar repair work, but I also do just about anything else related to guitars. I give lessons, sell related equipment like amplifiers, sell parts and products on line, teach classes, and play in a band.   My sales site is www. guitarupgradesonline.com

I’ve been doing repair work and giving lessons for a long time.  A few years back a bunch of my guitar-playing friends were all at a funeral.  During the discussion at our table, one noted that the local guitar repair guy in town was moving and they were all wondering what to do for future repair work.  Those friends became my first customers and things have grown steadily from there. 

Why did you choose Iowa to base your business?

I’m a life-long Iowan, so this has always been home for me.  I’ve slowly moved my way east across the state from Greenfield to Creston to Atlantic to Des Moines, and finally to the Quad Cities.

What is one thing Iowa could do better for small business?

I can’t think of anything, the state has been great for me as far as starting my business.

What is the best/worst business advice you ever got?

I always try to blow off the bad advice I get.  The best advice was probably to focus on a high quality product with a focus on customer service.  Compromising on quality and running a business based on price is not where you want to be.

How do you chill out?

For me, everything is guitar related.  I play in a twelve-piece classic rock band called Identity Crisis – www. Identycrisisqca.com. 

What has been your worst business idea ever?

In this business, it’s been inventory decisions.  At times I get in over my head in terms of inventory.

If you weren’t running your own business, you would be…?

It would have to be something music related and probably focused on guitars.

To make it as an entrepreneur, you’ve got to…

Start small and don’t get in over your head – keep costs low, have a business plan, listen to your customers, dream big, do all the free advertising you can, and network like crazy

 Finally, you are stranded on a desert island, who do you take with you (dead or alive)?

Definitely my wife.