Celebrating 30 Years...
You read it right - we are turning 30 this year! To celebrate GAK's 30th anniversary and our fresh look, we're going to delve into our history and how we grew into one of the top music retailers in the UK. It's been a long journey from very humble beginnings to getting to where we are today. And it all started with one man and a market stall.
Humble Beginnings
It's been a long journey from very humble beginnings to getting to where we are today. And it all started with one man and a market stall.
Britpop Explosion
Britpop bands like Oasis, Blur, Suede and Pulp were all electric guitar-based, markedly increasing the demand for the instrument. As the popularity of the guitar flourished, so did the business.
Fresh Expansion
The business would begin to flourish and grow at a seriously quick pace. Bigger and bigger premises were needed to keep up with the ever-growing amount of stock that needed shipping to customers.
Brave New World
The Internet was a lot like the Wild West back in its early days. By having the foresight and the initiative to delve into this new frontier of sales, we were able to get ahead of the curve and grow alongside the Internet boom.
Tea to MD
From GAK's early days, Max McKellar was helping drive the business forward as it entered unexplored territory. Today, he's leading the company as our Managing Director - a long way to come from cleaning guitars and making tea!
Setting The Tone
From the beginning, the store was a down-to-earth and unpretentious place to buy your music gear. Everyone was welcome and they were free to try out whatever they wanted.
Beyond The Store
A flat above the store had its kitchen and bathroom converted to a mail-order room and office respectively. To spread the word about GAK's Mail Order service, print ads would be run in popular magazines such as Guitarist and Sound On Sound.
The Internet Age
We were one of the first music retailers in the country to go online and have an e-commerce store. Our customers could buy their dream piece of gear, have it brought straight to their house and receive the same friendly service you'd get into the store.
Destination Hub
With help from the eye-catching print ads and the enormous success of the website, word spread about what an exciting place the GAK store is to visit. You can walk in and discover something new around each corner.
30 Years and Beyond
As we reach the major milestone that is our 30th birthday, we are beyond excited to unveil the brand new look and feel of the GAK brand. We're looking forward to what the next thirty years and beyond have in store for us.