The post I hoped I'd never have to write....
Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 12:05 pm
Well guys, it's time to accept the inevitable. As painful as this is for me, I must discontinue amp kits for good. I'll try to keep the cables and FX loops available in the Metroamp store.
Late this Sunday night I'll be taking the kits down. If you place an order before they are gone, please know that it might take several weeks for them to ship. After Thursday December 23rd it will be only myself here to wrap up any Metroamp obligations. Dave will no longer be with us.
It's sad that Metroamp became a liability rather than a profitable part of my business, the products are great I just didn't demand a reasonable business model. The margins were way too slim on parts of this caliber to be sustainable. Back in the days before I was married and had children I could work 70-80 hours per week and make things happen, this also was not sustainable.
Many of the issues with Metroamp could have been solved and I have worked diligently, and sacrificed almost everything personally trying to make it work. But the nature of the problems and the timing, especially over the last year have been far too much to overcome. As it is my plexi replica builds have been bailing out the failing Metroamp business for over two years. Dave has been driving over an hour each way and working for free because he believes in the products and thought we could turn it around. He can't do this any longer and I am forever indebted to him for his effort and sacrifice.
Events in my personal life only exacerbate the situation. I haven't shared this info out of respect for my family's privacy, but it needs to be mentioned here. All this year I have been going through a divorce and dealing with all that comes with that horrible experience. It is far from over right now and will continue to demand much of my time and energy. I've devoted lots of my time to helping my young children (4 year old Daughter and 1 year old Son) cope and adjust to the new arrangement. This will remain my #1 priority and business may have to adjust accordingly.
It's vital that I find a compatible balance between work and being a single Dad. I also can no longer sacrifice basic essentials like health insurance, a reliable vehicle, etc in an effort to just hold on until things get better.
It's beyond difficult to see this part of the business, which I started and ran for 8 years with my blood, sweat and soul, come to it's end.
I still believe in the products, I know they are highest quality because I have always demanded it. If an opportunity arises to make them available to you in the future I will do all that I can to make it happen. If the right person were to approach me about buying Metroamp, or licensing the rights to sell the kits, I would seriously consider it. I've been disappointed not to be able to meet your needs over the last several months and I hate to see a demand for items I can't supply. There is a working business model in there, I've just ran out of time and resources to find it.
I hope the sincerity I feel writing this will come through. I hope you can always view Metroamp as a company based on obsessive attention to details, reverence for classic amplifiers and dedication to great customer service.
Moving forward, I'll be running plexi replicas, doing some contract manufacturing, hanging at amp shows, spending time with my kids, wrapping up my divorce, looking to buy a home to raise my kids in, finally starting to address some ongoing health issues I've tended to ignore, offering the Metroamp forum for all of your amp community needs and taking head-on whatever life throws my way.
George
Late this Sunday night I'll be taking the kits down. If you place an order before they are gone, please know that it might take several weeks for them to ship. After Thursday December 23rd it will be only myself here to wrap up any Metroamp obligations. Dave will no longer be with us.
It's sad that Metroamp became a liability rather than a profitable part of my business, the products are great I just didn't demand a reasonable business model. The margins were way too slim on parts of this caliber to be sustainable. Back in the days before I was married and had children I could work 70-80 hours per week and make things happen, this also was not sustainable.
Many of the issues with Metroamp could have been solved and I have worked diligently, and sacrificed almost everything personally trying to make it work. But the nature of the problems and the timing, especially over the last year have been far too much to overcome. As it is my plexi replica builds have been bailing out the failing Metroamp business for over two years. Dave has been driving over an hour each way and working for free because he believes in the products and thought we could turn it around. He can't do this any longer and I am forever indebted to him for his effort and sacrifice.
Events in my personal life only exacerbate the situation. I haven't shared this info out of respect for my family's privacy, but it needs to be mentioned here. All this year I have been going through a divorce and dealing with all that comes with that horrible experience. It is far from over right now and will continue to demand much of my time and energy. I've devoted lots of my time to helping my young children (4 year old Daughter and 1 year old Son) cope and adjust to the new arrangement. This will remain my #1 priority and business may have to adjust accordingly.
It's vital that I find a compatible balance between work and being a single Dad. I also can no longer sacrifice basic essentials like health insurance, a reliable vehicle, etc in an effort to just hold on until things get better.
It's beyond difficult to see this part of the business, which I started and ran for 8 years with my blood, sweat and soul, come to it's end.
I still believe in the products, I know they are highest quality because I have always demanded it. If an opportunity arises to make them available to you in the future I will do all that I can to make it happen. If the right person were to approach me about buying Metroamp, or licensing the rights to sell the kits, I would seriously consider it. I've been disappointed not to be able to meet your needs over the last several months and I hate to see a demand for items I can't supply. There is a working business model in there, I've just ran out of time and resources to find it.
I hope the sincerity I feel writing this will come through. I hope you can always view Metroamp as a company based on obsessive attention to details, reverence for classic amplifiers and dedication to great customer service.
Moving forward, I'll be running plexi replicas, doing some contract manufacturing, hanging at amp shows, spending time with my kids, wrapping up my divorce, looking to buy a home to raise my kids in, finally starting to address some ongoing health issues I've tended to ignore, offering the Metroamp forum for all of your amp community needs and taking head-on whatever life throws my way.
George
and I suspect that, if in the future, I need to thin out it will be Marshalls that go before the Metros!!
Good luck George!