Ed Panzer, 2016 Master’s Program Graduate
Attending Galloup School of Lutherie was the best career decision of my life. After graduating from college, I spent 20 years working in corporate finance. I learned a lot, but each year, I found myself becoming more unsatisfied, frustrated, and tired of working for someone else.
In 2014, I enrolled in the January 2016 class. After graduating in June 2016, I opened my own business in October 2016. It took me about 3 years to tool up and to build a nice client base. After that, my business has grown significantly. I build & sell 5-7 guitars a year. Although I love building, it only represents 30% of my revenue. Repair work is where I spent most of my time. Repair work opens the doors to guitar sales! 90% of my sales come from existing customers I’ve done repairs for.
My goal over the next 15 years is to continue building my brand and my client base. When I retire, I still plan on working. I plan on building guitars to stay active. There’s nothing like building a skill set that will allow you to pursue your dreams, even in retirement.
Visit Ed Panzer at www.panzerguitars.com