Sweetwater recently announced another record year in total sales and job creation, plus a significant expansion of its campus in Fort Wayne IN. Since 2010, Sweetwater’s total sales have more than doubled. Total sales in 2014 were up 28 percent over 2013, which was also a record-breaking year. December 2014 sales were up 30 percent over December 2013. Black Friday and Cyber Monday both shattered all previous records, and the company sold more than 71,500 guitars in 2014, up from just over 50,000 guitars in 2013. Drums and pro audio were two more of the many product categories that saw growth at a rapid pace.
Sweetwater’s Founder and President, Chuck Surack, said, “With the uncertainty in some segments of the music products industry, our unique style of business, based on long-term personal relationships, expertise and unparalleled customer service, is being embraced by our customers and driving our growth. This is all due to our incredible team of Sweetwater employees.” Employment growth continues at Sweetwater as the company continues to aggressively hire.
In May, Sweetwater completed a 132,000-square-foot expansion, including room for 500 sales engineers, permanent offices for vendors, three new conference halls and a 54,000-square-foot expansion of its distribution center, essentially doubling its size. In December, the company added 15,000 square feet to double its dining area, including a coffee bar called “The Crescendo Café,” plus a lounge area and the campus’ second performance stage. These amenities are in addition to a gaming area, free DVD and games lending library, fitness center with personal trainer and a salon providing everything from hair and nail care to massages.
The Sweetwater campus will continue to grow this year, with the total redesign and expansion of Sweetwater’s retail store, plus a major building expansion to house the marketing and merchandising staffs, as well as a new, state-of-the-art video studio.