Sweetwater’s total sales in 2019 were $805 million, up 11 percent from $725 million in 2018, which represents a record. Sweetwater’s annual total sales increases have ranged from 11 percent to 28 percent every year since 2010.
The company sold more than 147,000 guitars in 2019, up from 128,000 in 2018 and 107,000 in 2017. There was significant growth across all product categories, with the biggest increases being in pro audio, synthesizers, drums, guitars, and microphones.
Employment growth continued with the addition of a record 113 new Sales Engineers in 2019, as well as 27 employees in its marketing department and 19 in the IT Department.
“Sweetwater has become an employer of choice not just in northeast Indiana but across the country,” said senior vice president of human resources Jeff McDonald. “We are proud of the culture we’ve created that fosters innovation and inclusivity, allowing us to attract the best and brightest to Fort Wayne, (Ind.) and Sweetwater.”
More students took lessons at the Sweetwater Academy last year than the previous year, clocking more than 30,000 lessons with the Academy’s 38 instructors. In 2018 there were 850 active students. That number jumped to 923 in 2019.
Construction continued on the nearly 480,000 square foot warehouse being built on the company’s 163-acre campus located on U.S. Highway 30 in Fort Wayne. It will become operational in February. Crews will break ground on the addition of a 65,000 square foot event center this summer.
“We are proud of our continued growth and are excited to see what 2020 brings. Our success over the past four decades is the result of our passion for serving customers and an unwavering commitment to always do the right thing,” said Sweetwater Founder & CEO Chuck Surack.