It just has to be so hard to be a large retailer nowadays. We used to view downsizing with horror, but nowadays it's the expected eventual fate of companies during economic hardship, especially those acquired by private equity firms. Guitar Center/Musicians Friend is owned by Ares Management. Even Sweetwater now has a private equity company as a majority share holder, but they seem to have been able to better adapt to the new economy.
I truly admire private music companies like Gretsch and Rickenbacker who find ways to survive, but not give up ownership. It's astounding to me that Rickenbacker still hasn't cranked out inexpensive models to try to compete in the mid and budget price ranges. Big kudos to them. I don't know how they do it, but I'm just standing on the outside with no knowledge of the music retail business.
