Every November, The Music & Sound Retailer spotlights accessories, bags and cases, a segment of the MI market whose value proposition has never been more compelling. Founded in 2000 and with a portfolio of more than 800 active SKUs—encompassing solutions made from vacuum-formed plastics, rotational-molded plastics, wood, metal, sewn and EVA materials—Gator Cases is a prime example of the excellence and innovation found among accessory, bag and case manufacturers. Its products catering to the music, pro audio, IT, AV and utility markets, Gator Cases, according to Brand Manager Phyliss Robins, prides itself on being the “one-stop shop” for retailers to consolidate their vendor needs. Here, we explore the company’s newest stunner: its lightweight, U.S.A.-made aluminum pedal boards.
Speaking about Gator’s history in the pedal board market, Robins said, “We’ve tested the waters over the past eight years with the introduction of the Pedal Tote series and the GIG-BOX Pedal Board, as well as G-TOUR Pedal Boards with Flight Case and molded products like The Bone Pedal Board.” It only made sense, she added, for Gator Cases to move into the metalworks area given that the company’s core competency is offering every type of solution, whether it be fabricated, molded or, now, metal.
Gator Cases carefully thought out its decision to expand its pedal board range with lightweight, U.S.A.-made aluminum products to complement the company’s existing roster of wood and molded-plastic boards. According to Robins, “Our goal was clear: keep it simple, lightweight and indestructible.” The company, always responsive to retailer requests, also ensured its new solution had a universal bracket to mount most common power supplies and that it didn’t add to the overall cost. “The one-piece design is like a tank, built to survive the road,” Robins added. “It’s an objective we strive for with all our products. We always want to offer the optimal protective solution that performs.”
Let’s turn to some of the aluminum pedal boards’ most notable construction elements that contribute to the products’ unique appeal to both retailers and end-customers. The pedal boards feature an all-aluminum frame with an angled platform for easy access to each pedal. The unique “C” shape provides a stable footprint and maximizes space. The pedal surface includes angled cutouts for signal and power routing. Non-slip rubber feet can be adjusted for board leveling. At present, Gator offers two size options. “We offer the 15.75-inch GPB-LAK, jokingly called the Little Ass Kicker, which can hold four to six pedals; we also have the GPB-BAK—we call it the Big Ass Kicker—which, at 23 inches, can hold eight to 10 pedals,” Robins elaborated.
Gator is a company teeming with musicians, and this project’s entire development team was composed of guitar players: from engineers, to product developers, to people working the production line. Clearly, they had some fun naming these innovative products, and we see the same spirit when looking at the initial color palette. The boards come standard in black, but they’re also available in Overdrive Yellow, Screamer Green and British Orange. “Pedals are fun, both in sounds and graphics,” Robins enthused. “We wanted the boards to complement that and help tell the personalization story. Every gigging guitarist has pedals and a board, but it’s how you accessorize that makes it your own.”
All of our readers already know The Retailer is a huge proponent of MI companies manufacturing their products right here at home, so it’s probably no surprise that we’ve mentioned twice already that the lightweight aluminum pedal boards are U.S.A.-made; clearly, Gator shares the values we espouse. “The opportunity to make this product in Asia at a much lower cost was considered early in the development process,” Robins admitted. “But one of our biggest accomplishments at Gator Cases is the manufacturing facility we purchased back in 2008. Our goal was to improve our speed-to-market deliverables, increase flexibility in our customization program and give back to the American economy.” She concluded, “Ultimately, we needed a lightweight pedal board to round out our collection, but we’re also proud to say that our board manufacturing helps employ many Americans.”
In the opening paragraph, we stated the obvious: the accessory segment’s value proposition has become increasingly undeniable. So, perhaps it should be expected that, according to Robins, the worldwide response to Gator Cases’ aluminum pedal boards thus far has been exciting and extremely positive. “Right now,” she elaborated, “we are having a great response internationally. ‘Made in the U.S.A.’ products are at a premium overseas for quality and as a status statement. We can’t make these fast enough!” The line has added life to the company’s catalogs, Web site and trade show booths. And, Robins added, it could do the same for retailers that are consistently challenged by an inventory of all-black equipment.
The pedal boards most ideally suit musicians searching for gear that can handle a rigorous schedule. Each board includes a deluxe padded carry bag with polyethylene-reinforced top and bottom and a removable shoulder strap, ensuring transport is easy. Its range of potential users, though, spans from the road warrior to the garage musician. As such, Gator Cases is working hard to ensure retail stores like yours—as well as the customers you draw—are fully aware of the line. “We are currently in the middle of a large marketing campaign filled with sales programs, potential partnerships, content, social-media outreach, contests and videos, all geared to reach out to our target consumer,” Robins revealed. “We’ve got the product in the fieldnow with some of our top artists and reps; many of our sales reps are currently still gigging. Their feedback has been invaluable.”
With regard to what the future might hold, it’s perhaps revealing that, so far, Gator’s drawing the biggest response with its larger-sized board. “We’re keeping our eyes open for market trends and, if we see the market shift relative to size, Gator Cases will be there,” Robins promised, hastening to add that, if a customer is interested in a specific size, Gator Cases can easily accommodate him or her.
MAP for the GPB-BAK is $149; it’s $99 for the GPB-LAK. Inventory is currently available.