Photo Credit: Robert Gerwig
Sweetwater is opening its first distribution center outside of Indiana. The new fulfillment center is in Phoenix, Arizona, and should help speed up shipping times across the United States.
The 350,000-square-foot building will serve as a fulfillment center for thousands of products and accessories sold by Sweetwater. That includes audio gear like microphones, speakers, mixers, and amplifiers to drums, guitars, and other orchestra instruments.
“The opening of this new fulfillment center is one more way for us to provide the exceptional experience our customers have come to know and love,” Sweetwater President & CEO John Hopkins told Digital Music News about the new opening. “Those who live in the western part of the country often have to wait several days for their orders to arrive from our facility in Indiana. This will change that dramatically.”
“I’m honored to welcome Sweetwater to our thriving city,” adds Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers. “Their investment will enable them to create a better customer experience for their clients and will bring more than 150 jobs to the area. They join a growing number of global and national corporations who now call Glendale home.”
Sweetwater is now hiring to fill as many as 165 positions, including shift supervisors, pickers, packers, and machine operators, in August. They expect the new fulfillment center to be operational by October and ready to ship those holiday orders.
Phil Rich, who oversees Sweetwater’s supply chain, says the new fulfillment center means west coast customers should see their Sweetwater packages arrive within a day or two. That’s a drastic difference from the current wait times. “We are integrating state-of-the-art technology into this facility to ensure that items are shipped quickly, efficiently, and accurately,” Rich adds.
Sweetwater has seen an increase in its online sales since the pandemic. The company attributes this to its excellent customer service. Back in 2003, Sweetwater was only doing around $4 million in online sales. In 2021, the company announced it had surpassed $1.43 billion in sales and facilitated 4 million orders.
“Sweetwater is fortunate to be in an industry that was accelerated by [the pandemic],” says Mike Clem, Sweetwater’s Chief Growth Officer. “Many people picked up a musical instrument for the first time, or re-ignited a hobby, or invested in streaming and online performances. Now we are seeing those customers return to upgrade their instruments or buy more accessories. Retention is strong in [this] high-passion category of ours.”