Founder: Jack King
Opened Brick-and-Mortar Store in September 2022.
- Location: 201 Oak Avenue | Kannapolis, NC 28081
- New, used, and vintage guitars, accessories, and experienced guitar repair
Cabarrus Center Resources Utilized
- Retail Lab | Spring 2022
- Awarded $2,500 Flywheel Foundation Grant
- Spark Grant Recipient | Flywheel Foundation
- Guidance from City of Kannapolis Economic & Community Development
Entrepreneurial Journey
- Jack worked on his friends’ guitars throughout high school and eventually apprenticed at a shop in Concord before taking formal training in Nashville.
- In 2019, he began repairing guitars on the side while holding a full-time job with an auto parts company in Charlotte.
- He rented a section of a warehouse for booking appointments with customers and built a dedicated clientele base who even followed him as he moved from Charlotte to Kannapolis.
From Side Hustle to Full-Time
- Jack began to have aspirations to open a retail store but wasn’t sure how to make the transition. His wife saw an ad for the Retail Lab on LinkedIn, encouraging Jack to apply for the program. He was accepted into the Spring 2022 corhort and completed the program that May.
- Jack quickly realized his side hustle could become a full-time business. Realizing he was further along than he thought, the Retail Lab taught him the steps he needed to take to make it a reality and connected him with the right people to make it all happen.
- Upon graduating from the Retail Lab, Jack had the opportunity to pitch his business concept to the Cabarrus Center Entrepreneurship Council for a chance to receive a $2,500 grant through the Flywheel Foundation. Jack was awarded the $2,500 grant for his business.
Tapping Into Local Resources
- Jack also received business funding through the Flywheel Foundation’s Spark Grant, enabling him to get a small inventory of guitar straps and accessories.
- With a sharpened business model and knowledge of the steps he needed to take next, Jack began investigating setting up shop in the revitalized downtown Kannapolis business district.
- The Retail Lab program had introduced Jack to Irene Sacks, Director of Economic & Community Development for the City of Kannapolis, and she would become an invaluable connection to Jack during this stage. He could reach out to her and ask questions that were vital to his startup.
J.King Guitar Opens in Kannapolis
- Jack was asked to participate in a pop-up event in downtown Kannapolis, leading to a meeting with the owner of the Swanee Theatre.
- A space connecting to the Swanee Theatre’s green room was available and they wanted a business like J.King Guitar to be there. This would allow the two businesses to work together if any artists need service for their instruments while on tour.
- September 2022 | Jack fulfilled his dream as he opened J.King Guitar at 201 Oak Avenue in downtown Kannapolis.
In the News
- Retail Lab graduate to open first brick-and-mortar store (Cabarrus Center, 9-2-2022)
- Jack of all trades: Guitar shop now open in Kannapolis (Salisbury Post, 9-4-2022)
- Local entrepreneur makes retail shop dream a reality (Cabarrus Economic Development)