Meet Zach Schutze | Persistent SOB

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zach Schutze and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zach, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I am a disabled veteran, and unfortunately my military skills don’t have a lucrative civilian application. I didn’t transition well. Like so many others I had difficulty with alcohol and drug use, homelessness. I struggled with college and never completed a degree despite years of trying and accumulating nearly as many credits as a degree requires, which left me (in my opinion!) very undervalued by employers. The last time I was employed was at the start of COVID, I was making $9 an hour selling car batteries. Something had to give. I had been involved with a small resale business that failed a few years back, buying anything I could get my hands on from auctions, estate sales, pawn shops, and thrift stores and reselling them online. I was actually trying to resurrect that business when I found my niche. When I needed capital I had no choice but to sacrifice my prized possessions – my guitar gear collection. I picked out my favorite items and put the rest up on Facebook Marketplace. Soon after I realized that most of my prospective buyers were proposing some sort of trade deal – they didn’t need their current instrument if they were getting a new (to them) one, and any way to save cash on their hobby was welcome. My first real job ever was as a pawnbroker, and my grandfather was an auctioneer, so the resale of used merchandise is not new to me – I just never thought that the first work I was exposed to would also be what suited me best. So my business was born out of desperation, frustration with the lack of opportunities available to me, my belief that I could do better – somehow – and then when something started working better than my original plan, I leaned into it.

What should our readers know about your business?
My shop operates as a buy/sell/trade establishment focusing primarily on used music gear, but we do take some other categories of merchandise as well. The majority of our inventory is used and offered at very attractive prices compared to retail. We take care to curate the inventory with a focus on physical condition, functionality, and desirability. I offer top dollar for items that meet the criteria – substantially more than pawn shops or other music stores. My team is knowledgeable and passionate about making music and helping our customers find the sound they are looking for. We strive to create a community based around the value that creating music brings to one’s life, while making the journey less intimidating and more affordable.

I started this business during the COVID epidemic, in October of 2020, with a small amount of savings and my personal collection of music gear. I was living in a group home in Plano TX, a sober living home. Within a few months, my inventory had taken over much of the house, all of the garage, and three storage units at a facility within walking distance. I got voted off the island for running a business out of the house in February of 2021, and a desperate search for an affordable location landed me in Grand Prairie in about 1500 sq ft of industrial space.

A year later we were cramped for space again, and were luckily able to secure twice as much room in the same complex. With room to grow, we have spent considerable time and money on developing our branding and presence in the local market. You’ll see us at the local guitar shows, we advertise heavily on Facebook Marketplace, and we have our own website as well.

None of it has been easy! The learning curve has been extreme, and access to capital has been a challenge. Everything thus far has been bootstrapped – I have begged and borrowed, risked my last dollar in hopes that sales this week cover payroll on Friday. How much unsecured credit do you think banks will extend to a disabled veteran with no other income or assets? None, of course. My compensation from the VA allowed me to leave the money in the business to grow instead of paying myself – I just starting taking a paycheck this year. My unique situation, and a continuous string of unbelievable luck and fortunate encounters have sustained my business through the start-up phase. I couldn’t get into debt, because at first no one would give me credit. The path to qualifying for the obtaining the right kind of credit has been longer and more complex than I ever imagined. I had no idea how much I didn’t know – and I’ve had to learn more than I ever wanted to about topics I had little interest in. Sound familiar?

Continuing education is critical if you want to run a business anywhere but into the ground. Business ownership is nothing if not a humbling experience. Arrogance is punished thoroughly. Small mistakes can cause big losses. My veteran status comes with so many benefits that I have taken advantage of. Workshops for small business owners, conferences, mentorship – all free or nearly so. Timely education has allowed me to plan and deploy initiatives with some confidence that I am making good decisions.

Other challenges were overcome with persistence and long hours. The main lesson I keep on having to learn is that whatever it is, it’s going to take longer and cost more than I thought it would at first, and at some point I’ll wonder if it’s worth it. Expect it to be both difficult and rewarding. It is.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m very sorry but you are asking the wrong guy. I am a creature of dull, boring, habit. Even if my best friend visits me, they are helping me with my chores and attending little league games. Apologies but I can’t even BS my way through this prompt. Feel free to fill it with the names of deserving businesses, people, places, or things to check out.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So many people! I am not an island, and I often reflect how little of my success is my own doing.

First and foremost, my mother has been with me through it all. She never quit on me, she never gave up. She gave me a model for true love and perseverance that I can only hope to pass on in its full measure.

While in the past they may have deserved the bad rap the older generations give them, the modern Department of Veterans Affairs saved my life, multiple times. When an organization takes someone like me off the street, gives them housing, treatment, work programs – it also gives them hope. More than once I was able to recover, heal, and find government employment with their assistance. More than once! And if I ever found myself in that situation again, I would not hesitate to return. I implore any veteran with the same struggles I endured to use the VA. Shout out to all the unsung social workers, mental health staff, homeless outreach, and peer support specialists.

Jason Underwood, of Archie’s Guitar in Richardson TX, treated me like a contemporary before I actually was one, and his freely given advice was indispensable in the early days. It may not be a big deal to him, but it is to me. “People may not remember what you did or said, but they will always remember how you made them feel.” Jason made me feel like I could run a guitar store.

Last and certainly not least, I couldn’t (and still can’t) do it without Tristan Strickland, my guitar tech and shop manager. He’s like a winning lottery ticket in the form of a first hire. Certainly my best investment, now a best friend as well. I am extremely proud of and grateful to him.

Website: https://www.betonvets.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betonvetsmusic

Facebook: www.facebook.com/betonvetsmusic

Other: https://reverb.com/shop/betonvetsmusic or reach me personally at zach@betonvets.org