Westside Distribution

What Westside Distribution does

Westside Distribution is a Glasgow-headquartered wholesale distributor of premium musical instruments and audio equipment, operating since 1995 and serving the United Kingdom and Ireland markets. The company holds exclusive or sole distribution rights for an extensive portfolio of complementary brands, including C.F. Martin Guitars, Schecter, Hohner, the Dunlop family (MXR effects pedals, Cry Baby wahs, Way Huge Electronics, Dunlop strings and accessories), Elixir Strings, Sigma Guitars, Heritage Guitars, Pedaltrain, Mono Cases, Voodoo Labs, AER amplifiers, G7th capos, TonePros, GrooveTech, Levy's Leathers, and Johnson Guitars. Its physical footprint consists of a headquarters and distribution center at 100 Fifty Pitches Road in Glasgow alongside a retail showroom at 24 Denmark Street (Tin Pan Alley) in London used for artist events and dealer demonstrations.

The company's business model is straightforward B2B wholesale: Westside purchases inventory from manufacturers and sells through an authorized retail dealer network accessed via a Find a Dealer locator on its website, plus direct dealer engagement at industry trade shows (NAMM, Frankfurt Musikmesse, London Acoustic Guitar Show, London Drum Show, Manson's Guitar Show) and through a news/content blog and Facebook/Instagram channels. The London showroom additionally serves as a venue for product launches and artist activations, such as the December 2025 visit from C.F. Martin's Executive Chairman Chris Martin IV.

Westside serves primarily independent and chain music retail stores specializing in guitars, bass, and accessories across the UK and Ireland. Headcount is in the 11-50 range, the company is privately held with no disclosed parent or institutional ownership, and it has no disclosed revenue, funding history, or executive team beyond a single named brand manager. Recent activity indicates ongoing portfolio expansion through new exclusive partnerships (Hohner, December 2024) and active coordination of manufacturer product launches into the UK/Ireland market.

Name

Westside Distribution

Legal name

Westside Distribution

Website

https://westsidedistribution.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Westside Distribution is a Glasgow-based B2B wholesale distributor, founded 1995, holding exclusive UK and Ireland distribution rights for premium musical instrument brands including Martin, Schecter, Hohner, Dunlop, and MXR, selling to a network of authorized retail dealers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Musical Instrument Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140)

SIC

Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Instrument & Pro Audio Retail (Online/Brick-and-Mortar) (MPAIAJAH)

Keywords

• Wholesale music distribution
• Musical instrument distributor
• Guitar distribution services
• Audio equipment wholesale
• Music accessories distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Distribution: Westside Distribution operates as a wholesale distributor of music instruments and audio equipment, purchasing products from manufacturers and selling to retail dealers across the UK and Ireland.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Westside Distribution operates as a wholesale distributor of music instruments and audio equipment, purchasing products from manufacturers and reselling them to retail dealers across the UK and Ireland. The portfolio spans acoustic and electric guitars (Martin, Schecter, Sigma, Johnson), harmonicas and accordions (Hohner), effects pedals (MXR, Cry Baby, Way Huge), strings and accessories (Dunlop, Elixir), pedalboards (Pedaltrain), cases and power supplies (Mono, Voodoo Labs), amplifiers (AER), capos (G7th), hardware (TonePros), tools (GrooveTech), and straps (Levy's Leathers).

Product overview

Westside Distribution is a UK-based music instrument and equipment distributor established in 1995, distributing distinguished brands throughout the UK and Ireland. The company operates as a portfolio of complementary product brands rather than a single unified product. Core offerings include Martin Guitars (acoustic guitars), Schecter Guitars (electric guitars), Hohner (harmonicas/accordions), and a comprehensive Dunlop family including MXR effects pedals, Cry Baby wah pedals, Way Huge Electronics, and Dunlop strings and accessories. Additional brands include Elixir strings, Sigma guitars, Pedaltrain pedalboards, Mono cases and power supplies, Voodoo Labs, AER amplifiers, G7th capos, TonePros hardware, GrooveTech tools, and Levy's Leathers straps. The company also serves as exclusive distributor for Martin, Sigma, and Elixir in Ireland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Martin Guitars C.F. Martin acoustic and acoustic-electric guitars, including Standard, Road Series, 16 Series, X Series, and signature models. Distributed as sole distributor for Martin guitars and strings in Ireland and the UK.
• Schecter Guitars
• Hohner German manufacturer of harmonicas, accordions, and other musical instruments. Westside Distribution appointed as exclusive UK and Ireland distributor in December 2024.
• Dunlop (Plectrums, Strings, Electronics) Complete Dunlop range including plectrums, strings (electric, bass, acoustic), electronics, Cry Baby wah pedals, and MXR effect pedals.
• MXR Effects Pedals
• Cry Baby Wah Pedals
• Way Huge Electronics
• Elixir Strings Guitar strings with anti-rust coating. Westside Distribution serves as sole distributor for Elixir strings in Ireland and the UK.
• Sigma Guitars Acoustic guitars including Modern Series and various models. Westside Distribution serves as sole UK distributor.
• Pedaltrain Pedalboards Pedalboards including Classic, JR MAX, and new wheeled tour cases. Distributed in the UK and Ireland since 2013.
• Mono Cases and Power Supplies
• Voodoo Labs Power Supplies
• Johnson Guitars
• AER Amplifiers
• G7th Capos
• TonePros Hardware
• GrooveTech Tools
• Levy's Leathers Guitar Straps
• Martin SC-13E Acoustic-Electric Guitar
• Schecter Aaron Marshall Signature Models (AM-6, AM-7) Signature guitars designed with Intervals mastermind Aaron Marshall featuring basswood bodies, wenge necks, macassar ebony fretboards, 24 X-jumbo stainless frets, Hipshot Grip-Lock tuners, and USA-made Solstice and Equinox pickups.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbHmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 December 2024Westside Distribution appointed as exclusive distributor for Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbH in the UK and Ireland, starting December 2nd 2024. Hohner is an iconic German manufacturer known for harmonicas and other music instruments.
• Heritage GuitarsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 20 November 2018Westside Distribution announced as sole distributor in the UK for Heritage Guitars, who build handcrafted instruments from their premises in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
• C.F. Martin & Co.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 July 2018Westside appointed as sole distributor for Martin guitars and strings in Ireland, complementing existing distribution rights for the UK market.
• Sigma GuitarscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 July 2018Westside appointed as sole distributor for Sigma guitars in Ireland, extending their acoustic guitar distribution portfolio.
• Elixir StringscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 July 2018Westside appointed as sole distributor for Elixir strings in Ireland, adding premium guitar string products to their distribution lineup.
• PedaltraincoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 28 August 2013Westside partnered with Pedaltrain to distribute their pedalboard products in the UK and Ireland, strengthening their accessories portfolio.
• Los Cabos DrumsticksminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 25 June 2013Westside announced as exclusive UK distributor for Los Cabos Drumsticks, a Canadian company offering over 40 different drumstick models.
• Dunlop (Jim Dunlop)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 February 2012Westside Distribution began distributing Jim Dunlop products in the UK, including plectrums, slides, strings, and other accessories under the Dunlop brand.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sound Technology: Sound Technology is a UK distributor of professional audio, musical instruments, and lighting products. It shares Westside's B2B wholesale distribution model into the UK retail and pro audio channel, with overlapping pro audio and instrument categories.
• Headstock Distribution: Headstock Distribution is a UK distributor of musical instruments and accessories representing a portfolio of international brands. It is a direct competitor to Westside in distributing premium music brands to UK and Ireland dealers.
• Hal Leonard Europe: Hal Leonard Europe distributes music publications, print music, and instruments across Europe. It is comparable to Westside as a B2B distributor serving UK and European music retailers with a complementary music product portfolio.
• Andertons: Andertons is a major UK music retailer that also acts as a significant channel for many brands Westside distributes (including Martin, Schecter, and others). It is comparable as a high-volume UK dealer in the same product categories, though it operates as a retailer rather than pure distributor.
• Barnes & Mullins: Barnes & Mullins is a UK-based distributor of musical instruments and accessories, including guitars, strings, and traditional folk instruments. It overlaps directly with Westside in product category and B2B wholesale distribution to UK/Ireland retailers.
• John Hornby Skewes & Co. (JHS): JHS is one of the UK's longest-established musical instrument distributors, representing premium brands across guitars, drums, and accessories. It is the most direct comparable to Westside as a wholesale distributor serving UK and Ireland retail dealers with a similar multi-brand portfolio model.

Regional players

• Thomann: Thomann is Europe's largest music retailer and distributor, based in Germany. While it operates across the continent including the UK, its primary geographic market is continental Europe, making it a regional comparable in musical instrument distribution and e-commerce.

Broad incumbents

• Roland UK: Roland UK is the manufacturer-owned UK distribution arm for Roland, Boss, and related music technology brands. It is comparable as a UK music equipment distribution operation, though it is vertically integrated with its own products rather than a multi-brand independent distributor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CreativeMarketingSW1
• Instagraminstagram.com/westsidedistro
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/westside-distribution

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Westside Distribution