Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Hoffee.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started playing music when I was very young and still do today. It has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Being around musicians for so many years was one of the keys to my success in business. I learned their needs and likes when it comes to instruments and gear.
I have worked in the musical instrument business my whole career. Starting in retail and eventually working for manufacturers of instruments, I learned every aspect of the business and eventually reached the level of Vice President of a well known musical instrument company. I had always dreamed of owning my own business and when I lost my job in 2006, I felt I had no choice but to make something happen on my own.
My experience told me that producing my own product was the way to go. Being in retail meant that you were basically working for the manufacturers. The company that made the products called all the shots. This was the path for me. I wanted to produce a high-quality product made in the USA that I would be proud of. I could not compete with large factories overseas making very cheap products so I knew I had to start at the top.
There was no shortage of instrument makers but I did recognize that there might be an opportunity in the custom case business and since every instrument needs a case, this might work. How hard can it be to make a case? Easy I thought. Turns out I was wrong.
Has it been a smooth road?
I wanted to make the best cases on the market. Carbon fiber would be my material of choice. Known for its strength to weight ratio, it has long been associated with high-end sports cars and the aerospace industry. I gathered as much information as I could. After reading several books, watching numerous videos and even attending seminars in the composites industry, I was ready to give this a try. I rented a small space not much bigger than a two car garage and started trying to mold carbon fiber.
It was extremely difficult. I could not figure out how to make the shell of the cases lightweight and cosmetically attractive. Failure after failure continued. What was planned to be a six month r&d period was approaching two years! Doubts started to creep in and it was devastating to think that all the time and effort I had put into this might be a failure. I felt that I had no choice. I must make this work. I worked so hard. 10-12 hours a day, six days a week all by myself in a small garage space were the norm.
Finally, the breakthrough I had worked so hard to achieve had happened. I remember being so excited when I started making really strong, light and good looking case shells. I knew I had done it.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Hoffee Cases makes high-end custom cases for guitars and other stringed instruments. Our great team produces cases that protect our customer’s most valuable and cherished instruments. We have made cases for some of the most famous musicians in the world as well as hard working touring pros.
We are so proud to help musicians who must travel with their instruments to make a living. We hear stories all the time from people who are so happy to report how their Hoffee case saved their instrument from damage.
Our commitment to quality and service is what sets up apart. We have gained the trust and confidence of people in our industry.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
One of the biggest difficulties starting a business is the cost of a facility. The price of a commercial real estate in an urban area such as Chicago is a big hurdle for a small business.
I believe that creating a small business incubator for entrepreneurs would be extremely helpful. If a free or low-cost facility were available for people to test out their ideas, it might spur the creation of a lot of small businesses. I would like to see empty or abandoned industrial sites turned into free shop space for inventors.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hoffeecases.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hoffee-Carbon-Fiber-Cases-276060422423476/?ref=bookmarks
Image Credit:
Liz Sisson
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