What’s Next After NAMM 2026 for RightOn! Straps?
Adaptation as the key to future change
Introduction: proud and challenged
After NAMM 2026, the path ahead feels clear: adaptation is the key to the changes coming. I feel both proud and challenged.
Talking with distributors around the world has been deeply motivating, but also demanding.
The proud side
- It is now obvious that straps are no longer a “small accessory”.
- Players care about comfort, style, identity, sustainability, and quality.
- A good strap is part of the instrument experience, not an afterthought.
The challenging side
- The market now expects a higher level of professionalism from brands.
- Content, pricing discipline, and logistics matter more than ever.
- Distributors need speed, reliability, and clarity – not just “newness”.
I feel the responsibility of keeping our brand consistent while the world around it keeps evolving.
What I expect next: fewer shortcuts, more partnership
I believe the next phase of the guitar industry will reward brands that behave like long‑term partners.
- Data‑driven guidance (what sells where, and why).
- Smarter range building (not just more product).
- Predictable availability (fewer gaps, fewer surprises).
- Margin protection (avoiding the “discount trap”).
- Storytelling that actually helps sell, not just “looks cool”.
In many markets, I see distributors who want brands to share the burden: not only “here’s the product”, but also “here’s how we win with it”.
Changes I’m preparing for as a manufacturer
This is how I’m thinking about adaptation after NAMM 2026:
1. Make best‑sellers impossible to miss
Core items must always be in stock, easy to reorder, and presented with total clarity.
2. Treat product information like product
Photos, naming, descriptions, and use cases are no longer “marketing extras”. They are sales infrastructure.
3. Build regional assortments
A global catalog is fine, but buying decisions are local. I need to recommend the right mix for each market, not simply export the same list everywhere.
4. Support shops with tools, not just boxes
Better merchandising, training materials, simple “top 10” structures, and clear category mapping that makes selling easier.
5. Keep innovation focused
Innovation has to be meaningful: real comfort upgrades, material storytelling, artist relevance, and coherent color logic – not innovation for its own sake.
Where I am optimistic
I am optimistic because music is resilient and deeply personal. When the world feels unstable, people still play.
They keep buying gear that helps them feel connected to who they are. I also see a growing appetite for:
- Authenticity over empty hype.
- Products that feel “built to last”.
- Brands with a clear point of view.
- Items that are expressive yet practical.
A strap is a functional product, but it is also identity. That combination is powerful.
Final thought: permanence through adaptation
After NAMM 2026, I don’t think the future belongs to the biggest catalog or the loudest product launch.
I believe it belongs to the brands and partners who build stability through smart adaptation.
My expectation is a market that asks us to be clearer, faster, and more human. And honestly, after speaking with distributors around the globe, I feel ready for that.
