Global Research is Instrumental for Guitar Manufacturer

Model DC Canton Custom Guitar is a custom six-string guitar

Canton Custom Instruments, based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a producer and designer of custom six, seven, and eight-string guitars, and four, five, and six-string bass guitars. Canton received a worldwide RAISE research project on trends in the musical instruments market from the Rural Export Center in January 2022. RAISE is an in-depth market research service provided through the U.S. Commercial Service (CS). Canton Custom Instruments received a customized Potential Partner List, which provides them with credible potential partners in two countries of their choosing. The Potential Partner List service included: 1) A Potential Partner list of 37 potential importers/dealers of guitars in two countries, 2) feedback from in-country CS offices on the identification of potential buyers/partners/distributors, 3) a list of relevant trade shows, and 4) recommendations for the best next steps and potential action items.

“It has been a great business move for me to be able to work with RAISE,” said Rick Canton, Owner of Canton Custom Instruments. “I choose two key countries to do research on and to generate potential business contacts. What RAISE did was nothing short of amazing. My business is now set up to expand into many sections of the two countries which could create a solid customer base for years to come. I am very grateful to have been able to work with RAISE & I look forward to working on more projects with RAISE in the near future.”

U.S. Commercial Service partnered with the New Mexico Economic Development Department’s Office of International Trade to provide a grant for Canton Custom Instruments through the Small Business Administration (SBA) STEP Grant. The Rural Export Center has worked with 7 New Mexico companies since 2020 and will continue to work closely with Indalecio Vallejos, the Office Director for the U.S. Commercial Service (CS) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The New Mexico CS office had been vacant for more than a decade, so having a full-time Office Director will expand the scope and breadth of services to NM companies, including the kind of comprehensive market research services offered by the Rural Export Center.