When Pat Baron, the Tiki King, began his business, it was during a bad economy. Five years ago, people could not resist asking him, “Do you really think you can make it selling Ukuleles?”
At the time that the Tiki King’s Ukuleles of Felton was being formed, discretionary income was not plentiful for many people. The question that could have been asked might have been, “Pat do you really think people will choose buying a ukulele instead of spending their money at the grocery store?”
Indeed, Baron did observe that all around him other stores opened and then closed their doors because they were unable to make a profit in such a slow economy as existed then. In five years, the economy has picked up a little bit, but one thing that has not changed is that people are still asking Baron valid questions about his business.
Now people ask questions like these: “Do you have a ukulele that would be good for me?” “Do you give lessons?” and, “Did you really do a custom ukulele for Bette Midler?” Baron just smiles and says, “Yes.”
In the five years since the Tiki King’s Ukuleles’ doors opened, Baron says that “Ukulele interest has grown exponentially. Not only are more people than ever picking up the diminutive instrument as their first musical foray, but established professionals are also adding the ukulele to their act.” Recently he was able to help out the local elementary schools by providing ukuleles at a big savings for their new music programs.
Tiki King’s Ukuleles is one of the only shops that offers the service of ukulele fittings. That matches potential players with the right instrument resulting in happier players, and repeat customers.
“It’s been wild seeing who comes into the shop,” says Baron, “you never know. One day a woman came in and was telling me about her son who fell in love with the ukulele in Hawaii, and was now releasing an album. Turned out her son is Pearl Jam’s front man, Eddie Vedder.”
The shop walls are covered in pictures (most of them autographed) of popular ukulele players such as James Hill (www.ukulelejames.com), the above-mentioned Ms. Midler, Cyndi Lauper, and many others.
There is even one of George Harrison playing a Martin tenor ukulele. “People always ask me, ‘did he (George) really play the ukulele?’ and I tell them ‘yeah, he was a total Uke nut. He carried several with him when traveling, in case people wanted to jam with him.’”
Even though the economy is still tough, Baron says the shop is keeping its head above water. “I have been told that it was the ukulele that got Martin Guitars through the depression. People are having a tough time, and the ukulele makes them happy, it’s an escape.”
Baron said, “Some people come in just out of curiosity to see if we really are a ukulele store. Some of them don’t even play. But they get this big smile looking at all the neat stuff we have. One group came in saying that since they couldn’t go to Hawaii; this was the next best thing. It has been an amazing ride.”
The shop has more than just ukuleles; it also has handmade jewelry, purses, aloha shirts, original art by Tiki King, and more. “The focus is ukuleles and Tiki theme stuff, but we also like to be a little eclectic. You will always find lots of neat stuff at Ukuleles of Felton that you can’t get anywhere else.”
The five-year anniversary party will feature light refreshments — while supplies last — at 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., on Friday Nov. 27th.
Tiki King’s Ukuleles of Felton is located at 6235 Highway 9, Suite B, in Felton.
For more information: www.ukulelesoffelton.com
