I've been letting this run in my head, & I think I see part of the problem in getting word out about how great Washburn instruments are:
diversity.
If I were to win Powerball & be able to be (IMO) a
proper Washburn dealer, I'd open three shops:
- solidbody electrics, heavily into everything Nuno for starters
- acoustics
- basses
Too many stores' websites proudly splash huge corporate logos all over the place... then you walk into the shop & find they don't actually STOCK even a single example of half those. "Oh -- but we can ORDER it for you!!" just does NOT cut the mustard. When someone walks in the door who looks like a credible customer, especially a first-timer, I tend to chat 'em up for two minutes, drag 'em over to a display, & proudly say "You really gotta try THIS." Bam -- emotional buy-in. Most won't buy right then-&-there, of course, but they're impressed that I have THEM in mind, & this greatly improves the chances of a near-future sale... something that ain't gonna happen by flipping through a catalog.
{No, I've not yet opened my own store, but there are at least five shops who've made the joke that I should be getting a commission, because I often know the stock better than their clerks.

I love guitars, & I support my fave dealers.}
First impressions are SERIOUS business. If a metalhead looks through the door & sees racks of lovely acoustics, he might never enter; conversely, if the front is clogged with flashy shred-machines, this could be chasing the country players away. If they're all mixed together, then
everyone gets the impression the store doesn't give a damn about
anyone.
And that's kinda where Washburn is.