October 25, 2023 I Award
Elderly Instruments Named America’s Top Small Business
Center: Elderly Instruments' Lillian Werbin and Stan Werbin at the America’s Top Small Business reception on Oct. 19.
Out of a record-breaking field of 15,000-plus applicants hailing from every state in the nation, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has named Elderly Instruments in Lansing, Michigan, America’s Top Small Business for 2023.
After narrowing the field down to the top 70 small businesses, and then naming seven finalists earlier this month, Elderly Instruments won the Chamber’s America’s Top Small Business award for its ability to embrace change, adapt to new challenges and constantly innovate, while remaining true to the company’s 50-year legacy and heritage.
“America’s innovators and risk takers are the backbone of our communities and our economy,” said Suzanne P. Clark, U.S. Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. “As we celebrate Elderly Instruments — a beacon of excellence in the music retail world and beloved in Old Town Lansing — we celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses across America. Their growth and continued success are built on a commitment to innovation, customer satisfaction, and investing in their employees.”
Elderly Instruments, a member of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, was announced as the winner at an awards dinner and gala on October 19 at the U.S. Chamber’s historic headquarters building in Washington, D.C. Elderly Instruments second-generation CEO Lillian Werbin was presented with the grand prize check for $25,000.
Established in 1972, Elderly Instruments buys, sells, trades, consigns and repairs fretted instruments and accessories and was featured on Music Inc. magazine’s December 2022 cover.
The store played a vital role in the revitalization of the Old Town Lansing neighborhood when it expanded its brick-and-mortar footprint, breathing new life into the district. Elderly sponsors and participates in numerous community music festivals, camps and concerts that add to the vibrancy of Old Town Lansing and increase tourism to the state’s capital.
Elderly Instruments has more than 40 employees and recently implemented new, employee-driven core values to serve as the cornerstone of the company’s culture.
