Flight Dealer of the Month: Uke Supply

From a chance purchase on the North Shore of Oahu to one of Europe’s leading dedicated ukulele retailers, Uke Supply has built its reputation on passion, expertise, and a genuine love for the ukulele community. Founded by Maria and Jens, the German-based store has become known for its carefully curated selection, meticulous quality control, and personal approach to customer service. We caught up with them to learn how Uke Supply came to life, what makes their shop unique, and why Flight has remained an important part of their journey from the very beginning.

Can you tell us a bit about your store and how it all started?

Jens: We’re Uke Supply, an online shop specializing in all things ‘ukulele. Everything started back in 2013 when we were strolling through Haleiwa, a small town on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawai’i. Maria was set on finding a ‘ukulele to take home — not a touristy souvenir, but a real instrument with that genuine vibe of the ocean, beach, and most importantly the Aloha spirit. While she was still contemplating, I had already bought my first uke. I spent the rest of the trip teaching myself to play with the help of YouTube videos, ukulele always in hand on top of the volcano, in the evening on the lanai and on trips over endless lava fields. Three more trips to Hawai’i and many ukuleles later, our love story with the ‘ukulele turned into Uke Supply, which we officially launched in 2019 with the mission to bring beautiful ‘ukuleles and more Aloha Spirit to Germany and Europe.

What inspired you to open a music store, and why focus on ukuleles?

Maria: To be honest, we kind of stumbled into it. It was never a calculated business decision but grew organically out of an adventurous idea, fortunate timing, and pure passion for the instrument. After falling head over heels for the ukulele in Hawai’i, we kept expanding our collection but found it hard to get our hands on the models we were looking for. There were lots of brands that interested me but a lack of specialized stores that carried them. When the opportunity opened up to start our own online store, it just felt natural to share our enthusiasm for the ukulele and Hawai’i with others.

What makes your store unique compared to others?

Maria: We aim to set us apart on several levels: true dedication to the ukulele, a broad range of models for all needs and budgets, quality control, and a genuine human touch throughout.
Jens: Every single ukulele goes through a thorough quality check when it arrives at our warehouse – we inspect for cosmetic issues, assess playability and intonation, and adjust the setup – string action in particular – so the instrument plays well right out of the box. For many models, we take individual photos, so buyers get exactly the ukulele they fell in love with.
Personal service is a cornerstone of what we do – we’re reachable by chat, email, phone, and by appointment in person at our showroom. Our blog is a much-used resource, covering tone wood science, string guides, ukulele history, and festival reports.
Maria: We want to create an enjoyable shopping experience and connect with customers on a human level. That’s why we add personal notes and stickers to all our orders – as a token of gratitude and reminder that beyond the transaction there’s a human connection.

How would you describe your local music community?

Maria: The German-speaking ukulele community is enthusiastic, warm, and curious, even though we Germans tend to be perfectionists and struggle with allowing ourselves to just have fun and let go. That’s where the Aloha spirit comes in for us. This idea of kindness and love holds space for imperfection and being gentle to oneself. It’s about experiencing happiness in making music without having to fully master the instrument. A couple of chords are plenty; anything beyond that is optional. In our experience, that’s what draws so many to the ukulele: it’s easily accessible. We’re incredibly proud to have been part of this lovely community since 2019, and we’re happy to see it’s still growing – not only in Germany but all across Europe really.

What role do ukuleles play in your store today?

Jens: The ukulele is everything — it’s the heart and soul of Uke Supply. We offer one of the largest and most curated selections of ukuleles in the German-speaking market, spanning entry-level instruments all the way up to premium Hawaiian-made models from brands like Kamaka and Kanile’a. Our range covers all shapes and sizes, even short scale ukuleles, short scale basses, and E-ukuleles of course. Beyond that we carry an extensive selection of strings, tuners, straps, cases, books, care products, and some helpful gadgets — basically everything a ukulele player could need.

Why did you decide to carry Flight Ukuleles?

Jens: Flight was among the first brands we stocked. We went to a big international music show in Frankfurt with this mad idea launching a ‘ukulele online store and freshly printed business cards. We had heard of Flight of course and were excited to find the booth of their German distributor there. We were nerve-wracked and so happy, when they agreed to list us as dealer. Flight is an awesome brand to carry, with a unique approach to both the instrument and community, continuously introducing innovative models with beautiful designs and great sound, supporting rising talents, and collaborating with international ukulele artists and teachers. We very much relate to their philosophy and appreciate that Flight has awesome models for basically every level — from accessible beginner models to sophisticated fully solid instruments. With nearly 100 Flight models available in our shop, it’s one of the most important brands in our lineup.

Do you have a favorite Flight model or one that your customers especially love?

Jens: The Flight Aviator series has been a consistent customer favorite, praised for its striking looks, solid construction, and expressive sound be it as concert, tenor, and baritone. The Aviator Galaxy models, with their stunning quilt maple tops, generated a lot of excitement and we were lucky enough to get our hands on the stunningly beautiful, limited Aviator Spruce models. Players looking for something more advanced enjoy the Flight Fireball and steel string ukuleles for their beautiful tone woods and sophisticated construction.

Can you share a memorable moment or story from your store?

Maria: One of our proudest moments was receiving The Ukie Award for Best Retail in November 2025 – and what made it especially meaningful was the reason. The award recognized our close relationships with artists and our initiatives to support them. As mentioned before, to us Uke Supply goes beyond selling instruments, it’s about community and connecting to the people who play, the incredibly talented musicians, who inspire others, and the connections that grow from shared love of the ukulele. Being recognized for nurturing those relationships felt like a true reflection of everything we’ve tried to build with Uke Supply.

Do you host events, workshops, or community activities? If so, tell us about them.

Jens: We actively participate in the ukulele community and make a point of attending local and international ukulele festivals and meetups, both as guests and with a booth, if possible. It’s always fun to meet our customers in person and especially international festivals like Monopolele in Italy can feel like a class reunion. Also, even though we’re primarily an online shop, customers are always welcome to book an in-person appointment at our little showroom to try ukuleles hands-on. It creates a more personal experience and is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to play before they buy.

What are you most proud of when it comes to your shop, and what’s next for you?

Jens: What we’re most proud of is having built a trusted, personal point of contact for the ukulele community in Germany and beyond — a place where people feel genuinely helped, not just sold to. The quality check on every instrument, the detailed product photography, the responsive customer service, and the depth of our blog all reflect that commitment. The Ukie Award for Best Retail 2025 was a beautiful reminder that this approach resonates.
Maria: Looking ahead, our goal remains the same: to keep growing the community of ukulele players in Europe, deepen our selection of exciting brands and models, and continue to making the world a happier place — one ukulele at a time.