You're lucky, you still have independent dealers. In the US, many mom & pops have folded, partly due to GC's supposed selection and pricing, partly in the last few years due to the economy. GC and Sam Ash are almost all that's left in the big cities. If GC goes out, that makes it really tough on musicians who need to get strings or heads or sticks or whetever for their gig tonight or tomorrow; they don't always have the luxury of ordering those consumables.
In L.A. for example, until 2 or 3 years ago, there were drum shops and independent full-line stores with good drum departments. Obviously it was better 10 and 20 and 30 years ago, but still very workable for musicians, and Guitar Center was basically just another dealer, not the giant that they ended up becoming..
But now, a number of those music stores and drum shops have closed. Save for GC and Sam Ash, there are just a few places for drummers to go: Pro Dtrum, Chad Sexton's (mostly consumables and special orders) and possibly Alva's, a music store tucked away on a cute little street hidden within in a neighboirhood in San Pedro. If GC goes, and there's not a Sam Ash nearby, the alternatives are very slim. And that's in Los Angeles, where more than a few people still make music!
One other consideration if GC should fold - there are several manufacturers who depend heavily on them for their business, and would be in real trouble if thoase sales went away (not to mention the probability that they'll take a loss on payments that they're due.) You may think DW is huge, but if GC fails, it will be crippling. I don't imagine DW would go out of business, but the loss of GC is gonna be a big blow to sales. It could completely devastate others, and some brands would be relegated to direct sales, assuming they can make that conversion fast enough.
It will be interesting indeed.
Bermuda