Record Shops RIP ...................................
- Thread starter dss
- Start date
duncan
...
The English National Opera shop is now Notes Music and Coffee.
This isn't too bad an outcome, the musical selection is not quite as good and biased towards budget CDs but the coffee is infinitely better.
This isn't too bad an outcome, the musical selection is not quite as good and biased towards budget CDs but the coffee is infinitely better.
dsg
Formerly bearded
This weekend I went to ClassicLPs in Malvern, Worcs. On an industrial estate, next to a railway line in the sleepy old-fashioned town that is Malvern is a warehouse full of thousands of new and secondhand LPs and CDs. There was music of all types. I met Chris Heard, the owner, who was very friendly, and we had a chat. It was great; a bit indie and underground which seemed appropriate for the type of music I like and infinitely preferable to the shiny vacuousness of HMV and the like. They sell a lot online I think but occasionally open the warehouse at weekends. The future?
Damian
Damian
andrew d
pfm Member
Radio 4 had a business article today mourning the decline of HMV. One analyst reckoned that there was space on the High Street for Record Shops. He said that the book and music retailers were both fighting a similar battle against online sales but the book retailers had somehow adapted to being browsing/coffee drinking experiences and therefore hadn't completely disappeared. He reckoned that there was scope for High Street music retailing if shops could offer something that an online business couldn't.
Rough Trade have the right idea, nice caff, descriptive info on most releases, internet access and free in store gigs a few times a week. By restricting access to these gigs to people who have purchased the groups record in store they guarantee a couple hundred sales.
Rough Trade have the right idea, nice caff, descriptive info on most releases, internet access and free in store gigs a few times a week. By restricting access to these gigs to people who have purchased the groups record in store they guarantee a couple hundred sales.
I heard that as well is it.
They were right, HMV's failure is one of retail offering - why go in there, when you can get exactly the same game from Game, console from Consoles'R'Us and Headphones from Just Headphones, and the Internets.
I remember when HMV sold records, and a variety of them there.
DS
They were right, HMV's failure is one of retail offering - why go in there, when you can get exactly the same game from Game, console from Consoles'R'Us and Headphones from Just Headphones, and the Internets.
I remember when HMV sold records, and a variety of them there.
DS
Theo
pfm Member
I believe there are workable models for record shops. It always surprises me that large concert venues don't have dedicated facilities to sell music/books/t shirts etc: if you see how much band-related merchandise gets sold before/after a gig, why not expand that offer? You've got a captive audience pre- and post-concert.
Also, record shops on the High St need to be entertainment venues (Rough Trade is a good example - why not more?). Why not plan joint ventures with cafe/bar brands? Past record shops have tried it but always in a half-hearted manner: sometimes you need to work with established brands to provide you with food & beverages. For instance, I'd love to see a record shop with a Yo-Sushi licenced restaurant, open until late to allow for a small-scale concert venue. Yes, there are change of use issues with some High St properties, but having the ability to browse for music, listen, download, have lunch, meet friends for a drink, see a gig - in one location - has some appeal.
Also, record shops on the High St need to be entertainment venues (Rough Trade is a good example - why not more?). Why not plan joint ventures with cafe/bar brands? Past record shops have tried it but always in a half-hearted manner: sometimes you need to work with established brands to provide you with food & beverages. For instance, I'd love to see a record shop with a Yo-Sushi licenced restaurant, open until late to allow for a small-scale concert venue. Yes, there are change of use issues with some High St properties, but having the ability to browse for music, listen, download, have lunch, meet friends for a drink, see a gig - in one location - has some appeal.
dsg
Formerly bearded
Rough Trade is brilliant but hardly a "High Street" record shop. They sell a selection of music most of which the average punter will have never heard of. As I understand it, specialist record shops (and book shops) are doing relatively well by supplying those of us (most PFMers I suspect) who love music and are prepared to buy it. Mainstream record shops like HMV did all right when there was nowhere else to buy music. The big HMVs, like the ones in Oxford Street were good because they were so big they had the space to sell a huge range, including the weird and wonderful. But I would imagine they made most of their money from selling truckloads of chart stuff, which most people now download legally or illegally; or copy from friends.
I can't see mainstream record shops surviving because I don't think most people are prepared to pay enough money for music. Most people I know see music as a commodity and don't value it enough to pay a decent price for it. However, I think small specialist record shops will continue to do well, if they are good at what they do.
The funny thing is, people will pay enormous sums to see their favourite artists play live; concert tickets are underpriced leading to a secondary market at vastly inflated prices. Generally the smallish indie gigs I go to (or used to go to!) have a record stall which does pretty well, as far as I can tell.
Damian
I can't see mainstream record shops surviving because I don't think most people are prepared to pay enough money for music. Most people I know see music as a commodity and don't value it enough to pay a decent price for it. However, I think small specialist record shops will continue to do well, if they are good at what they do.
The funny thing is, people will pay enormous sums to see their favourite artists play live; concert tickets are underpriced leading to a secondary market at vastly inflated prices. Generally the smallish indie gigs I go to (or used to go to!) have a record stall which does pretty well, as far as I can tell.
Damian
The reason why gig venues don't sell more stuff is down to their downright greedy attitude of taking 25% of all incomes for providing the space (and not generally the staff).
So when you buy your shirt at the show 25% of the price goes straight to the venue who take no risk, invest nothing in stocks and reap a very rich reward.
No wonder bands don't want to expand this business model!
So when you buy your shirt at the show 25% of the price goes straight to the venue who take no risk, invest nothing in stocks and reap a very rich reward.
No wonder bands don't want to expand this business model!
wylton
Naim and Mana member
I went to Rockbox records in Camberley, Surrey yesterday; its a bit of a trek for me, because its 39 miles away from where I live. Its quite a small shop, but it does have quite a lot of new and used Vinyl. I was a little disappointed that they didnt have more new releases on vinyl TBH. They tend to have replica copies of the sleeves on show in the browsers, with the actual record being a sealed copy behind the counter which is quite a good idea.
I came away with:
Jimi Hendrix Axis bold as love (The authorised Henrix family edition)
Jimi Hendrix are you experienced (The authorised Henrix family edition)
Stereolab Not music
Gene Vincent A record date with the Blue Caps
I also picked up a handful of CD promos.
There arent any record shops locally to me apart from HMV, and Head in Bromley (neither of whom selll vinyl). Criminal records in Tunbridge was quite good the last time that I visited, and the shops in London are only a train ride away; I havent looked in at the Rough Trade shop in Brick Lane yet. HMV oxford Street used to be good, but theyve ruined that now; there are several good record shops in the vicinity though.
Any other suggestions in NW Kent / Surrey area?
It seems that there a quite a lot of shops specialising in used vinyl, but not many selling new releases.
I came away with:
Jimi Hendrix Axis bold as love (The authorised Henrix family edition)
Jimi Hendrix are you experienced (The authorised Henrix family edition)
Stereolab Not music
Gene Vincent A record date with the Blue Caps
I also picked up a handful of CD promos.
There arent any record shops locally to me apart from HMV, and Head in Bromley (neither of whom selll vinyl). Criminal records in Tunbridge was quite good the last time that I visited, and the shops in London are only a train ride away; I havent looked in at the Rough Trade shop in Brick Lane yet. HMV oxford Street used to be good, but theyve ruined that now; there are several good record shops in the vicinity though.
Any other suggestions in NW Kent / Surrey area?
It seems that there a quite a lot of shops specialising in used vinyl, but not many selling new releases.
Report from That London
Nudge Records in Hanbury St, near RTE has gone, replaced by another trendy boutique is it. They were good for reggae & dub and general second hand stuff, I have shopped there a few times.
But the others in East Finchley, Camden & Islington were all going strong there.
DS
Nudge Records in Hanbury St, near RTE has gone, replaced by another trendy boutique is it. They were good for reggae & dub and general second hand stuff, I have shopped there a few times.
But the others in East Finchley, Camden & Islington were all going strong there.
DS
Report from Frome
Raves from The Grave have condensed from 1x vinyl and 1x CD shops in Cheap Street to just the 1 x CD shop with few crates of v. Poor charity shop style vinyl is it.
But good news, they have relocated to a new shop in Warminster. Two floors of vinyl and CD instead of three, but still a good amount of stock being sorted out. I left full hearted.
DS
Raves from The Grave have condensed from 1x vinyl and 1x CD shops in Cheap Street to just the 1 x CD shop with few crates of v. Poor charity shop style vinyl is it.
But good news, they have relocated to a new shop in Warminster. Two floors of vinyl and CD instead of three, but still a good amount of stock being sorted out. I left full hearted.
DS
onlyconnect
pfm Member
I don't fully agree. It must be significant that the function of a CD is pretty much replaced by the downloadable equivalent whereas the book is more distinctive; and I think if the Kindle/iBook/whatever market continues to grow, bookshops have worse times ahead.
Both types of shops have Amazon to worry about. Amazon has stock in depth, reviews, and generally lower prices (sometimes by a big margin).
Tim
RickyC6
Infuriate the frog-men
Perhaps we need an anti-RIP ' New' Record Shops Thread?
Is there still that Discovery Records there in Hull?
I got a good haul of Brotherhood of Structure records there, but he did want £15 for each single is it.
Managed to leave before he showed me his Kiss memorabilia selection.
DS
Is there still that Discovery Records there in Hull?
I got a good haul of Brotherhood of Structure records there, but he did want £15 for each single is it.
Managed to leave before he showed me his Kiss memorabilia selection.
DS
Jonathan Ribee
Unavailable at present
New? It's been there a couple of years I think. Although the last time I went in was with that sideshowbob and that anex - which must have been over a year ago, so maybe it closed and reopened?
RickyC6
Infuriate the frog-men
Are you mixing this up with Off Beat? Which may or may not have been on the same site. I might have a chance to pop down next Friday so will clarify then. I will def be there on 16/4, Record Store Day in the morning, Tigers thrash Donny in the afternoon. Decent day oh yeah.
