If you're keen to see us and other independent records shops thrive in your towns and cities, we need your support.
Here are the 10 best things you can do to keep us alive:
1) Support us all year, not just on Record Store Day
Record Store Day is cool and if you came and supported us this RSD, thank you so so much. But RSD is just one step along a slippery path we travel every year called Staying Alive. Believe us when we say owning a record shop is an occupation done for the love of it, not the money. Every day is a hustle. The reality is that we need to see more of those faces in those big spaces either side of RSD. "Little and often" throughout the year is actually far more sustainable. A record here, a record there - they all help keep the ship steady. We cover all bases - brand new music, big back catalogue titles, quality used vinyl - and we have new stock every single week, so there is always a good reason to pay a visit.
While record shops are doing better than 20 years ago, figures show that a massive 88% of the money spent on music in 2024 was on streaming services, which means only 12% on physical media, of which around 8% is reported to be on vinyl. 2024 also reported that there were now more record shops open than 10 years ago and, while in a lovely whimsical way that's brilliant, there are more shops than ever vying for their piece of that 8-12%
2) Support independent
By independent we mean buy from us, obviously! No but seriously we are a proper, fiercely independent shop. So self-effacing and encrusted with punk spirit are we in fact that we're almost too independent for own good sometimes. But if for some reason you can't buy from us, buy from another independent. The take-home message here is to just throw your two fingers at Amazon. They don't need your money and probably hate you. Indie shops love you. And need you. Every extra sale an indie gets can make a big difference.
A 2024 article reported that the UK lost 37 shops every day on its High Streets, which is a huge increase of 28% from the previous year. Sure, we all know of shops that were doomed from the start but these figures still make for bleak reading and that statistic isn't getting better without the support of consumers. Buy independent. Even if it costs a couple of quid more, consider where that little bit extra is going. It's the small margins that keep independent retail alive.
4) Resist shiny "Exclusives"
Small record shops are dealing more than ever with the problem of variant overload. The exploitation of so-called “exclusive” editions is out of control. Label exclusives, band site exclusives, Amazon exclusives, clothing brand exclusives, record shop collective exclusives, Spotify Fans First editions (do me a favour!), various subscription provider exclusives - we could go on. All of this exclusivity is designed to tickle that part of your brain that makes you throw your digital 1s and 0s at the computer screen without delay. All the while distracting consumers from simply doing the very normal and how-we-used-to-do-it thing of popping to your local record shop and picking up a copy because, you know, you like the band or whatever. Sadly too, almost all of these exclusive type options are online only which only pounds physical retail again while they're down.
One recent release we stocked had 14 different variants available in its very first week of release. While some with a real collector mentality may argue this is simply a problem of choice, it would be inarguable to suggest this variant overload is having no impact on sales in physical record shops - we see it every week.
These types of editions are of course only able to be had from the particular outlet that carries the exclusivity on it and not available to places that actually sell records for a living. Every time someone buys these variants then, that’s another sale an indie shop like us isn’t getting, which is a far bigger problem than most people might realise. To help level the playing field, record labels try to put out an "Indie Exclusive" variant. If you see a record marked as such, you can be sure that this variant is going some way to helping an indie record shop.
5) Buy new music
Fact: They didn’t stop making music in the 90s. We promise you that's true, despite the fact a pretty big contingent of dudes swear that music "isn't as good as it used to be." We spend the lion’s share of our time on this planet devoted to buying-in new music to sell. For us there are few pleasures quite like playing brand new albums in-store and having customers walk away with a copy having been blown away by the new noises coming from the speakers. And what better feeling as a consumer than walking into a record shop and plucking out of the racks a big physical LP copy of a brand new album you've been dying to hear.
We love used records and we love back cat classics. But new music is our bread, our butter, and our passion. It's where we spend so much time, energy and money. Being a second-hand-only shop would be so much easier for us and, get this, we'd be better off for it. But, for us, record shops have always been a hub for new bands and artists and today ought to be no different just because we're swimming against the tide a bit. Throw us a line, man!
Every single week there is brand new music out in the world. Check it out. If you feel like you don't know where to find it, we're always talking new music on social media (Facebook / Instagram) so that's a great place to start. It's also always worth spooling the New Releases and Pre-Orders sections of our website for inspiration.
6) Take A Chance
Streaming has made us lazy. And tight-fisted. We used to hear one lead single and buy the album. That's how it was done, kids. We might've loved it, we might've been disappointed by it, we might've thought it was just okay. But it didn't matter, it was another into the collection and the artist has been able to earn a living. Now, we listen to it on Spotify and decide whether we like it enough to pay for it or just listen to it for free.
Streaming has corrupted us into thinking music is quick, easy and disposable. It has convinced us that £25 for a brand new album is outrageous. Because "you can have it all for £10 a month." When all the music in the world costs you £10 a month, somebody else is paying for it and in this case, it’s the artists themselves who pay the heaviest price.
When you stream a track on Spotify, Spotify pays that artist an estimated £0.0031 - that's roughly 366,00 streams of that one track for that artist to make minimum wage.
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek apparently earns a salary of £228,593,824 a year. However you feel about buying or owning physical media, we can surely all agree that this is insane. So, you listened to an album and it was okay but didn't blow your socks off. Evidence shows that spending money on a record leads to prolonged listening and a higher chance of liking it, instead of the disposable verdicts we give through free streaming. Worst case #1: You didn't love the album but, hey, you supported the artist, the label, the record shop and everyone else in the chain. Worst case #2: You bring it back and trade it in!
7) Pre-Order records
So you're listening to lots of new music now and you want to buy the records but, horror, the album isn't out yet! "How can I support you when I can't buy the album yet?!" Enter our good friend, the pre-order. Pre-orders form a much larger chunk of a record shop's survival than many people might realise. These types of advanced orders provide a stream of revenue that helps us to continue ordering in fresh stock and during periods where the shop is quieter, pre-orders can keep things ticking over. Pre-orders are also crucial in helping ensure we order the necessary stock volumes for the shop. Finally, pre-orders are the best way for you to secure limited edition or low-quantity releases. When you pay for a pre-order, it also feels like a freebie record when it arrives a few weeks later and you've long forgotten that you paid for it already, which is a nice bonus.
BUT, if you don't want to be out of pocket for something that doesn't come out for a while, that's absolutely fine too and, what is more, you needn't be. If you pre-order an item at our shop counter instead of online via our website, you won't need to pay a penny until the item comes in for you. All the same reservation benefits but without any outlay. Winner winner. Again, by doing this it helps us gauge demand for a release which is super helpful when it comes to making sure we get the right quantities in. Nothing kills a weekend in a record shop quite like a significant under-order of a popular title so, if you're fairly sure you're going to want a copy of that new releases, it's always worth letting us know (even if you decide to cancel it at a later date.)
8) Buy used records
While some record shops will stock one or the other, many independent record shops, including ours, will stock both new records and used records. The split is different in all cases but for us it's around 70% new and 30% used.
We said earlier that new music is our bread and indeed our butter, but that isn't to say we don't love the used stuff. High-quality, well-curated used stock is a fantastic addition to any record shop. Don't be put off by anything that isn't vacuum sealed or fresh out the factory - some used records are the best things you'll ever stick a needle to and, in any case, any record shop worth its salt will have appropriately cleaned and graded all used stock.
Used records are great because we turn over so much stock and that keeps revenue ticking. During those occasional barren new music spells, the used stock becomes the breadwinner. They also generally offer a higher margin for record shops, which means every time you buy a few used records there is a little bit extra going into the shop. Every penny into the coffers means more fresh stock, shop improvements, and a long-term future. And though there are of course big-ticket prices on some rare used vinyl, on the whole used records can come at really affordable prices, so you can pick up quite a lot for not a huge amount of money. Everybody wins.
9) Contact us - we're right here...
Our e-mail address is lee@recordculture.com
There you are. Put it somewhere memorable and send a message to it every time you want to buy a record or ask about a record. Seriously, it's that simple. We also have a pretty good webstore too at recordculture.com where you may be able to bag it right there without even speaking to us. When that back catalogue classic from 1994 pops into your head and you think I wonder if that has been repressed on vinyl, resist that instinctive urge to jump onto Amazon. Drop us an e-mail, or Contact Us via our website and ask if we can get it for you and at what price. We're usually pretty quick at replying too. Amazon has very cleverly convinced you that they are the cheapest for everything. They aren't. We have demonstrated time and again over the years that we often get records in for customers at a better price and are fighting against this myth one day at a time.
Here's a thing. Be it Amazon, HMV or any independent record shop, all of us get our records from the same suppliers. When you order from Amazon, in all likelihood all they are doing is then placing an order with the same supplier(s) we use to fulfill your order. With that being the case, why not let us sort you out instead? In doing so you're helping to keep independent retail alive.
We know people have moved and don't really like to talk to anyone anymore but, honestly, we're good people. Strike up a relationship with us and before you know it it'll be just like ordering records from your best pal/therapist.
10) Share us
Don't keep us your dirty little secret! If you like what we do and how we do it, tell people. Follow us on social media (Facebook and Insta) and share our stuff, tell your friends and educate and/or bore them to death with all of the points we have raised until they agree with you. Wear our merch and flash our bags around. Leave us complimentary reviews on the Internet.
Leaving us a nice Google review is as quick as hitting this link: Leave A Review
Did you know that over 60% of consumers are likely to check Google reviews before visiting a business? We all do it, right? That's why it's super important to leave reviews when you've had a good experience with an independent retailer (and not just when when you need a bit of a grumble). Online reviews aren't always the be all and end all and we always prefer people to form their own opinions on how we do things, but the reality is that online reviews are crucial for an indie retailer.
If you dig what we and other independent shops do, tell the world.
The last word...
Record Store Day has its place and while in the opinion of us and others it needs some changes, it's here to stay. In any event, for the majority of record shops it is the day-to-day hustle either side of RSD that actually keeps them alive. Support us - and others- as often as you can and, remember, Every Day Is Record Store Yay!