16 MusicWeek 17.08.12 RETAIL
www.musicweek.com
ROUGH PEEL MUSIC
Give us a brief history of the store… Rough Peel Music opened one year ago on September 3, 2011, in Wellington, New Zealand, bucking the trend of independent stores closing. I used to own another store, Real Groovy, in Christchurch until the earthquake of February 2011. The shop was damaged in the first earthquake of September 2010 and I made the decision to carry on. I opened again in October 2010
in the new store but that shop, along with a large part of Christchurch, was badly damaged in the February quake. I had to close permanently and after months of uncertainty decided to give it another go in a new city under a new name. So Rough Peel Music was born one year on from the first shake!
How are independent retailers doing in New Zealand? Independent stores are facing hard times. We have to really look at what it is we do, change with
the times and adapt to make sure we are here for years to come. I have started a record label as well as the shop, Rough Peel Records, which is cross-branded. Our first release from The Eastern has gotten into the New Zealand charts and has actually been pretty well received.
How can retailers combat the rise of digital downloads and tough times at the moment? My view on downloads is to accept that they are now a part of life and to just get on with what we are doing. We like to think we have a point of difference that brings people into our shop. We have enthusiastic staff who are here because they love music and we provide a service that you don’t get on the internet. Face-to-face interactions make
coming to a store an enjoyable experience. We have a strong focus on vinyl here, both new and second hand. This is doing really well and accounts for as much as 40% of our sales.
INTERNET VS HUMAN
140 Vivian Street Wellington, New Zealand, 6011 t +04 803 3726
wroughpeel.co.nz
Managing director: Paul Huggins
“The majors should really be focusing on independent retailers... If this attitude doesn’t change, eventually you’ll have to go to supermarkets and petrol stations for music” PAUL HUGGINS, ROUGH PEEL
Do you participate in Record Store Day at all? We do participate and celebrate Record Store Day. It went really well for us this year. We had three bands play live in store and DJs throughout the day. It was well supported. The only downside of it was that, since we are New Zealand-based, it was hard to get the RSD releases on the day.
Some of the local suppliers did well to get some of the releases but missed out on many.
Is there anything that you think the music industry or government could be doing to help indie retailers? My feeling is that the music industry, especially the majors, should really be focusing on independent retailers. I personally have been largely ignored by three of the major record companies. One has supported me and there are a few smaller independent distributors that are extremely supportive. If this attitude doesn’t change there’s a risk that you will eventually have to go to supermarkets and petrol stations for music. Government support is
another story.
How confident are you about the future – the next year and then further beyond? I feel reasonably confident about the future. It is by no means a given that the shop will be here in one or two years’ time. I am determined to give it a damn good shot though. Keeping our eye on the ball
and changing with the times is essential. Seeing young people coming in and buying music again, vinyl in particular, is heartening and gives hope. Having independent record
stores like mine and the many around the world that are still going is essential. I feel privileged to own a record store and to be part of a group of like-minded music enthusiasts that are sticking it out through tough times.
This week’s High Street Hero Paul Huggins takes on his digital rivals ...
WE SAID WE LIKED... ED SHEERAN +
AMAZON RECOMMENDED... EMELI SANDÉ Our Version Of Events
PAUL RECOMMENDED...
THE EASTERN Hope And Wire
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