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32 MusicWeek 15.06.12 RETAIL


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HAGGLE VINYL


Give us some background info on Haggle Vinyl… I used to sell antiques and in those days I probably only owned five or six records at any one time. I moved into old records after being inspired by a friend who was selling reggae music on the internet. The shop opened in 1998. For


a year prior to that I went around buying records, often all the wrong kind of things, until another friend of mine called Paul came along who was an expert in records and had stacks of them. Without him this shop wouldn’t have happened.


How has business changed over the years? This last year has changed completely and rapidly. One of the things I’ve never done in the past is recommend where people can buy record players. Suddenly I’ve had to do that a lot - I send them to a store that I have an affiliation with - because, in the past few years, the age group between 22


and 27 has started buying records again. I’ve got a section of good but


old jazz music and other stuff that didn’t used to sell. Those 22- year-olds have been coming in and I’ve been selling those records for a pound each. They’ve been having an education that other shops don’t necessarily provide for them. I saw this trend coming


because I heard music like that being used on TV adverts and it occurred to me that these young people have heard this kind of stuff before.


Why do you think people are coming back to vinyl? It’s a little bit to do with places like my shop but I think something’s occurring more generally as well. Up until two years ago you could only sell records in mint condition. If they weren’t pristine they’d go on the floor. Even if it was a £20 record, you couldn’t sell it. This change is happening


INTERNET vs HUMAN


114 – 116 Essex Road London, N1 8LX t 020 7704 3101 whagglevinyl.com


because records like this are getting rarer and there’s an aspect of original warmth. I really believe that people want some old atmosphere from their records now. They’re becoming antiques if you ask me.


How is business in terms of the number of people coming through the doors? We’re seeing far fewer customers and a totally different clientele. But, on the other hand, records that never used to sell in the past are now selling. All sorts of stuff from drum and bass to hardcore to hip-hop. When I opened the shop I


started with good old music from the likes of Roy Orbison. It was difficult to sell but now, even that is selling. Everything is being picked up in every genre, really.


How confident are you about the years ahead? With everything that’s going on in the country everywhere, I still feel that I can go on for another three years no matter what. I wouldn’t like to say anything beyond that, but I know I’ll be here for another three years for certain. I don’t know where the


country’s going and how much people are going to be able to afford. We might have to go like Woolies did eventually, who knows. But I’m 70 and feel fit enough to go on until I’m 78. I’m going to be going for a long time. Three years is a guarantee. I’ve got enough stock to keep me going and I enjoy being here. I might only have 10 customers a day sometimes but they come from all over and I love it.


Owner: Lyn Alexander


“I think something’s occurring more generally... I really believe that people want


some old atmosphere from their records now. They’re becoming antiques” LYN ALEXANDER, HAGGLE VINYL


This week’s High Street Hero Lyn Alexander takes on his digital rivals ...


WE SAID WE LIKED... LYN RECOMMENDED... AMAZON RECOMMENDED... MICHAEL KIWANUKA Home Again RICHARD HAWLEY Truelove’s Gutter


DUKE ELLINGTON AND JOHNNY HODGES Back To Back


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