26 MusicWeek 20.07.12 RETAIL
“The new generation of people buying vinyl don’t want to feel ripped off” IAN FEASEY, RELICS RECORDS
customer where vinyl is concerned. They don’t have the specialist knowledge. It’s not just a question of shifting stock or the Top 20 best sellers – you have to know your stuff. As for the internet, we hear
Give us a bit of background on Relics Records… Relics Records opened in 1990 in the centre of Leeds with two staff, John and Steve, who are still with me now. We trade over two floors with a separate mail order department on the third floor. I was attracted to Leeds because of its strong musical heritage, its large student population and a potentially good customer base. We carry about 25,000 LPs
and 45s and about 10,000 CDs, mostly second hand, covering most genres, but predominantly Rock, Indie, Jazz, Blues and Soul.
How is business today compared to when you first opened and throughout the years? It has changed a lot since 1990. The record industry has been decimated with many indie stores now closed. The second hand side of the record business has gone from a time when every town had at least a couple of stores to now when there are only a handful still in operation.
When we started there were 10
second hand stores in Leeds. Now we’re the only one. To keep going you have to be really on the ball and capable of change. Relics is really customer driven – we source stock for our customers’ specific needs. You have to be more specialist in what you stock, listen to the customers’ requests, source items at the best costs possible and pass the savings on to the customer.
Some are talking about a vinyl revival at present, what’s your take on that? There has definitely been a renewed interest in vinyl. It’s most apparent among younger people who are buying it for the first time. They are really enjoying the warm analogue sound as opposed to digital downloads and they also like the packaging and detailed artwork. People like the tangibility of it –
the opposite of a download where you’ve got nothing but a load of
INTERNET VS HUMAN WE SAID WE LIKED...
RELICS RECORDS
53 New Briggate Leeds LS2 8JD t 0113 2347361
wrelicsrecords.co.uk
binary numbers. As a man who grew up with
vinyl I’m envious of those kids who are hearing it for the first time. They can’t believe how good it is compared with the flat sounds they’re used to. In the mid 90s when CDs took
off there was a collective madness and people got rid of vinyl and their record players. Now it’s come full circle and people are starting understand the intrinsic value of vinyl. New customers are buying all
sorts, from cheap bargains to collectors’ records – there’s a real love for it, a real enthusiasm. In the past when the CD was
time and again about how many people are dissatisfied with the poor quality and condition of records on eBay and the likes. They want to see and hear the product. There’s a trust involved with a reputable dealer. We are all about the quality of music and how it sounds to the customer.
Owner: Ian Feasey
king there was real competition from the supermarkets. Where we succeeded was by offering much lower prices. Now the prices have been driven down so low people no longer value CDs. Core classics such as Rock,
Jazz and Blues still sell but, as far as the newer pop stuff is concerned, we can’t give it away. People do value vinyl though – it’s more precious and desirable.
As a secondhand retailer, are you protected somewhat from influences like digital distribution and supermarkets that seem to be hurting the High Street? Supermarkets can’t satisfy the
How confident are you about business in the future? It’s hard to make a living these days but provided we’re able to meet our customers’ needs we remain optimistic. It would be good if the music
industry promoted vinyl and didn’t overcharge for it to make it accessible. New vinyl is already expensive enough. If the music industry is
interested in a sustainable future they need to grow that market and support it by keeping prices down rather than trying to make a quick buck. The new generation of people
buying vinyl don’t want to be put off by feeling they’re being ripped off by companies. It’s far easier to sell records
around the £10-£12 mark than the £20 mark.
This week’s High Street Hero Ian Feasey takes on his digital rivals ...
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