New music store Flat 13 Records opens in Bournemouth

11:49am Wednesday 14th November 2012 in News By Arron Hendy

INITIATIVE: Ross Boardman, Sam Holland and Ben Waugh INITIATIVE: Ross Boardman, Sam Holland and Ben Waugh

THREE former students are hoping a renewed love of vinyl will make a success of their new record shop.

Ben Waugh, from Bransgore, has been joined by two pals to open the store in Bournemouth with new and old music albums on sale in plastic as well as CDs.

Ben, 23, and his friends Sam Holland and Ross Boardman, said their shop in St Michael’s Road has been searched out by vinyl fans already.

Ross, 25, said: “We’ve been hunted down as vinyl lovers have found us.”

He said they researched the popularity of vinyl after many record shops shut down in previous years and said though it only accounts for a small percentage of total music sales it is surviving as a music form.

He said: “It went drastically down but in the last two years it’s been growing with shops opening and people buying vinyl again.”

Sam, 24, added: “It’s coming back.

“We’ve definitely been selling more vinyl than CDs.”

The three of them were at university together in Canterbury.

They named the new shop Flat 13 Records after the property they have moved into upstairs in the Robert McKay Kay development, built on the old C&A site.

Ben said they are hoping to capitalise on an appetite for purchasing items instead of downloading music.

“And you just don’t get the same quality buying online,” he said.

“I don’t know if people are becoming wise to that or if they want something tangible.”

The trio are also hoping to nurture local artists by selling their work commission free with plans to use the two extra rooms downstairs for performing and recording.

Ben added: “We are musicians ourselves and if we can help them then they can also tell their friends about us.”

Comments(20)

speedy231278 says...
12:01pm Wed 14 Nov 12

Nice bit of free advertising!

Report this post »

jeebuscripes says...
12:05pm Wed 14 Nov 12

Good luck to them but I doubt there is a big enough market here in Bournemouth for some retro grooves.

If the store is still a going concern in 5 years I'll throw away all of my digital music and associated devices and fill my flat from top to bottom with Cliff Richard LPs.

Report this post »

504gld says...
12:10pm Wed 14 Nov 12

Good news, I hope they stock new releases as well, and its a bit of a bind ordering LPs from Amazon then having to battle the collection queues at the sorting office. Thoroughly recommend Kylie Minogue's Abbey Road album on the double gate fold vinyl, stunning quality and artwork.

Report this post »

strippervicar says...
12:32pm Wed 14 Nov 12

Excellent news. The free advertising worked, i'll be popping along.

Report this post »

bogtrotter says...
12:38pm Wed 14 Nov 12

Good luck to them but I have the feeling that it'll last as long as a bride's nighty.

If they asked me to invest, I think I'd have to say, I'm oot.

Report this post »

Huey says...
12:55pm Wed 14 Nov 12

Good luck, best wishes for the business

Report this post »

Cherry19 says...
1:10pm Wed 14 Nov 12

Well, it's the cynics in this world who cause shops to fold through lack of custom, we have a similar shop here in Blandford Forum and we, including myself, run small, independent shops offering excellent ranges and customer service, so I wish them the best of luck, we need to get people back shopping & enjoying a purchase rather than tapping on a laptop shopping in their pyjamas! Good luck, lads

Report this post »

Flat13Records says...
1:43pm Wed 14 Nov 12

Thanks for the kind comments.
We do indeed stock new releases on vinyl as well as loads of second hand vinyl.

We also sell new CDs, with some great offers and deals. We currently offer 3 for £10 on selected CDs (or £3.99 each), as well as 2 for £10 on selected CD's (or £6.99).

If we don't stock it we'll try our best and order it in!

You'll find us up St.Michaels Road just off the triangle opposite Smokin' Aces.
Pop In!!

Report this post »

pete woodley says...
1:48pm Wed 14 Nov 12

Good luck lads, you got your free ad,now take it easy dont jump too high,or get too ambitious, i have loads of shops, none failed, but some were a lot better than others.Watch your overheads,and dont start taking too much of the takings out of the business,and dont listen to those who have never been in business.Word of mouth is the cheapest advertising.There are still a few vynyl fans but they are getting less every year.

Report this post »

Cherry19 says...
2:24pm Wed 14 Nov 12

Wise words from Pete Woodley, yep, keep costs down, re-invest the money into stock, and keep your feet on the ground, as like me, you are shopkeepers offering a personal service, don't get caught up with award winning and fancy titles ... keep focused on your customers and you'll get repeat business without spending fortunes on advertising .. good luck, nice to see some shops opening!

Report this post »

sparkie64 says...
2:38pm Wed 14 Nov 12

Wish I hadn't binned my Ferguson "music centre" in 1985 now. I also wish I hadn't donated all my vinyl to charity. Had some crackin' 12" tuuuunesss!

Report this post »

s-pb2 says...
3:06pm Wed 14 Nov 12

Nothing wrong with a local paper supporting a local business. Good luck to the guys, they have certainly got their heads screwed on when it comes to PR and advertising.

Report this post »

pete woodley says...
3:39pm Wed 14 Nov 12

Should have said "had" loads of shops, not "have",also tried cafe,kids amusements.

Report this post »

boscombewizard says...
6:25pm Wed 14 Nov 12

Excellent. I will be along. I miss Avid and Essential Music. Independent record shops have always been better than chains.

Report this post »

Kiki1973 says...
7:49pm Wed 14 Nov 12

Good luck lads! :-)

Echo, it's 'sought out ' not 'searched out ' ...tsk tsk tsk ;-)

Report this post »

steve.in.sydney says...
9:44am Thu 15 Nov 12

pete woodley wrote:
Good luck lads, you got your free ad,now take it easy dont jump too high,or get too ambitious, i have loads of shops, none failed, but some were a lot better than others.Watch your overheads,and dont start taking too much of the takings out of the business,and dont listen to those who have never been in business.Word of mouth is the cheapest advertising.There are still a few vynyl fans but they are getting less every year.
As usual Pete Woodley is giving you lads the benefit of his years of wisdom, please take his advice and let me just say this, some of it repeated.
1. Listen to experienced people.
2. Word of mouth advertising, - yes!
3. Re-invest in the business.
4. Build a website and ADVERTISE ONLINE! Vinyl has a massive following in enthusiastic pockets around the world.
When I lived in Bournemouth I used to travel to a select record shop in Weymouth just to purchase collectable recordings. (Radio Carolines "Final" night on air - for example).
5. Bournemouth is only your geographical headquarters. Get online and sell to the world, and good luck guys.

Report this post »

bornINpoole69 says...
12:35pm Thu 15 Nov 12

strippervicar wrote:
Excellent news. The free advertising worked, i'll be popping along.
me too. I have great vinyl from the 60's and 70's but nothing to play them on!

Report this post »

Azphreal says...
6:07pm Thu 15 Nov 12

Isnt there a record shop that does the same at the triangle or did it go out of business through lack of trade?

Report this post »

boscombewizard says...
8:29pm Thu 15 Nov 12

That was Avid and it closed about 3 years ago, maybe? Think they still do online. It was a great shop and any Christmas shopping started there.

Report this post »

Flat13Records says...
6:04pm Fri 16 Nov 12

Thanks for the kind words and advice, much appreciated.

We are currently selling online through the usual suspects of Amazon, Ebay and Discogs. We are currently working on our website which should be up and running very soon. It will have all our stock available as well as news and updates showcasing local bands, artists and more.

Hopefully in the near future we'll have live music and events in our store to go along side our section for local bands and artists.

Vinyl sales are on the increase, but as many of you know, it is still a niche market. We're hoping our selection of CD's new and used proves an alternative to HMV while providing a very local, independent feel to our shop with a chance to get involved.

With all that said, it's still early days, we're young, stupid and still learning, but experience and feedback is what we need.
Keep it coming and pop in!!

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree