'Every day is Record Store Day to me!': Sheffield shop owner says celebration can bury stores in exclusives
Record Store Day has exploded in the last 10 years - but shop owners must be careful they don’t get buried in unaffordable limited releases.
“Every day is Record Store Day to me!” says LP Records’ Marco Rico. “Shop owners need to be careful they don’t get too caught up on the big day in April.”
Marco has been selling vinyl in Sheffield for over 30 years and has seen the medium rise, fall, and rise again into a £20-an-item industry capturing a whole new generation.
He moved into his current shop on Arundel Gate in 2011, but he got his start in a store above the arch of Leah’s Yard in 1995 - back when it “wasn’t as fancy as it is now!”
He is ready to welcome customers for Record Store Day as always - but not because the day is any different.
“I celebrate it in my own way, but I’ve stopped getting in all the exclusives.
“I don’t want to rain on anyone’s fun either, because it’s a great time. I just worry it’s become to exclusive, too commercialised, and can cause trouble if you aren’t careful.”
Marco warns the annual celebration and waves of limited releases was a blast for shop owners 10 years ago, but has become riskier as time goes on.
“I worry it’s become unaffordable, for the shop owners and the customer,” he said.
“It’s grown until there are thousands and thousands of items with a limited release on the day.
“Record store owners have to be careful. You might spend £5,000 to £6,000 on exclusives and only make back £3,000 on the day. Then, come Monday, you might get some interest in what’s left over, but you risk getting stuck with stock no one is keen for that was meant to be exclusive or on a limited release.
“For me, Record Store Day is just be the same as any other day - you get a lot of great people in and celebrate the music.
“Running a record store is great - it’s wonderful, as it’s always been. There are good and bad months, but I love my job and I love doing what I do.
“A lot more younger people visit these days. They’re getting into things like CDs all over again - I had to close one day this week to go pick up two CD racks! Everything changes from year to year.”