ha ha ha @ RPM-- good one

i'd call it coffee & records -- well not really...
but selling coffee can make you good $$. it's highly addictive, it's cheap to buy and expensive to sell, and you can provide a kickass soundtrack that starfucks doesn't have.

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of course there is the risk of spillage. o well. im sure it can be managed though.

--

also the coffee would make it more of a hangout place where people will tend to buy.

the keith records spinsperience

You should move to Pennsylvania. You can get a house really really cheap in some neighborhoods.

Vinyl Richie's

!@#$%!, I haven't done a whole lot of research yet, but from what I can tell, Columbia doesn't have what I want to do. I figure my niche will be the downtown university student crowd, mainly, and I'll stock new releases as well as new reissues on both vinyl and CD, with some jazz, some older rock (especially on the Sundazed etc labels). Much like Twist & Shout in Denver but in a much smaller space. I'd actually model it closely on Record Collector here in Iowa City.

((((Hammond))))

Nosey Ears

The Aural Hospital

Chez Ku's

Motorik Sounds

Last Exit Records
Lightless Sounds
GMKU Chords
Synthetic Noise
False Records
No Way Disco
Simple Vinyl
Noise Reduction
Blasphemy Store
Destructor Store
Vinyl
Sweet sounds
I have more but I am hungry.

Twist & CHOUT

The folks over at Stylus are performing a public service with their comprehensive overview of independent record stores around the world.

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the following is from
http://www.trashamericanstyle.com/
(must open links in new window)

THE TRASH AMERICAN STYLE FORCED TO MOVE SALE has been going great guns for the past couple of weeks. Thanks to all who have shopped. The sale continues until our last day which is MAY 1. There is still A LOT, and I mean PLENTY of good stuff to pick through. In fact, we're STILL putting new records in the bins, new cd's on the shelves, and new clothing on the racks. We just don't want to quit!
We will be open 7 days a week until May 1 so feel free to pop in any ol' time.
contact info:
http://www.trashamericanstyle.com/directions.htm
proprietor: Malcolm Tent

a few things i'd recommend:

1) go to your local SBA now and inquire about their small business workshops. this is VERY important, especially because you're going to be dealing with ain inventory business--quite risky. and because eventually you're going to have to figure out what kind of volume & profit margin you'll need in order to stay afloat. because no matter how small, commercial real estate is expensive and there are a lot of hidden costs to a business. they'll teach you a whole lot of other good stuff too.

2) start nosing around record collector & try to figure what's the formula for their success--- loyal customers, sure. what about the lease? how many employees? what kind of cash do they spend to keep the store running?

3) subscribe now to trade magazines & all kinds of crap that you need to subscribe to. start now so that you're well informed when it comes down to putting money upfront.

4) read this book: http://www.amazon.com/Irrefutable-Ru.../dp/0471707600

5) think about how so many records stores (& video stores) have gone out of business since the advent of the internet. this is a very risky proposition and you'll have to innovate in order to offer something that the internet can't. (i do 95% of my record shopping on the internet btw). what can you offer/create that will set you apart from midheaven? can you create some kind of relationship with the college radio station maybe? (is there one?). why will they want to go to your store & not their computer? and why would they want to go to your store and BUY and not just browse and then buy online?

that's all i can think of. as a small business owner i can tell you it's a pain in the ass but worth it, only you have to think of 16 hour workdays. and on that note, i gotta get the fuck out of here! :D

Steak 'n Shake
Wal-Mart
Ace Hardware
Burger King

record stories

Lambda Lambda Lambda

Damn it it won't let me rep you.

Great advice, !@#... .

I was thinking about that one point, about record stores going out of business, and ran across a NYT article that says something contrary to the conventional wisdom. It's point is that record/music stores go in and out of business just like restaurants and other small businesses. Sure, many fail and go out of business, but new ones are also starting up and thriving. The trick, the article says, is to be very focused, to know your niche, and to not try to be everything to everyone.

Digg Music

The Niche.

or just: Music Store

Fine Tuned