6 Women Record Store Owners On The Lasting Power Of Vinyl

In case you're unaware, vinyl is trending again. In fact, according to a 2017 report released by the Recording Industry Association of America, CDs and vinyl records are outselling digital downloads for the first time since 2011; vinyl sales, specifically, were up 10 percent from last year. Now, in part, this is because, if you're listening to music digitally, you're probably streaming it instead of buying it. However, it is still an indicator that the vinyl industry is healthy—so healthy, in fact, that Sony even started producing records again after a 28-year break. We haven’t reached ‘70s and ‘80s levels of popularity, but we are seeing a significant shift.

And so we wanted to highlight the incredible women who own record stores and strive to make vinyl, not merely a new fad, but a viable and accessible way of listening to music. Running your own business is no easy feat, running one as niche as a record store is even harder. Many of the people I chatted with cite dealing with the never-ending hustle as one of their biggest challenges. The rewards, though, are real, and include seeing people connect over music and being able to introduce customers to new artists they might not have heard before. The undisputed feeling amongst all of the owners is: Vinyl isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and so neither are they.

To celebrate the 11th anniversary of Record Store Day, which takes place tomorrow, click through to read these ladies’ stories. And click here to find participating stores in your area.

Marion Merritt, owner of Records with Merritt in Kansas City, Missouri

Why did you decide to open up your own record store?

I had been working for a corporate retail giant for almost 20 years, 16 of those years as a manager of a once-huge music department. As the retail environment changed and vinyl became more popular and available, my partner, Ann Stewart, and I decided maybe it was time to try and take our combined retail experience and open a vinyl record store.

How many records do you own? What’s the most prized record you own?

I actually buy fewer records now, as a record store owner, than before. I feel that the money I would spend on music should be put back into the store and growing our inventory. I haven't counted my records, I guess, because I don't consider myself a collector of vinyl but rather, a music lover. As for my most prized record, that's a hard question to answer. It’s like picking my favorite child. Let's just say that no one should try to get between me and any of my Billie Holiday, David Bowie, Miles Davis, or John Coltrane records.

Why do you think records have become popular again?

There are many factors. At the time that interest in vinyl was starting to ramp up, many were looking to return to a tangible product. People were tired of the compressed sound of digital product, and wanted something richer and warmer. Vinyl forces you to slow down, touch, feel, smell, and see. You don't usually skip tracks when you are listening to records, as you do with CDs or digital. You are listening to the album as the artist and producer wanted the musical journey to be, giving respect to the process of writing and creating a project. Vinyl records are a new product to many consumers, who may remember, or have inherited, their grandfather's collection and now want to start their own. And just as the e-reader and iPad did not signal the demise of physical books, new vinyl with digital downloads are just another format for enjoying music.

Do you think them becoming mainstream has helped or hurt your business?

I think the percentage of consumers buying vinyl because it's hip or cool is very small—it's not a fad or trend. As I said before, it's another format that allows you to experience music in a very unique way. Once you get the bug, most people get it for life. That said, seeing turntables and vinyl records on television shows, movies, commercials, and print ads only helps.

What do you think the future holds for records? 

With vinyl sales set to overtake digital, I see a bright future. Every time we sell a first record to a new collector, we say, "Welcome to the club!" The club is getting bigger every day.

Lolo Reskin, owner of Sweat Records in Miami

Why did you decide to open up your own record store?

Because, at the time [2005], Miami didn’t have the type of community-oriented, independent store that I wanted to shop at. I was already involved in booking/DJing/promoting indie club nights and worked in large-scale music retail, so I knew there were enough people around who were passionate about music to support a homegrown establishment.

How many records do you own? What’s the most prized record you own?

I have a modest collection of about 1,200 pieces, and I’ve limited it to my most favorite albums/artists, so it doesn’t get out of control. They're all special to me.

Why do you think records have become popular again?

Vinyl has value as a tangible experience that gives people a stronger connection to the album, the artwork, and, of course, the sound. It’s a perfect analog balance for the digital music experience.

Do you think them becoming mainstream has helped or hurt your business?

Helped 100 percent. More people into vinyl and buying turntables means more listeners and record collectors now and in the long run.

What do you think the future holds for records?

I think vinyl is and will continue to be the enduring physical format for music. There will always be printed books for lovers of literature, there will always be vinyl records for music lovers. Our new label, Sweat Records Records, is launching this summer, and we’re really excited about some special releases we’ve got in the pipeline. There’s a lot of unexpected talent in Miami, and we have a pressing plant here again, so we’re psyched to start letting people in on our secrets.

Dilyn Radakovitz, owner of Dimple Records in Sacramento, California

Why did you decide to open up your own record store?  

I really can't take credit for wanting to open a record store. I met my husband in 1966, and he was a rack-jobber selling records to stores all over California, Oregon, Nevada, and a little into Utah. In 1974, we went into business for ourselves and also started selling records wholesale to other stores, and we had our own retail location. Really, the retail location came about because it was easier to organize all of the titles that way and then, if you’ve done that, you might as well sell it, too. 

How many records do you own? What’s the most prized record you own?

I don't know the number of albums I own. My favorites genres are rap and hip-hop, but I have always treasured my Bob Dylan collection, and Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson always make me smile. Adele has my heart, though. I just love her voice!

Why do you think records have become popular again?  

To answer this question, I have to go back 12 years. I am part of a group called the Department of Record Stores, which is composed of small record store chains. We were meeting in Baltimore for a conference, and the morning we were leaving to return home, it was announced that Tower Records had gone bankrupt and all record stores would close. This was news to us! Five of us were awaiting our cabs to return to the airport, and we decided there and then that we would make a special day for Record Stores.  

Long story short, after months of planning, some of the record labels agreed to make us unique products for our event, but they would be very limited and numbered with colored vinyl. This is our 11th year, and we have blown our event up so much that new pressing plants have been put into production. We also do special limited pieces throughout the year, but the real biggies come out on Record Store Day. I'm not quite sure why this works so well, but it has a lot to do with the youth of today finding out that they love vinyl and want a turntable so they can share the vinyl experience with their friends.

Do you think them becoming mainstream has helped or hurt your business?

I think this experience has saved record stores; more small independent music stores are opening all the time. In our case, we have added DVDs, Blu, 4K, 3D, all kinds of CDs, vinyl in every style, picture discs, video games and systems, books, candy, drinks, trading cards, comic books etc. We cater to our customers and what they seem to want.

What do you think the future holds for records? 

Big question. I'm never sure. Geez, I didn't know if we would last the first year, and now it's year 11. Maybe this is the last year, but probably not. We have so many pressing plants now, and it is crazy how many turntables we sell each month! 

Val Camilleti, owner of Vall’s Halla Records in Oak Park, Illinois

Why did you decide to open up your own record store?

I left Capitol Records in 1967 to run a small nondescript record store that grew into an independent chain in Illinois and Wisconsin called NMC Discount Records. When the chain folded in 1972, I took a chance and, within two weeks, opened the flagship location in Oak Park as Val's Halla Records.

How many records do you own? What’s the most prized record you own?

I personally only own a small handful of leftover records, mostly from 50 years ago or more. The Belafonte at Carnegie Hall that I purchased the year it was released in 1959, but not because it's particularly valuable but because I still love it. I also treasure a folk record called Gibson & Camp at the Gate of Horn because I was there when it was recorded.

Why do you think records have become popular again?

Because teenagers have discovered that they're more fun than downloaded music that you don't own and they have reminded older listeners of what they gave up

Do you think them becoming mainstream has helped or hurt your business?

Without the resurgence of vinyl, it's doubtful that many of us would still exist.

What do you think the future holds for records?

We can hope that the interest will sustain itself, but there is no doubt that the cost of vinyl, particularly for the younger listeners, can be prohibitive.

Tina Bold, owner of Vinyl Sage in Riverside, California

Why did you decide to open up your own record store?

I’ve been doing a weekly radio show since 1992, called Vinyl Hours Radio on KUCR 88.3FM, and, every week, I feature a record of the week or different bands and musicians. The records started piling up over the past 26 years, so I finally decided, in 2014, to start selling some. I joked with my friend that I wanted people to fill out a record adoption paper, I felt so attached to them that I wanted to make sure they went to a good home. 

I decided to open up Vinyl Sage because I’ve worked in five record stores and I know what a true feeling of community music lovers can create online or offline. Once I started selling the records, I began a Buy-One-Give-One program. For every record bought, Vinyl Sage donates a record to the Rock and Roll Camp for Girls in Portland, Oregon. I wanted to be able to help others by giving the records to an organization that could use the records to educate the campers.

How many records do you own? What’s the most prized record you own?  

I probably own about a thousand records. My most prized possession is my Depeche Mode “Black Celebration” single extended mix. The reason it is my most prized possession is because it is my OG. I bought it when I was 16 years old, back in 1986, and I never sold it, traded it, or lost it. Thirty-two years with that record, we've traveled many miles together.

Why do you think records have become popular again? 

I honestly didn’t know records were becoming popular again, I always bought records. Back in 2005 or 2006, I noticed record stores closing down, so I asked the local record store if I could book bands to bring the attention back to our local record store. I did five weeks of shows, and it helped a lot. Now, that same shop is thriving and not needing any help at all. 

Do you think them becoming mainstream has helped or hurt your business?

It helps Vinyl Sage because people understand records. They don’t think of it as obscure anymore. My 74-year-old mom always says to me, “I hear records are back in again.” And I always tell her, “Mom, I never stopped buying records since the mid-80s, so I don’t really notice that stuff."

What do you think the future holds for records? 

Musicians will remain in love with putting out music on vinyl, and vinyl collectors will keep the preservation going and pass it on to generations to come. It will always be part of the mix in how we listen to music.  

Stephanie Covart Meyering, owner of Electric Fetus in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Why did you decide to open up your own record store?

My father, Keith Covart, and three other friends opened the Electric Fetus in June of 1968—we are a matter of weeks away from our 50th anniversary! Keith became the sole owner a few years after opening, and the Fetus moved to its current location in Minneapolis in the early ‘70s. I grew up visiting my dad often at the store, doing odds and end jobs over the years when I became a little older. Yes, I even cleaned toilets! I officially came onboard about 10 years ago after a brief career in interior design. My dad started the business because he was passionate about music, but he didn’t want his passion to be my path in life unless I felt it, too. And although I loved design, there was something always drawing me to our family business. The mix of music and fashion allowed me to still be in a creative environment. My dad retired a few years ago, and now I am a mother of two and a second-generation owner of The Electric Fetus.

How many records do you own? What’s the most prized record you own?

I am fortunate to own thousands of records, however, they are at the stores. We recently built a collectible wall in our Minneapolis store that holds rare and collectible records that we sell. I enjoy seeing many collectible titles come and go, it is like a treasure hunt. 

My personal collection is much more modest and is composed of personal favorites. My interests are constantly changing. Right now, I have a soft spot for Adele, because my six-year-old knows all of her songs and thinks she might just grow up to be like her one day. And how can I not like MN music legends like Bob Dylan and Prince?

Why do you think records have become popular again?

The format of music has and always will evolve. Who would have thought there would have been a resurgence of vinyl?! Listening to vinyl is so much more of an experience than any other format of music. The sound quality of vinyl is like nothing else. There are still fair amounts of people that believe in purchasing the physical copy to interact with, and, also, having the cover art is important to them. The sound quality of the music cannot be compared. Downloading is encrypted and does not always give the full range of sound, which is very important to some. 

Do you think them becoming mainstream has helped or hurt your business?

Helped! Minnesota has a large music scene. The resurgence of vinyl has created more of an interest and demand. This has resulted in more record stores opening and more options for customers to buy their product, which creates more interest. And the resurgence of vinyl helped create Record Store Day, which, now in its 11th year, is also our biggest day of the year! 

What do you think the future holds for records? 

You know it’s hard to look out too far in the future, but, as I mentioned before, the format of music has and always will evolve. We are committed to continuing to evolve as well and listen to what our customers want and stay current on trends. I hope the future remains bright for vinyl and there is a continued appreciation for its quality!