How Edinburgh’s Independent Record Stores are Surviving COVID-19
Photo Cred: Karina Caulfield
09 October 2020
Although vinyl is back in style, the infectious spread of COVID-19 has greatly impacted the music business, particularly independent record stores.
Lockdown served to be an incredibly hard process as physical doors were shut, leaving profits to be solely online or not at all. The socialising experience of in-store browsing or simply popping in to chat about music; was also lost to many communities.
Now that restrictions have since eased, record stores are back open in Edinburgh such as, Elvis Shakespeare situated on Leith Walk. Opened by David Griffin, 15 years ago; it stocks a wide range of second-hand vinyl, CDs, and literature. It specialises in alternative, punk and indie, or as David points out, “...anything interesting and different.” The store also helps support local artists, selling their stock without taking a cut.
During lockdown, Elvis Shakespeare closed for three months, losing around 75% of their high gross profit. Despite this, David notes the £10,000 grant awarded by the Scottish Government, alongside loyal customers; helped keep the shop steady: “a lot of local people were ordering… were very kind and supported us during the lockdown.”
In line with government advice; David has limited his capacity to three people; installing protective screens and hand sanitiser: “we're a browsing shop by nature…so the three people goes badly for us… but I'm vulnerable myself because of my health so I don't really want to just let it go to a free for all.”
August also proved to be a difficult month by missing out on the thousands of tourists who normally visit.
On a lighter note, David jokingly reveals not having to deal with unpleasant bosses is a great perk in running his own store and helps keep him young. However, supporting local artists is what he is passionate about: “it keeps me in touch with what's going on and I get you know invites from nice people to come and see the shows.”
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Elvis Shakespeare ultimately aims to be an “enclave” for Leith, providing a space for local organisations such as multi-arts charity, Leith Lates: “Friends could pop in and say hello, you know bring their dogs in. Yeah it’s a hub, well we try.”
Photo Cred: Karina Caulfield
Vinyl Villains which opened in 1984 on Elm Row, was also closed for over 3 months. It is run by Andrew Watters, selling second-hand vinyl, CDs, DVDs and new T shirts, exclusively for in store purchasing. They stock countless genres such as rock, jazz, reggae, soul, and heavy metal as well as buying customers’ unwanted record collections.
Andrew revealed how lockdown and COVID-19 restrictions have affected his store: “Sales are down by about 20- 30%, but it hasn't caused as much harm as I expected. Shopping is not really a pleasant experience now, with having to wear a mask and other restrictions.”
In June, Vinyl Villains reopened, adhering to social distancing rules, limiting the number of customers allowed in at one time.
Asked whether he felt the music industry has been hit badly by this pandemic, Andrew replied: “It has been tough for over 20 years, since the invention of downloads, but the remaining shops are now run by skilled survivors.” Instead he feels live music is “suffering to a much greater degree.”
Photo Cred: Karina Caulfield
Photo Cred: Karina Caulfield
In the other direction of Edinburgh, lies, Voxbox in Stockbridge, one of the, ‘newest record stores in the world.’ Opening in 2011 by Darren Yeats, it buys and sells second-hand vinyl, instore and on eBay. Voxbox has two sections to browse from: the front stocks LPS in genres such as blues, jazz, rock, folk and new wave; whereas the back, is home to around 1000 LPs and 1500 singles where customers can grab a ‘bargain record’.
The owner, Darren, is also a Doctor of Medicine of the elderly at the Royal Infirmary who covered COVID admissions and wards at busy times. He reveals how Voxbox’s running order has been greatly affected: “We’re a pretty small shop so it is difficult to distance and browsing means handling records. I've lost 2 employees who left… and have 2 new with a reduction in shop hours.”
Events such as Record Store Day - a celebration of independent record businesses around the country - was also postponed; normally a big event for Voxbox.
However, not all record stores in Edinburgh were able to continue throughout this pandemic. Unknown Pleasures located in the Old Town and owned by Vinylnet; announced it was closing its doors in late June.
The 2006 establishment wrote to Facebook “It is with heavy hearts that we’ve taken the difficult decision not to re-open.”
Photo Cred: Karina Caulfield
They continued, highlighting their store would struggle to stay alive with current restrictions in place, especially with increasing rent prices: “We have an extremely small premises which makes social distancing very difficult… a store where people like to flick through the racks, touching literally everything…As with many shops in Edinburgh, we largely depend on both the summer tourist trade and the Festival, both of which will be non-existent this year.”
As a result, Unknown Pleasures have permanently closed however, customers can still support the business by browsing their website, vinylnet.co.uk.
It is clear, the coronavirus pandemic has caused a great deal of uncertainty and stress to independent record stores. From profits being cut to a completely different way of browsing – the way the public listen and purchase music may change forever.
Despite this, it seems record stores are doing their best to deal with whatever restrictions are thrown in their way.
Author: Karina Caulfield