What You’ll Need to Start a Record Store
Inventory & Sourcing
New vs. Used Vinyl/CDs: Stock a mix to appeal broadly, new releases for collectors, and curated used inventory for higher margins. Connect your vinyl records business with US based wholesale vinyl record distributors and wholesale drop shippers. WMW can certainly help you get in front of the proper suppliers quickly & effectively.
Rare & Local Releases: Collaborate with local musicians or indie labels for consignments or exclusive editions. Low upfront cost but high appeal
Scale of Inventory: Some seasoned sellers aim for tens of thousands of albums before opening.
Physical Space & Furnishing
Location: Choose areas with strong foot traffic. Near Arts districts, near campuses, or vibrant neighborhoods.
Consider selling music related tshirts, headphones, turntables, posters, stickers & hats. Find and connect with wholesale music product distributors and wholesale dropshippers through WMW.
Fixtures & Aesthetics: Purchase new or used sturdy shelving, display bins, and listening stations.
Store Ambience: Comfortable design with good flow matters. Use visuals and music to enhance browsing. A high quality sound system is a must.
Your amplifier, turntable & speakers should be top of the line.
Point-of-Sale & Inventory Systems
POS Setup: Set aside money for hardware and software, depending on features like inventory tracking, reporting, and CRM integration.
Inventory Management: Start with a periodic system, but consider transitioning to a perpetual inventory system as you scale for better real-time control.
Legal, Marketing & Operational Essentials
Licenses & Permits: This includes business license, sales tax permit, zoning, and possibly music licensing (BMI, ASCAP). Expect $100–$1,000 depending on costs.
Branding & Digital Presence: Budget $5,000–$20,000 for logo, signage, website/e-commerce setup, and launch marketing. Get an ecommerce record / vinyl retail website setup by WMW.
Staff & Training: Be sure and hire hip and cool people!
Launch & Promotions: Aska local band to play at your grand opening.Vinyl Market: Popularity & Sales Stats
Vinyl isn’t just nostalgia! it’s a booming sector of the physical music market.
Growth Trends
U.S. Sales: In 2024, over 43 million vinyl units were sold, marking the 18th consecutive year of growth.
Revenue: Physical music sales reached $2 billion, with $1.7 billion from vinyl alone.
Market Share & Demographics
U.S.: Vinyl outsold CDs for the first time since the 1980s! 41 million vs. 33 million in 2022.
Gen Z Engagement: Around 76% of Gen Z buyers (18–24) purchase vinyl regularly; 84% prefer record shops over online; 87% value high-quality listening experience.
Collector Appeal: Special edition and colored vinyl constitute a sizable share.
Bottom Line
Starting a record store blends passion with business acumen:
Focus on curation, community-building, and multiple revenue streams beyond just vinyl.
Plan your inventory and costs carefully—diversify between new releases, used finds, local artists, and accessories. Get plugged in with US wholesale vinyl records distributors & wholesale drop shippers. WMW can help with that.
