As you’ve no doubt worked out by now, we love record shops. Whether big or small, rocking a minimalist aesthetic or packing enough vinyl into their overflowing crates to wear down several lifetime’s worth of needles, we love how each and every one has something special in store for its customers. From the quirkiest locals to the big, gig-hosting powerhouses, every thirty-odd days we pick one to be our Record Store of the Month. They get a tasty gift from the Record Tokens team, and you get to discover the best independent record shops this country has to offer – it’s a win-win!
December's Record Store of the Month: Record Collector, Sheffield
A second win for this longstanding shop in Sheffield, who took home the Record Store of the Month crown more than two years ago now, and have been been big Record Tokens supporters from the start. With more than four decades' experience behind them and many a fun anecdote to share (not least the time Public Enemy famously became stranded at the store after a signing and were driven to their gig by a generous, and lucky, fan!), they're a staple of Sheffield's music scene.
Rich from the shop tells us:
"Record Collector opened in 1978 and has sold vinyl continuously for over forty years. We have purchased vinyl collections from the public throughout that time, even when other vinyl shops closed or moved over to the CD format. Our dedication to vinyl has enabled us to build a large and varied stock over many years.
Our vinyl shop is divided equally between new and second hand records. It holds around 10,000 LPs. Regular buying in of second hand records allows the second hand section to be constantly refreshed with different stock.
Record Collector is now four times larger than the original shop was in 1978 and has separate sides dedicated to Vinyl and CD, with over 25,000 CDs in stock both new and second hand, from new releases to classic and out of print titles of all genres.
It’s great to be a part of the Record Token Revival, which has developed parallel to the very welcome Vinyl Revival. A great gift and a handy way to let your friends discover new (or old!) music.
The Shop has had a revamp and make over in the last couple of years giving it a fresh new look and will continue to improve."
Congratulations to Rich and everyone else at Record Collector, who'll be enjoying a festive treat on us by way of congratulations.
You can find Music Mania at 233 Fulwood Road, Sheffield. If you're local, be sure to pop in and give them a visit – and don't forget your Record Tokens!
Previous Record Stores of the Month
November 2021 - Music Mania, Stoke-on-Trent
October 2021 - Lost in Vinyl, Cambridge
September 2021 - Pie and Vinyl, Southsea
August 2021 - The Turntable Coffee & Vinyl, Huddersfield
July 2021 - Elsewhere, Margate
June 2021 - Heathen Chemistry Records, Fareham
May 2021 - Roan Records, Middlesex
March 2021 - Strummer Room Records, Banbury
February 2021 - Badlands Records, Cheltenham
January 2021 - Wax and Beans, Bury, Greater Manchester
December 2020 - Underground Solushn, Edinburgh
November 2020 - Sound Knowledge, Wiltshire
October 2020 - Assai Records, Dundee
September 2020 - Vinyl Exchange, Manchester
August 2020 - Slide Record Shop, Bedford
July 2020 - The Forge, Tonyrefail, Wales
June 2020 - Fish Records, Stone, Staffordshire
May 2020 - Raves from the Grave, Frome, Somserset
April 2020 - Red House Records, Swindon
March 2020 - The Rock Box Record Store, Camberley, Surrey
February 2020 - Tasty Records, Altrincham, Greater Manchester
January 2020 - The Record Café, Bradford