Can't say I'm too surprised. Really nice guys, not so workable business model. It was always a case of small shop/no speciality that made the store not worth going out of the way for.
Revolution Records closing at the end of the month
Van Ness is no place to set up a record store.
did you guys hear that Smash in Georgetown is closing, too?
my understanding is that from the ashes of Revolution may rise a phoenix, though in a slightly different form. Think McDonalds, Cleveland Park. Last I heard it was supposed to be some sort of cafe/record shop. The plans may have changed though…
Losing Smash would suck.
Originally posted by bellenseb:yeah, its a pity - bumped into Nayan and Fred last night at the S-K gig and they told me…..but yeah, CD sellings a tough business to be in right now…..I used to go there quite a bit but have found myself relying more and more on emusic
Can't say I'm too surprised. Really nice guys, not so workable business model. It was always a case of small shop/no speciality that made the store not worth going out of the way for.
Well we are definitely losing Smash. A friend of mine's father owns the building that Smash is in and they said they are calling it quits. That place has been so great to me over the years :(
this sucks, i really like that place and still have three stamps left to get on my $10 off card.
It looks like Tower is in big trouble too.
The one in Tysons is probably dead anyway since Best Buy is moving right next door to them.
No CDs for you
The one in Tysons is probably dead anyway since Best Buy is moving right next door to them.
No CDs for you
Originally posted by eros:I know this is crass but…. YEAH another chance to buy deeply discounted CDs at a overpriced record store….
It looks like Tower is in big trouble too.
The one in Tysons is probably dead anyway since Best Buy is moving right next door to them.
No CDs for you
Originally posted by brennser:well the majors are fueling the death of indie stores by not giving them the discounts passed along to the best buys of the worlds that buy in larger quanities. cds that those chains sell at loss leaders to bring people into buy fridges, etc. some indie stores are able to buy new releases at a big box store cheaper than they can at wholesale. couple that with the fact that indie stores can't extort the majors into paying for endcap placement of cds which helps pad the bottom line of the big guys.
Originally posted by bellenseb:yeah, its a pity - bumped into Nayan and Fred last night at the S-K gig and they told me…..but yeah, CD sellings a tough business to be in right now…..I used to go there quite a bit but have found myself relying more and more on emusic
Can't say I'm too surprised. Really nice guys, not so workable business model. It was always a case of small shop/no speciality that made the store not worth going out of the way for.
luckily stores like Newbury Comics are trying to fight back by working with indie labels, but still can't get the price breaks Amazon gets…
There was a great article in the Southwest Airlines magazine (Spirit?) this week. It was about the problems of indie record stores and how some of them are actually keeping up with, and in some cases beating, the majors retailers. A couple of the biggies were Easy Street in Seattle and Amoeba in Calif. Good article if you catch a flight somewhere.
I will next thursday.
Originally posted by thegazelle:
There was a great article in the Southwest Airlines magazine (Spirit?) this week. It was about the problems of indie record stores and how some of them are actually keeping up with, and in some cases beating, the majors retailers. A couple of the biggies were Easy Street in Seattle and Amoeba in Calif. Good article if you catch a flight somewhere.
A pity about Smash. I haven't been in there in a few years, but I used to love that place when I was a youngin'. I bought so much shit from the first location across the street.
Originally posted by kcjones119:You still got time. We will be having some good sales through the month…if your on our e-mail list, you know the deal…we still have some nice vinyl gems at a good price, et. al.
this sucks, i really like that place and still have three stamps left to get on my $10 off card.
I hope the guys do follow up with a re-opening in a better area.
I feel bad for the DC market always losing their music stores. It's understandable with the rents, other overhead and limited income factors.
That would be great if they can work a new location into a cafe environment. Besides that being a great combination for a cool place to hang out and shop all at once, it would also give them a potential real income while sustaining the music side. Nowadays, I believe that some kind of combination business such as that is one of the ideal ways to meet expenses and make a little profit in such a high cost of living area. Sure, there are music exclusive businesses within the Indie market and it's possible but think how many times articles like that highlight the exceptions rather than the norms. Can't say that I know for a fact that it's out of the norm but it sure appears that it's not the easiest thing to do in the DC market.
Concerning Indie music stores, I think another thing that helps some of them is when they have a fairly manageable website where others not in the area eventually know to go and can find some specific specialty genres or items. Call it a, 'if you can't beat them, join them' move if you want. It can help to keep the business coming in. Include reviews, links, MP3s, etc., to entice the surfers in. Why do you think Insound; who also tack on a dollar or so more per item compared to most; does so well? (Although I think their website redesign kind of sucks now in comparison to their old one.)
That would be great if they can work a new location into a cafe environment. Besides that being a great combination for a cool place to hang out and shop all at once, it would also give them a potential real income while sustaining the music side. Nowadays, I believe that some kind of combination business such as that is one of the ideal ways to meet expenses and make a little profit in such a high cost of living area. Sure, there are music exclusive businesses within the Indie market and it's possible but think how many times articles like that highlight the exceptions rather than the norms. Can't say that I know for a fact that it's out of the norm but it sure appears that it's not the easiest thing to do in the DC market.
Concerning Indie music stores, I think another thing that helps some of them is when they have a fairly manageable website where others not in the area eventually know to go and can find some specific specialty genres or items. Call it a, 'if you can't beat them, join them' move if you want. It can help to keep the business coming in. Include reviews, links, MP3s, etc., to entice the surfers in. Why do you think Insound; who also tack on a dollar or so more per item compared to most; does so well? (Although I think their website redesign kind of sucks now in comparison to their old one.)
RIP. Great idea, but wrong place and wrong time, I guess.
Smash! is already done but from what I've heard someone else has bought a large portion of their store stock and will re-open in another location, not sure if they will retain the name or not.
i thought they were just relocating smash?
Originally posted by I Dare:If so then it will be under new ownership.
i thought they were just relocating smash?