You Can't Just Sell Records

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YOU CAN't Just Sell Records

Discover A Place Where Records Are Not Just Stock —They’re Stories

BRIEF OUTLINE

Ron opens a vinyl record shop in his hometown, attracting a community of music lovers and collectors. As the shop grows, he plans to expand and compete with bigger businesses, he discovers there's more to selling records than just retail.

Featuring a diverse genre of music from upcoming and established Whanganui based musicians

SYNOPSIS

Follow Ron’s experience of opening a dedicated record shop in his hometown nearly two decades after the last CD store closed.

His shop becomes a musical mecca for a community of local musicians, record collectors, and nostalgia seekers. Sharing their motivation to dig into the record crates, collectively they reveal why vinyl records continue to sell in a world dominated by playlist subscriptions.

Soon Ron has plans to expand and compete with bigger players in a bigger city, but will his unique approach to retailing records work? Never quite sure he decides to compete in the regional business awards, albeit in a rather unusual category for retail -and all the while, Ron knows he can’t just sell records to truly succeed.

You Can't Just Sell Records 2025 Official Release Poster

LONG SYNOPSIS

In an era where digital downloads dominate the music industry, one man made a choice that few retailers would dare to consider: opening a dedicated vinyl record store in a small, regional New Zealand town. But Ron isn't just taking on the challenge of making a living for himself and his family from a niche market; he is doing it during a recession in NZ when margins are meaningless and retail dreams all too quickly turn into a reality for lease signs.

But in just over a year, Ron's passion creates a welcoming space where people can connect with music and each other, something that resonates deeply with his community of music lovers and music makers.

Now, with the success of his first store, Ron is preparing to open a second location in a much larger city – a community he doesn't know and one already home to an international chain store selling new records with minimal profit margins.

Ron's belief in his unique approach to retailing the vinyl experience by not just selling them but perfecting the experience of finding new owners for old records has him almost convinced he will succeed. But in the meantime, he seeks confirmation from his peer group of regional businesses by entering the annual Chamber of Commerce business awards. In a town renowned internationally for its unique visitor attractions, will the Vinyl Room be crowned the ultimate visitor destination?

Featuring an original soundtrack from Whanganui-based musical groups to provide a diversity of music genres from mellow blues to hard-core metal. With newcomer musicians inspired by '60s pop and bands formed in the 60s playing the latest styles.