A NEW record store is set to open in Caversham on Thursday, September 7, as an online music merchant is set to launch its first bricks-and-mortar branch.
Vinyl vendor and merchant of musical memorabilia Pop Classics has announced that it is set to open in Church Street, Caversham.
A post to social media in May said: “After 20 years of selling vinyl records and pop memorabilia online, we have decided it is time to take the plunge.”
Now the store is set to open its doors to customers, including a launch day offer for its first batch of eager customers.
Pop Classics has been based in Reading during its two decades of collection and selling of records, trading online.
It is run by Damian Jones, who works as a consultant for the Record Collector Price Guide and Channel 4’s Posh Pawn, as well as authoring a number of books on music.
Speaking about what prompted the launch of the store, Mr Jones said: “It was a combination of things, really.
“We had an international clientele prior to Brexit and many international problems since; afterward it shrunk to a much more domestic market.
“So while we’re still doing our online sales, it seemed crazy to sell to so many people in Reading and not have a point of sale locally.”
As for what the store’s focus will be in terms of what music it carries: “We’ll stock to cover all the bases.
“We’re going to cater to all ages and tastes, with new stuff out on the shelves every day.”
He explained: “People like to own a product rather than have it exist somewhere they can’t get their hands on it.
“People, especially among the younger generation, do like to own something which is real, so we find a big interest from younger people.
“They then tend to spread from new releases on vinyl into vintage and collectibles too, so we’ll be catering to them as well as those into more classic stuff.”
In a further online post, Pop Classics announced that the first 10 customers would receive a free tote bag on launch day.
The store has been decked out with modern window decals showing banks of speakers, complete with a purple vinyl-record patterned flourish on the front door.
Pop Classics opens in Caversham’s Church Street on Thursday, September 7, operating between 10am and 5.30pm from Monday-Saturday, and between 11am and 4pm on Sundays.
Information about Pop Classics and its range of records and memorabilia is available online via: pop-classics.com
