I'm so impressed, Kadrian, with your jump-start with the store! Great job on the merch, too! That's key to start with that, as it's an up-front money stream, as well as advertising that's "going out into the street"! Thanks, too, for thoughtfully mentioning Andres' article and my "little storefront," FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE! Keep on doin' what you're doin'!
thanks so much, brad! the merch part was really fun to figure you're out. you're totally right, it's merch + advertising so the value has to come back in the awareness it brings.
But, you did it smartly, getting to the merch FIRST! It, too (along with you), can begin working to spread the brand right off the bat! Many would wait to make merch until (list of excuses, reasons here)!
it was CRUCIAL to get that merch off on the right start. i wanted to make sure that people knew what Latin Gold was from the get-go, and branding is key. could not agree more with you!
Congrats on stepping outside your comfort zone. The investment you made in the whole enterprise (the being in the red) really well serve you well in the future. Consider it a market research expense given all the learnings it produced.
Congrats, Kadrian! And thanks a lot for the shout-out!
What you did is incredible. I particularly admire the fact you consciously decided to get out of your comfort zone. With that strength, determination, and courage, you’ll go far… mark my words.
that's a GREAT idea and going to listen to them ASAP. i wish i had been able to catch a show while i was up there, although this randomly awesome Ska band did perform at Abbott Square . . .
Me again! I responded first to your kind mentions, then I read the piece! Congratulations on your showing! Your first forays into record shows SHOULD be seen as potential "loss leaders," Kadrian. Your store is your anchor, but travelling to shows (and even flea markets, depending on location and other vendors) should be part of the early-going....good on ya for realizing that! Your presence, plus selling merch will help get your name out there.
I'm sure you're talking with other retailers, as they share their experiences of taking "their show on the road"! I've only ever done local record shows, renting a table, and, if a weekend, show, just leaving my table covered overnight for the next day (while sleeping at home)...or, just renting for one of the two days! You might want to consider "car-camping" for future out-of-town shows. It'll save on motel costs, and I bet you'll find others who can give you tips and hints about planning ahead for places to safely park'n'sleep! Reaching out online might be helpful, too!
brad! this advice is INVALUABLE. the car-camping is a good idea! unfortunately this time around with all the stuff I had to bring (i definitely overpacked), i wouldn't have fit into the car to sleep haha. i really enjoyed the "hitting the road" aspect of it, but it sure is exhausting. for sure, i need to join some record fairs more local to Southern California and glad that I journeyed so far to get to that idea haha. the people i've talked to so far have been so helpful, and i'll keep everyone posted on the journey. thanks, again for your support!
We're talking 40 years ago (early- to mid-'80s when I last attended), but is there still the once-a-month record mart in the parking lot across from Capitol Records? Also, BeatleFest was an annual affair (with record vendors) at the Orange County Convention Center those same pesky 40 years ago!! Is that still around?
alas, i don't think it's there anymore at Capitol Records but I hear the OC Convention is still going strong! there are so many fairs now. There's one at the Burbank Holiday Inn end of May, there's one in Highland Park this Sunday, there's the LA Record Fair every Sunday, and Long Beach is popping off, too. If you're a collector, right now is the perfect time to start.
what i would have given though to attend the capitol records mart or BeatleFest, though, that would have been a treat
Congrats, Kadrian! I'm curious if the LPs you are selling were bought specifically to sell or if they are from your own collection (duplicates, ones you are purging, etc.). And, if the former, do you get them from Garage/Yard/Estate/Moving sales to keep the prices affordable?
thanks, Michael! it's actually a mixture of both ones from my personal collection (I've been whittling down a 5K collection to a 1K collection) in addition to records I buy at these sales, plus i've started buying collections from friends, family, and next door / facebook marketplace. i keep the prices accessible, meaning that i don't overprice anything. i base my pricing off the Goldmine Standard of Pricing and grade the records conservatively. with that, i aim to at least break even on a record if i feel it's something that someone should have in their collection. hope that helps!
thank you, Michael! absolutely think if you want to whittle it down, it would be a really great editing exercise in curation, too. it's helped sharpen my collection and part with LPs that I never listen to. appreciate the kind words as always.
Congrats Kadrian - sounds like this was a great success, and a lot of fun too. Your transparency on the stats and financials is welcome - maybe you didn't bank a profit this time, but you've banked all those valuable learnings for the next one... And you met some interesting people, which is what life's all about, ultimately! I look forward to reading about more.
appreciate the kind words, Rich! you're absolutely right. the learnings were invaluable here, and it was my choice. no complaints and happy to keep the journey going.
I'm so impressed, Kadrian, with your jump-start with the store! Great job on the merch, too! That's key to start with that, as it's an up-front money stream, as well as advertising that's "going out into the street"! Thanks, too, for thoughtfully mentioning Andres' article and my "little storefront," FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE! Keep on doin' what you're doin'!
thanks so much, brad! the merch part was really fun to figure you're out. you're totally right, it's merch + advertising so the value has to come back in the awareness it brings.
But, you did it smartly, getting to the merch FIRST! It, too (along with you), can begin working to spread the brand right off the bat! Many would wait to make merch until (list of excuses, reasons here)!
it was CRUCIAL to get that merch off on the right start. i wanted to make sure that people knew what Latin Gold was from the get-go, and branding is key. could not agree more with you!
Congrats on stepping outside your comfort zone. The investment you made in the whole enterprise (the being in the red) really well serve you well in the future. Consider it a market research expense given all the learnings it produced.
couldn't agree more, thanks for the support, Mark!
Congrats, Kadrian! And thanks a lot for the shout-out!
What you did is incredible. I particularly admire the fact you consciously decided to get out of your comfort zone. With that strength, determination, and courage, you’ll go far… mark my words.
thanks so much, Andres! appreciate the kind words and support as always. here's to taking chances.
I'll shout-out Drain for making Santa Cruz an aspirational destination for me once again. Listen to California Cursed, you say? Good idea.
fast follow - listened to california cursed on the way to work, and it wildly got me pumped up, so great reco!
That's it!
that's a GREAT idea and going to listen to them ASAP. i wish i had been able to catch a show while i was up there, although this randomly awesome Ska band did perform at Abbott Square . . .
Me again! I responded first to your kind mentions, then I read the piece! Congratulations on your showing! Your first forays into record shows SHOULD be seen as potential "loss leaders," Kadrian. Your store is your anchor, but travelling to shows (and even flea markets, depending on location and other vendors) should be part of the early-going....good on ya for realizing that! Your presence, plus selling merch will help get your name out there.
I'm sure you're talking with other retailers, as they share their experiences of taking "their show on the road"! I've only ever done local record shows, renting a table, and, if a weekend, show, just leaving my table covered overnight for the next day (while sleeping at home)...or, just renting for one of the two days! You might want to consider "car-camping" for future out-of-town shows. It'll save on motel costs, and I bet you'll find others who can give you tips and hints about planning ahead for places to safely park'n'sleep! Reaching out online might be helpful, too!
Keep us posted!
brad! this advice is INVALUABLE. the car-camping is a good idea! unfortunately this time around with all the stuff I had to bring (i definitely overpacked), i wouldn't have fit into the car to sleep haha. i really enjoyed the "hitting the road" aspect of it, but it sure is exhausting. for sure, i need to join some record fairs more local to Southern California and glad that I journeyed so far to get to that idea haha. the people i've talked to so far have been so helpful, and i'll keep everyone posted on the journey. thanks, again for your support!
We're talking 40 years ago (early- to mid-'80s when I last attended), but is there still the once-a-month record mart in the parking lot across from Capitol Records? Also, BeatleFest was an annual affair (with record vendors) at the Orange County Convention Center those same pesky 40 years ago!! Is that still around?
Like Andy (and Shaun Cassidy...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_Late) K.A., you were born too late!!!!
alas, i don't think it's there anymore at Capitol Records but I hear the OC Convention is still going strong! there are so many fairs now. There's one at the Burbank Holiday Inn end of May, there's one in Highland Park this Sunday, there's the LA Record Fair every Sunday, and Long Beach is popping off, too. If you're a collector, right now is the perfect time to start.
what i would have given though to attend the capitol records mart or BeatleFest, though, that would have been a treat
Congrats, Kadrian! I'm curious if the LPs you are selling were bought specifically to sell or if they are from your own collection (duplicates, ones you are purging, etc.). And, if the former, do you get them from Garage/Yard/Estate/Moving sales to keep the prices affordable?
thanks, Michael! it's actually a mixture of both ones from my personal collection (I've been whittling down a 5K collection to a 1K collection) in addition to records I buy at these sales, plus i've started buying collections from friends, family, and next door / facebook marketplace. i keep the prices accessible, meaning that i don't overprice anything. i base my pricing off the Goldmine Standard of Pricing and grade the records conservatively. with that, i aim to at least break even on a record if i feel it's something that someone should have in their collection. hope that helps!
That's brilliant. I too have many thousands of LPs and sometimes think I should try to whittle it down to a more manageable amount.
I applaud you for making the dream of Latin Gold come true.
thank you, Michael! absolutely think if you want to whittle it down, it would be a really great editing exercise in curation, too. it's helped sharpen my collection and part with LPs that I never listen to. appreciate the kind words as always.
Congrats Kadrian - sounds like this was a great success, and a lot of fun too. Your transparency on the stats and financials is welcome - maybe you didn't bank a profit this time, but you've banked all those valuable learnings for the next one... And you met some interesting people, which is what life's all about, ultimately! I look forward to reading about more.
appreciate the kind words, Rich! you're absolutely right. the learnings were invaluable here, and it was my choice. no complaints and happy to keep the journey going.