Avalanche Records in Edinburgh
Is it still set to close this weekend as was planned a few months back? Was planing on coming through from Glasgow for one last purchase for old times sake
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http://www.avalancherecords.co.uk/2013/01/01/avalanche-future-plans-and-hmvfopp/ just read this today
he has a lot of good points about the industry's support for HMV the impact that has on independents
but at the same time I really can't help but think that if he didn't constantly bitch at bands and complain about his own customers he might have an easier time of it.
...people who buy direct from bands
What exactly is the problem with this?
Surely, when you consider the bigger picture, it's better that a band get their money direct from selling their product to a fan rather than a lesser percentage received from a sale via a record shop.
Totally agree with Guntrip - the article raises some good points but then seems to do its best to alienate the very people who would like to see the shop continue.
Should also add
I heard from a source that he used to charge the Glasgow shop for the use of the name "Avalanche Records" hence they had to change the dreadful "Love Music".
Speaking of "Love Music" (urgh) - I wonder how much money that fucking pinball machine is making them? Who the hell plays pinball these days anyway?
Have you ever been walking up the street and suddenly thought "I really want a game of pinball"?
Tuts have got one too. All they do is take up space that could be used for other things, like people standing around mumping about the dreadful future faced by independant record shops.
Love Music
Yeah, the pinball machine is very strange. There are a few of them in the big HMV now too. Didn't know Tuts had one too! Love Music seems to be a terrible shop now.
There seemed to be a direct connection between the name change
and the general decline of the shop. The pinball machine was a weird move. They also had posters up advertising local record fairs. If they are struggling then it seems odd to give free publicity to your competitors.
The machine in Tuts is on the right as you come through the door. Never seen anyone play it.
Yeah,
I agree that the shop seemed to get really crap when it changed name. I can't see it lasting much longer to be honest
Used to love the Avalanche/Love Music
shop, I only rarely come to Glasgow but when I did I always managed a few minutes in there before my train.
I wouldn't know where to go now in Glasgow ..
...Monorail??
Avalanche in Glasgow never really offered me anything more than the utterly brilliant Monorail did tbh
Hopefully Monorail
is going to be not too far away from the centre and the stations.
As I said, I don't go very often so it was handy just there by the station. Thanks I'll check it out.
I always . . .
. . . wander in to what I will always call Avalanche in my mind when I pass through Glasgow on the way home, what with it being right beside the station.
Did find the pinball machine bizarre but can't really judge whether it has gone downhill what with only seeing it once a year. Got recommended the rather excellent French Wives album this year so I left a happy customer anyway.
his reasoning (which I think is fair enough, actually)
is that good, independent record shops that build trust with their regular clientele are excellent ways for bands to market themselves and sell copies.
his specific thing is when, on subsequent records and when they have a fanbase, they make hoover up a lot of sales by selling directly to fans and shops are left with stock that they have to pay upfront for.
(of course, I don't blame bands for doing that
it's not so much they want more of the pie, it's because the pie has shrunk considerably)
Fair enough....
but he's not clarifying his point in the way you are and in doing so he's tarring everyone with the same brush.
You are right that the bands can't be blamed for direct selling. If I can buy direct from a band then I will do as I want the people making the music I'm buying to get the most profit that they can.
However if that's not possible then I will try to seek out the album wherever i can and if that is in my friendly independant shop then that's great. If i can get the album in Fopp and i know it's cheaper than elsewhere then that's where i buy it.
As always it comes down to the old argument of whether you are willing to spend a couple of quid more on a record simply to keep your local independant record shop in business. These days most people aren't.
fair enough
all they had to do was stock new and re-release vinyl but, nah, they just displayed over priced, third hand records and a pretty rub' selection of cdz
Went in there once when I was playing in a show at the fringe.
weekend before Mew's last album came out. Asked if they'd have it in and bought a reggae compilation and the South Park Christmas album. Seemed an OK place.
I don't think he comes across badly in that blog post
and I can definitely understand what he's saying, especially with regards to people who count themselves as supporters as indie shops yet who mainly buy stuff from Fopp/HMV/online.
I remember being in Piccadilly Records in Manchester earlier this year, and someone in front of me in the queue asked how much the new Graham Coxon LP, and was told it was £15, to which they said (with a smug smile) "oh, okay, well I'm going to check Fopp as they might have it cheaper". I mean, even ignoring the customers blatant and unnecessary rudeness, it was fucking £15, the cheapest Fopp would have had it would be £13, are you really going to quibble over a couple of quid when you could be supporting an amazing record shop?
However, I really really really hope that Fopp doesn't close down as it's the only place on the high street to buy reasonably priced dvds, particularly world cinema.
Aw that's a shame
I went a couple of times last August when I was over. I bought some badges rather than any albums. One of them was an Avalanche Records badge. I'm looking at it now with a sad face.
The selection of CDs wasn't great though actually now that I think about it
Made me wonder back then if they were about to close or something.
he doesn't stock much beyond obvious sellers and Scottish music on CD these days
the focus has shifted a lot towards vinyl in the last year and a half
I think I bought a CD in Fopp instead.
I AM THE PROBLEM.
indie/alternative?
I think the problem is while Avalanche may be indepedently owned it is in no way an alternative to mainstream music shops.
Crap wages and conditions for staff, he deals with the same distros and sells the same music as HMV etc and just like HMV etc when he was making loads of money from over-priced CDs back in the 90's he failed to see what was happening or adapt to the internet age.
Good riddance I say.