How are retailers doing amidst the Covid crisis? Steve F., Ken G. and others?

[Scrotum Scissor]

Granted I haven't exactly been shopping alot since this began, but I think there are a lot of us who'd appreciate to know how prog-pushers are holding out to these conditions. I recently placed an unusually modest order at Steve's house, not really reflecting too much on how things are moving along as far as postage routines abroad and business in general are proceeding. I'd dare say there's a worry concerning stuff as apparently banale as the mercantile aspect of everyday aesthetic life, yet for some of us this is a substantial part of what we live for.

Porn was never doing better, I dunno 'bout the Prog. Any inputs on the subject - the latter, I mean?

[Munster]

ReR Megacorp in London is having a sale. Loads of discs reduced to £5 (and postage is free - the only proviso is you have to order at least four discs). I ordered on Wednesday and parcel recieved today (Friday) via Royal Mail.

[battema]

Last I saw Steve, he was on the roadside desperately trying to shape a Henry Cow CD into a shiv








I'm not 100% sure my buying pattern has shifted personally...I buy often from Wayside, and usually wait to see if they'll have a title first before seeking it elsewhere. Hopefully others are staying the course where they are able to do so

[Scrotum Scissor]

^ But unlike what everybody apparently seems to think, they're not even his alltime favourite band!

[battema]

^ But unlike what everybody apparently seems to think, they're not even his alltime favourite band!

See, that's how I'll know it's serious, if I see him trying to use Etron Fou to shank someone!!

[Buddhabreath]

Good question albeit within our personal microcosm in the scheme of things. I will certainly be making a substantial purchase via Bandcamp and Wayside to support the artists as well as my favorite music "retailer" since the early 80's when I actually went to SF's house to pick up my records at first, rather than actually have them mailed (if he remembers). Those were the days.

Similarly, we are picking up food or having deliveries consistently from our favorite restaurants as well as buying when we can from local business (via curb-side pickup at this point) rather than say Amazon.

In my view this is part of supporting our community and working together to get through this and have our local business remain viable. This is going to be a marathon rather than a sprint.

[Scrotum Scissor]

ReR Megacorp in London is having a sale. Loads of discs reduced to £5 (and postage is free - the only proviso is you have to order at least four discs). I ordered on Wednesday and parcel recieved today (Friday) via Royal Mail.

It was always amazing how Chris C. was able to tay in reasonably safe business. Great to know how he's still keeping it alive.

[Kcrimso]

ReR Megacorp in London is having a sale. Loads of discs reduced to £5 (and postage is free - the only proviso is you have to order at least four discs). I ordered on Wednesday and parcel recieved today (Friday) via Royal Mail.

That offer has been active for long time. Nothing to do with current crisis.

[Scrotum Scissor]

^Your country has a handful of pretty (damn) successful reissue companies and retailers to show; do you know, for instance, how things are going with an establishment like Svart in these days? Here in Noway we have a thing called "krisepakker" - public bills of financial release - from the government, intended (obviously) not for commercial turnover but to cover lost expenses for everyday revenues as to employment and rental expenses. Folks in music and theatre and cinema are starting to express their general dismayal though - especially as token to general lacks of strategy for cultural financing.

[Kcrimso]

^Your country has a handful of pretty (damn) successful reissue companies and retailers to show; do you know, for instance, how things are going with an establishment like Svart in these days? Here in Noway we have a thing called "krisepakker" - public bills of financial release - from the government, intended (obviously) not for commercial turnover but to cover lost expenses for everyday revenues as to employment and rental expenses.

I don't have any specific knowledge about situation of Svart but I would guess that they are still doing ok as I think they are doing their most business online anyway. And I think most of record shops (those few that are still around) in Finland are still open.

[Poisoned Youth]

The emphasis here is our fine retailers. Let's keep it there.

[Scrotum Scissor]

^ Oh, very much so. Me mentioning that aspect was not in any way meant to politicize things, so I wholeheartedly agree about that.

[LASERCD]

Thanks for asking.

We are doing ok. (We = Lasers Edge. It would be inappropriate for me to speak on Steve F.’s behalf). At first things were a little bit shaky and the new reality hits you. You wonder if you will have issues paying bills and making payroll down the road. Luckily this only lasted a few days and then things settled down. People adjusted to self quarantine. In general we are seeing love from our customer base who I think are feeling more than a little housebound. The customer comments we are receiving are very gratifying.

At the moment the biggest issue we are running into is getting stock from the distributors we work with, as well as a shortage of new releases. One thing we are doing to get repeat eyeballs is to step up our effort to put slow moving titles on final clearance. Its something we’ve been doing for years but now we have a bit more time to focus on it. While we don’t make any money on these it helps our cash flow and gives our customers an opportunity to dig a bit deeper with low risk.

Hopefully we are picking up some new customers along the way and retain them when brick and mortar reopen.

Many thanks to all who have supported us for the past 32 years.

If its been awhile come re-visit our site at. You might like what you see.

Sending love from the bunker...

Ken Golden
Laser’s Edge
www.lasercd.com

[Steve F.]

^ ^ ^ ^

When did being inappropriate ever stop you....

[LASERCD]

^ ^ ^ ^

When did being inappropriate ever stop you....

True. OK screw it. I speak for Steve too.

[Sputnik]

It's good to hear you guys are weathering the storm!! I'm curious if you're finding it more difficult to get new product in? Also, do you get a sense that bands are having difficulty getting new product made at this time?

My non-Prog rock band is nearing completion of our second album, and plan to make at least a few CDs that we'll never be able to sell. I'm wondering if we'll have trouble finding a manufacturer?

Cheers!

Bill

[LASERCD]

It's good to hear you guys are weathering the storm!! I'm curious if you're finding it more difficult to get new product in? Also, do you get a sense that bands are having difficulty getting new product made at this time?

My non-Prog rock band is nearing completion of our second album, and plan to make at least a few CDs that we'll never be able to sell. I'm wondering if we'll have trouble finding a manufacturer?

Cheers!

Bill

Bill I mentioned this above. Some of the European labels have shut down for the time being making it difficult for distros to supply us. The pressing plants seem to be functioning to some degree.

I expect the pipeline will open up fully by June.

[Sputnik]

Bill I mentioned this above. Some of the European labels have shut down for the time being making it difficult for distros to supply us. The pressing plants seem to be functioning to some degree.

I expect the pipeline will open up fully by June.

Cool, thanks!

[bondegezou]

Lots of 2020 album releases have been delayed (e.g. Rick Wakeman's The Red Planet, Steve Howe's Love Is), although other albums are on track.

Henry

[M Sary]

It's good to hear you guys are weathering the storm!! I'm curious if you're finding it more difficult to get new product in? Also, do you get a sense that bands are having difficulty getting new product made at this time?

My non-Prog rock band is nearing completion of our second album, and plan to make at least a few CDs that we'll never be able to sell. I'm wondering if we'll have trouble finding a manufacturer?

Cheers!

Bill

French TV's new cd will be out in a couple of weeks. My regular manufacturer is shut down, but after a lot of shopping around, here is the one I went with: https://www.snjcd.com/ Based in Jacksonville FL. My contact Jeff has been great to work with and quick to reply to questions.

[Sputnik]

French TV's new cd will be out in a couple of weeks. My regular manufacturer is shut down, but after a lot of shopping around, here is the one I went with: https://www.snjcd.com/ Based in Jacksonville FL. My contact Jeff has been great to work with and quick to reply to questions.

Cool, thanks! I'll keep this in mind. We're still a couple of months away, but this may be useful!

Bill