Dutch Vinyl owner Mark Reuten still can’t wrap his head around the phenomenon that is Record Store Day. It’s the biggest day on his calendar year. “The day is all still a bit of a mystery,” he jokes. “I’m still not quite sure why people come in.”
Conceptualised in the US, Record Store Day brings together fans and artists, while also celebrating thousands of independent record stores. The day has since spread and is now a highpoint for many record stores like Dutch Vinyl to showcase their newest – and oldest – collections.
Initially a web-designer, Reuten opened the doors to Dutch Vinyl three years ago as a passion project. Since then, the store has grown beyond what he ever imagined. So much so, Reuten has had to open a new shopfront a few doors down to cater for his ever-expanding collection. “I kind of set up the store on a whim but amazingly, it has continued to grow,” he says. “We now have another property which is completely filled with records and bursting at the seams and gone from one full-time staffer to three.”
In the age of digital streaming, it’s hard to imagine record stores like Dutch Vinyl thriving as much as they are. But for Reuten, he sees vinyl as an antidote to the drawbacks of digital age music. “I think as the world continues to turn digital, music becomes almost a bit of a commodity. It’s almost like a tap that you open and music just streams out – it’s a bit soulless,” Reuten says. “I think people find it a lot easier and nostalgic when they listen to an entire album [on vinyl].”
Reuten also finds older generations purchasing records in an effort to reclaim their childhood collections. “There’s a lot of people in their 40’s saying, ‘I want to get my records back’. Whether that be Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin,” Reuten says. There’s the collection element of it too. “The ability to walk into someone’s house and over to their vinyl cabinet and explore what they are interested in is really cool.”
Dutch Vinyl sets itself apart from other record stores with their focus largely on second-hand collections – many sourced from around the world. This, as Reuten highlights, creates a less “curated selection” allowing for a more dynamic assortment of records. The Holland-born owner believes this is appealing to his customers and caters to more budgets. “People who don’t have a lot of money can come in and spend 50 bucks and walk out with ten records, which is really cool,” Reuten says.
On Record Store Day, Dutch Vinyl will be opening up an entirely new section of their store which will house “a few thousand” new records. Doors will also be open from 8am onwards this year to fit everyone in. “Last year we opened up at 9am and we had people beating down the door,” Reuten says.
There will also be plenty of food alongside the opening of the store’s new section with the burger joint next door putting out some extra chairs and tables to keep punters satisfied.
While the day is still a bit of a mystery to Reuten and his now two record shops, it’s the busiest day of the year. “People really come out… it’s just a great day. There’s a real buzz, lots of people and heaps of music on. It’s kinda like being in a bar, only, everyone is carrying piles of records,” he says. “I’m really grateful for the people who show up and support us because that allows us to keep growing and do what we are doing.”
Find Dutch Vinyl at 269 Johnston Street, Abbotsford who will be open from 8am for Record Store Day on Saturday April 13. Head to their website for more info on the record store and for online sales.
