Record shop owner says Covid helped realise dream

Steve Cook began selling records from home during the pandemic

The owner of an independent record shop in Cheshire said the pandemic encouraged him to realise his dream of selling vinyl.

Steve Cook quit his job as an internal auditor in 2022 to focus full-time on Applestump Records in Nantwich - named after the first record shop he went to as a boy.

The move into retail began during lockdown when he and his wife Danielle could no longer enjoy their hobby of touring cities in the UK to buy records.

"So we decided to try and make the record shop come to us," said Mr Cook.

They initially built a website and bought around 80 records to sell, which customers would collect from the end of their driveway or Mr Cook would deliver after work.

He said it was very slow to start, but the "stroke of luck" came after being invited to be part of a pop-up market in a local café, which demonstrated the appetite for a record shop.

"I think it's safe to say, it it wasn't for Covid, it definitely wouldn't have happened as we would've been tied up doing what we'd always done," he said.

As well as selling new and used vinyl, the shop also hosts intimate gigs and stages bigger shows in local venues.

The shop is not on the high street to keep the rent down, but Mr Cook said not being as visible as other retailers is not a problem.

"Record buyers like finding things, so if they have to find the record shop in the first place, you're already on to a winner."

Mr Cook said the first lesson he learnt as a record shop owner was that not everybody likes the same music as you