Surviving in a digital world Despite soaring Internet music sales, record stores aren't extinct ... yet
By Robert Gold THE NEWS-TIMES
Brian Gerosa of Gerosa Records in Brookfield has a large selection of vinyl records for sale. Gerosa says that most music stores could not survive just selling compact discs.
Selling CDs isn't what it used to be for Dennis Esposito.
Gone are the peak years in the 1990s, when people were snapping them up.
Now many people head for the Web to buy albums. Or they download music and play tunes on their MP3 players.
"I'm not very optimistic for the future being rosy and bright for me," said Esposito, who runs the music shop Disc & Dat in Bethel with his brother, John.
But despite his concerns, the shop is still up and running. Since starting in Stamford in 1988, Esposito has seen countless independent CD stores close.
How do you survive when so many other music shops don't? A few local stores share their secrets.
The Espositos moved from Stamford to Bethel to save rent money. "We moved to lower our expenses," he said. "That's probably the only reason we're still open."
At the time, the brothers felt Bethel would offer walk-in customers. But Esposito said he sees more out-of-town shoppers. With fewer and fewer music stores, those remaining are more sought after.
"Now that we (record stores) are getting extinct, it is better for us," he said, referring to his store.
Some record stores are selling online to boost sales. Not Disc & Dat. Esposito said he wants people to see the store as a destination. Consumers can have fun hunting the racks for their favorite music.
"It's like we're becoming a library, except you have to pay for the stuff to take it," he said.
The Bethel shop has also increased its vinyl records in the last few years. Esposito said the 1990s were glory years because many people were getting their first CDs and getting rid of vinyl.
Kathy Kelley, who owns Trash American Style in Danbury with her husband, Malcolm Tent, said vinyl records grow in popularity every year.
Kelley said about 60 percent of the music they sell is vinyl records, not CDs.
For many people, vinyl has a whole lot of soul. Customers connect emotionally with the product.
"CDs -- well, they have a little bit of soul," she said.
Trash American Style will close its doors on Mill Plain Road, where they've rented for 18 years, at the end of April. But Kelley said it wasn't their decision and it wasn't because of slow business.
She declined to explain the need to move, but said they plan to find a new storefront. "We'll be somewhere in the area."
Brian Gerosa and his brother Bob opened Gerosa Records 20 years ago in Brookfield. Vinyl records have grown in popularity there, too.
"We stock more because we sell more," he said. Could it be an iPod backlash? Brian Gerosa thinks so; records sound better. "Maybe kids are starting to realize that," he said.
Still, the Brookfield business is not turning away from technology.
Gerosa says he sells discs on eBay and starting March 1 customers will be able to buy music on the Web site gerosarecords.com.
"You can't stay away from the Internet," he said.
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