THERE is just over a week to go until one of Redditch’s favourite independent shops closes its door for the final time on February 3.
Located just off Church Green East, Vintage Trax record shop returned to the town centre in September 2020, amidst the Covid epidemic, after six years on Birchfield Road, Headless Cross.
But despite the nationwide increase in sales of vinyl records, the past eight months have been challenging for the business that first appeared in Redditch with two pop-up shops in the Kingfisher Centre back in 2013.
Owner Ros Sidaway said: “My bad fall at the end of May 2023 and subsequent time away from the shop to recover, rising overhead costs, the cost-of-living situation leading to a drop in footfall and sales, have all created a perfect storm that, try as I might, I can no longer navigate.
“However, this is not the end of Vintage Trax.
“I intend to continue much the same way I started just over 10 years ago with a mobile stall, pop-ups, events and festivals around Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and south Birmingham areas.
“And in conjunction with several pubs, I’m developing Pop Up The Pub – a flexible package – either a stall plus music quiz or vinyl afternoons or evenings, with live acts or in the summer months, a music day or festival weekend.”
In this way, Vintage Trax will also continue to help raise awareness of and funds for its chosen charity, Cavell which supports the nursing and midwifery family through tough times.
Meanwhile, a closing down sale has begun with half price offers on quality preloved vinyl records, plus further discounts of music gifts and merchandise.
The shop is open from 10am until 4pm on Tuesday, Wednesday Friday and Saturday.
Visit VintageTrax.co.uk for more information.
