New report retailer to open in Wichita

Les Easterby was a young person in highschool taking an entrepreneurship class when he was requested to create a marketing strategy.

“My marketing strategy was to open a report retailer,” he mentioned.

Now, simply over twenty years later, that is what he is doing.

Subsequent month, Easterby is opening the File Ship at 230 N. Cleveland, simply up from the Workroom.

He thought-about extra outstanding websites alongside Douglas and Central avenues, however Easterby mentioned, “Individuals saved telling me a report retailer is extra of a vacation spot, so you do not essentially must be seen on Douglas.”

He’ll have 600 sq. ft of retail house and one other 1,000 sq. ft of warehouse house the place he finally additionally plans to host occasions, corresponding to live shows or vinyl swap meets.

File Ship will promote a wide range of music, together with rock, soul, jazz and different picks. Easterby additionally needs to supply new wave, punk and experimental music, which is far of what he likes.

Although the main focus shall be on new and used vinyl, the shop may also have CDs, tapes, books, T-shirts and different objects. Easterby mentioned he’ll think about shopping for collections and can commerce as nicely.

“I’ve at all times cherished report shops.”

He labored at Spektrum Muzik from 2015 to 2020.

“They’re nonetheless going sturdy,” Easterby mentioned, noting that the shop is celebrating 10 years in enterprise, “which is nice.”

Nonetheless, he mentioned, “Now I am simply completely happy to do my very own factor.”

After he left Spectrum, Easterby stayed within the enterprise by promoting mail-order information.

“I began to discuss with that operation as a File Ship as a result of I ship information,” he mentioned. “And it is sort of a play on report store.”

There’s even what he known as a “unfastened house theme to it as nicely,” which he likes.

Easterby plans to proceed to ship information.

“I plan to maintain on promoting in each approach attainable,” he mentioned. “It is a necessity.”

He additionally could proceed to do pop-up occasions.

File Ship ought to open by Aug. 12.

Easterby additionally will maintain his day job as an actual property agent along with his household’s Park Plaza Realty.

“No person is getting wealthy off of report gross sales,” he mentioned. “I simply hope to proceed to do it so long as attainable and be an asset to the group and check out my finest to additional enrich the tradition of this city, as a result of that is what it is all about.”