Bic Camera opens specialized used record store in Akiba

Bic Camera has launched “BIC RECORDS AKIBA by Face Records,” a specialized used vinyl shop located within the Bic Camera AKIBA store. The venture is a collaboration with Face Records, an operator of six record specialty stores both in Japan and abroad.

The shop features over 5,000 used records across various genres, including pop, anime, and idols. To encourage entry-level enthusiasts, the store utilizes a fixed-price model where EPs are priced at 480 yen and LPs at 980 yen. This strategy aims to attract younger demographics and drive interest in audio equipment sales by providing an affordable gateway to analog music.

In its first two weeks of operation, the store reported over 400 visitors and approximately 1,500 units sold. Bic Camera intends to use the recurring nature of record collecting to increase customer foot traffic, potentially leading to future sales of higher-end audio hardware. The companies are also considering expanding this concept to other regions.