For some business owners, the pandemic hit them hard. But for others they actually saw some financial growth, that includes John Selak owner of the MusicBoxx record store in Sheboygan, WI.
I had the pleasure of interviewing John, who happens to be my stepfather. He has been collecting records for a while now and started to really get into collecting records in the 2000’s when his neighbor gave him a couple of old records including the Grateful Dead, this would start his passion.
He was first an employee at the record store as his uncle was the owner, he worked there for quite awhile but eventually he would actually buy the record store as big financial and would then become the owner. Amazingly enough this was all happening in a pandemic.
When I asked John what was the hardest part about acquiring the MusicBoxx during the pandemic he said, “The hardest part was definitely the fact that I couldn’t meet with my financial people in person, and I prefer to work with people in person.” Now most people would think that all these things happening at once would take the record store down a peg, but this is where the MusicBoxx would begin to thrive.
Business actually went up as more people had free time on their hands and more people wanted to start collecting records and from there was an increase in record sales. John also started to make an online inventory so records could be accessed and purchased all from at home.
But unfortunately, due to some being careful during the peak of the pandemic some of John’s longtime customers could not come to the record store for months. This was hard for John as all customers are a good thing but he made some great connections with the ones he has known longer.
This story does have a good ending as the MusicBoxx is having a great year financially, some great expansions are in the works, and covid restrictions have been loosened up. So if you’re ever in the Sheboygan area why not stop the record store and say hello to John
Leave a Reply