The UK’s Leading Independent Vinyl Record Wholesaler

I often get asked why I started Even by Odd. It’s certainly not because of the glitz and the glamour. I can think of hundreds of other sexier businesses. And it’s not because of some genius idea I had to revolutionise the industry with never-seen-before features, processes and practices.

Although that will always remain the mission — to revolutionise an old, clunky, and cumbersome industry, and continue as the leading vinyl record wholesale distributor and supplier covering all your needs.

Even by Odd was formed out of our dying necessity for a full one-stop shop vinyl records distributor that stocks not only vinyl but CDs, merch, and even DVDs. A wholesale supplier that provides better transparency and communication. Without it, it wasn’t easy to run a record shop day-to-day; surprisingly, it wasn’t something existing vinyl record wholesale distributors could easily achieve.

As a record shop, and in particular, one whose business model includes a monthly record club, we had a huge issue with the supply of stock. As a bootstrapped business (the type where any money coming in is quickly spent on more stock to try and get more money coming in), it was embarrassing to order records after buying stock we couldn’t necessarily afford just to meet minimum order quantities, only for the stock we did need not to show up!

You see, if you didn’t know, the major labels, fulfilment centres and wholesale partners within the music industry operate with minimum order requirements. Typically, when I first started my record shop, it was also difficult to find and open an account with these vinyl record suppliers. When you did, you found you had to meet minimum order requirements so that they would ship the stock out to you — and when you’re dealing with a multitude of different vinyl record suppliers where you have to meet their varying order requirements, that quickly become pricey and risky to your business’s cash flow.

I found myself, not only wasting time, speaking to multiple vinyl record distributors to try and secure stock but as I alluded to earlier, paying through the nose to meet minimum order requirements where I bought stock I wasn’t sure I could shift quickly, with no guidance or help from anyone.

In addition, and this is still a huge problem today, I would place orders for stock only for it to be seemingly prioritised for one of the supplier’s key accounts. A lot of the vinyl records ordered would go out of stock by the time it was shipped to us, without any communication during the process. When buying in from abroad, I realised how costly shipping could become too.

After years of suffering, I decided to speak to a few industry friends and quickly realised the solution was simple. Build our own independent vinyl records wholesale distributor and supplier that offers a one-stop solution for young record shops just starting out, and those who import their stock from abroad.

There were 3 really simple missions (which are easier said than done).

1. Offer the widest range of music product available
2. Deliver with superb, transparent service, speed, and with a smile
3. Operate economically and efficiently enough so that both small and large customers benefit from using us

Who would we benefit most?

1. Small independent record shops who operate on a shoestring budget and can’t afford to order £1,000’s worth of stock every week
2. The music sellers based outside of the UK, who need an easy and efficient way to import stock without having to absorb 6 different shipping costs

Were we perfect from the get-go? Hell no. Are we perfect? We’re closer, but still some way off who I want us to become. Will we get there? With time.

That’s my honest assessment.

We’re still operating on a shoestring ourselves, combating much larger players in the space who, it feels like, aren’t looking to improve their processes to benefit their customers. And why would they?

No one was trying to revolutionise the industry. No one was forcing them to change their behaviour. It’s cheaper and easier to stay stagnant until someone comes along and causes an earthquake.

I’d like to think we’re making a small dent in changing that narrative. We’re causing a slight tremor, at least.

I will always fight for our customers to succeed and I hope you join us on our journey, choosing us as your vinyl record wholesale supplier. We will always strive to improve and perfect what we can control and will put pressure on the larger players to change what we cannot and do not control.

If you have any questions, you can contact me directly at jordan@evenbyodd.com.

Thanks,
Jordan