Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessi Zilka.
Jesse Carl Vinyl started as a side hustle to save money in preparation for a transitional move to Nashville, TN. I had gone to college and graduated with my degree in Communications with the hopes that I would get involved in the music industry. I was already an avid record collector and knew I had an eye for finding records at flea markets and garage sales. I figured I could flip records that I found on my excursions, make a few bucks, and stuff that cash away as I prepared to move. In the summer of 2015, I got involved with the Downtown Lakeland Farmers Market as a pop-up record shop. My expectation was that I would maybe make $100 a week or so, and after a year of selling, I’d have a small nest egg to help me get started in Tennessee. To my surprise, as the weeks passed, I wasn’t just making $100. I had people waiting for me when I would arrive to set up on Saturday mornings. I was making double, even triple, what I expected every single week. After about five months of noticing the success as a pop-up, my family approached me about possibly looking into brick and mortar locations for the record shop. I initially refused the idea, still clinging to the hope of moving to Nashville. But within the last two weeks of December 2015, I was gifted a sum of money by a generous family member AND shown a place downtown that suited all my needs and would lead me to a full-scale shop in the near future. I took that as a serious sign that Jesse Carl Vinyl was bigger than what I ever imagined possible. I signed a lease at the beginning of 2016, and in March, I opened my doors as a brick and mortar business!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Honestly, it’s absolutely astounding how smooth the road has been. March of 2021 will mark our five year anniversary as a business, and I’m still amazed at Jesse Carl Vinyl’s success and the support we constantly feel from our community. March of 2020 was a little scary for us as we awaited the word on the shut down due to COVID-19, and I began to worry that my business wouldn’t stay afloat through the year. But when we reopened in May, our sales soared. We’ve been busier than ever before, and I couldn’t be more thankful.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
A really cool thing about Jesse Carl Vinyl is the fact that we’re a family run business. My dad and I are the main faces here at the shop, along with our part-time employee Aaron, and you get that sense of home and comfort here. We do our best to please our customers and make sure they’re walking out of here with good music in their hands and a pleasant shopping experience on their minds. We’ve developed relationships with many of our regulars, and that’s something so unique and special when shopping with a small business. For us, it’s not just about having records to flip through. It’s about the atmosphere and acceptance a customer feels while they’re also shopping for music. I think that’s what sets us apart from other record stores. We want to connect to people through the power of music and hope that that attitude cultivates comradery with others.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
When I first started as a business, I had been shopping at the Brandon Sound Exchange for several years. I had built relationships with the guys that worked there, and it had become like a second home to me. When I was feeling overwhelmed or unsure of what to do, I would ride out to that shop and hang there for hours, talking about my concerns or frustrations with the guys running the shop. They were always SO willing to give me advice and tips, as well as encouragement to keep going and not give up because things got tough or I didn’t know what I was doing. I say if you want to get into the record business, find those kinds of places you know. Go to your favorite shops and talk with the owners and employees. They likely would love to chat with you and give you tips and encouragement. Another great way to find that is through social media. Record stores love to follow each other and shop with each other because it builds community. Those things can be SO vital as you’re building up your brand and inventory, as well as simply just learning the ropes of the trade. Without the support and advice from the guys at the Brandon Sound Exchange, a lot of little things would have pushed me to an unhealthy place as I faced learning and figuring out the business. Their words, ideas, and kindness will remain with me for the rest of my career.
Contact Info:
- Email: jessecarlvinyl@gmail.com
- Website: www.jessecarlvinyl.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessecarlvinyl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JesseCarlVinyl
Image Credits
Picture of Sid on records taken by Samantha Bryant
