Q&A

Albert Twomey, Plugd record shop, Cork

What kind of person decides to work in a record store?A music obsessive, usually. Even as a teenager, I listened to Dave Fanning every night and collected vinyl records by the likes of The Pixies, Fugazi and Sonic Youth. Later I ran music labels and worked for many years in HMV. I wanted to open an independent record store in Limerick, but that never got off the ground. When Jimmy Horgan invited me to join him here, I jumped at the chance. The stuff we do here – everything from jazz to heavy metal – is right up my street.

Are all your customers serious, list-obsessed young men?We have customers of all ages, from their late teens right into their 40s or 50s. Girls have begun to buy punk records, in particular, in greater number. But it's still mostly men. I'd say the split is 70/30. Despite the recession, there has been a small upturn in vinyl sales. People are staying in more these days, so a lot of them are going up into the attic and dragging out their parents' old record players.

Which band has the most eccentric or demanding fanbase?Probably U2. The release of their limited edition Wide Awake in Europe 12 inch was one of the craziest experiences I've had in this business. It was a horror show. There was just a constant barrage of calls from people with, by and large, very poor social skills. Of course, I'm sure that's not representative of U2's fan base as a whole.

What's the most expensive record you've ever sold?God, I don't remember . . . But there was one I let go for a lot less than I should have done. It was a vinyl copy of Nina Nastasia's first album, which was worth €250. I was new in the job. I didn't see the flag and, stupidly, I didn't check the previous sales history. I sold it for €20.

Plugd was an institution on Washington Street in Cork. Why the decision to relocate?It was a great spot, but the rent and rates were just too high. We inquired about getting a reduction but were told it wasn't going to happen. The day we were due to leave, we got an email relenting and offering us a reduction. But by then we'd already made the decision to leave. Everything was packed in boxes. Luckily we've found a new location that's dryer, cleaner and more spacious.

Initiatives such as Record Store Day trade on the goodwill of the community. As long as I've been a customer, Plugd has always been a very welcoming place to visit.Thanks. Well, we've always tried to make this a place people can come for a chat, where they can listen to records and where there isn't a huge pressure to buy.

But prior to the advent of the MP3, the same could not be said for a lot of record shops. There's no doubt some record shops had a reputation for rudeness. Staff were just too cool for school. Often you'd ask the guy the behind the counter some very innocuous question and get very short shrift from him.

Of course, independent record stores are no longer sole gatekeepers to the world of esoteric music. Is this what has prompted a change of approach?Absolutely, because you just wouldn't get away with treating customers like that now. It's the same as any business. If there's a nice atmosphere and the staff are personable, the customer will be comfortable and want to come back. Our new shop has a cafe downstairs where people can come in and hang out. If they hear a tune playing on the stereo, the album is for sale on vinyl upstairs. I know other record stores in Dublin have merged with tattoo parlours or are hosting art exhibitions. It's all about diversifying.

Considering the challenge posed to your business by online retailers, digital sales and illegal downloading, why are you convinced the record shop still has a future?Sales for new releases are undoubtedly way, way down. But demand for second-hand CDs and specialist titles is holding up. We also do a steady trade in sale-or-return titles by Irish labels like the Richter Collective and Trust Me I'm A Thief. But look, I still come across old albums from the 1980s with the skull and crossbones "Home taping is killing music" logo on them. So music resellers have been under pressure for decades. We'll get through this.

Plugd Records is now open at the Triskel Christchurch, Cork’s new multi-purpose arts and cultural hub