Independent music retailer Rough Trade is expanding its presence in the UK, announcing plans for its biggest store in the country to date, to be located in Liverpool.
This marks a significant step in the retailer’s ongoing growth, following a three-fold increase in its UK vinyl market share over the past five years, according to a press release.
Slated to open in the first quarter of 2024, the 6,500-square-foot store on Liverpool’s Hanover Street will boast the chain’s largest performance venue. Music enthusiasts can expect an expansive selection of vinyl, merchandise, and a calendar of events featuring both national and local acts, facilitated by ticketing platform DICE.
This expansion adds to Rough Trade’s existing network of five UK stores in London, Bristol, and Nottingham, further expanding its UK presence. It also comes on the heels of the company’s recent European foray and the upcoming opening of its Berlin flagship store in Q2 2024.
“We are excited to grow our UK presence with a store in Liverpool. The city has such a rich musical heritage as well as a vibrant scene right now which we hope to honor and represent in the best way we can.”
Lawrence Montgomery, Rough Trade
“We are excited to grow our UK presence with a store in Liverpool. The city has such a rich musical heritage as well as a vibrant scene right now which we hope to honor and represent in the best way we can,” said Lawrence Montgomery, Managing Director at Rough Trade.
“The scale (both size and ambition) of the store shows our commitment and investment to the city. We can’t wait to delight customers in the record store and venue in due course.”
Beyond music, the Liverpool store will offer a bar and cafe, partnering with Signature Brew and Dark Arts to provide draught beers and coffee. The retailer will also be recruiting music lovers to fill key roles, including managers, bar staff and retail assistants.
The expansion in the UK and Europe follows the appointment of Curt Keplin less than a year ago as Managing Director, Europe. Prior to joining Rough Trade, Keplin led and oversaw full-service B2B music distributor FUGA in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria (GSA). He previously worked with Kobalt, City Slang, and Cooperative Music, among others.
Rough Trade Retail is part of the broader Rough Trade brand, which includes Rough Trade Records. The origins of the brand can be traced back to a London-based independent record shop founded in 1976, with Rough Trade Records gaining prominence by signing The Smiths in 1983.
Since a GBP £800,000 deal in 2007, the wider Rough Trade collective has been part of the London-based independent music company Beggars Group.
In 2016, Rough Trade’s publishing arm was sold to Bank Robber Industries, which folded the company into its publishing arm, House of Hassle Publishing. Rough Trade Publishing was the surviving entity following that deal.
A year later, Primary Wave Publishing bought an equity stake in Rough Trade Publishing for more than $5 million and pledged to provide the company with future financing.
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