Inspiring Conversations with Russell Walls of Super Stuff Records

Today we’d like to introduce you to Russell Walls.

Hi Russell, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Like most record shop owners, I borrowed my parent’s records to listen to when I was growing up. I bought my first record when my dad was stationed at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. I went in to buy Crocodile Rock by Elton John, and they were playing something I hadn’t heard before over the speakers in the shop. So I asked about it and ended up buying Strawberry Letter 23 by The Brothers Johnson on 7 inches 45 first. Then I bought the Elton John 45 second. I still have both of them today! As a record collector, I would frequent thrift stores, record shops, yard sales, flea markets, and any little junk shop I could find to search for vinyl records. The passion of hunting for records and the thrill of finding something different to listen is what drives me. I decided to sell my extra records as a Pop-Up Record Shop at coffee shops, breweries, punk rock flea markets, and at record shows. It’s a great way to meet other vinyl record collectors. I did that for several years before I decided to set up spaces to sell my vintage vinyl records. I describe our business as a Small Boutique Record Shop consignment space with two locations: The Market of Raleigh, 4111 New Bern Ave Suite 121, Raleigh, NC 27610 (Booth #45). Salvaged Heirlooms, 103 W Main St, Benson, NC 2750 (Record Rack).

I love providing vintage vinyl records to collectors. I’m not against digital media, but some of us folks like vintage media sometimes. It’s tangible in that you can hold it in your hands and look at the cover while you’re listening intently at home. It’s fun to look for records and add them to your collection. I have people all the time asking about different artists or bands. It’s nice when you can provide them with something that brings back a memory or a time they spent with others. I’m always buying small to medium collections of vintage vinyl records so I can restock my spaces every week or two so it’s fresh when people come to dig for records. If you’re into music on vinyl, I encourage you to share that love with others.

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?
The biggest hurdle is finding quality records for my buyers. I drive all over to buy small to medium-size collections of records. I’ve fixed split covers, cleaned records, replaced inner sleeves, and put on three mil outer sleeves so the covers don’t get more damaged. It takes time and effort to search for quality records. Since my spaces are small, I have to carefully curate the selections that I offer while providing a wide variety of genres. I restock every week or two, so hopefully, the stock feels fresh each time someone visits to look for records.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We try to provide vintage vinyl records to music lovers & record collectors. I don’t even think of us as competing with other record shops. I host a Facebook page called Triangle Area Vinyl Group to help promote all the record shops in our area. I consider all of them my friends in the vinyl community and direct collectors to different stores if I don’t have a certain record based on what they are looking for.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I love seeing people find a vinyl record they have been hunting for a long time. Just the joy in their faces is amazing. I get thanks by messenger all the time after someone finds a record they’ve been searching for. I love the friends that I’ve made in the record collecting hobby. I’m very happy to have regular customers that buy from me and share their purchases with me. I get to talk shop with them, and it’s nice to share knowledge about record collecting.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://russellwalls.wixsite.com/website
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/superstuffrecords/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/superstuffrecords