Princeton Record Exchange
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Princeton Record Exchange, located at 20 South Tulane St. in Princeton, New Jersey, is an independent music store. PREX (as it is often referred to) was founded in 1980 by Barry Weisfeld, a quirky disco-loving music aficionado. Their store spans 4,300 square feet and houses 160,000 titles, the largest selection of any independent music store in the northeast.[citation needed]
In spite of the growing competition that the internet has bred, the store maintains profitability by purchasing used cds, used dvds and used lps for resale. In peculiar contrast with most other internet business models, they do not sell music or movies online, but they do purchase many collections online.
By turning the internet from an enemy to an ally, they've created national interest through public information services including rock discographies and jazz discographies. Such services have garnered their business good will from their target demographic.
Positive publicity in leading music journals has also contributed to their businesses ongoing success. The New York Times is quoted as saying, "Customers come from as far as Scotland and Japan or as close as around the corner. Since 1980, the Record Exchange here has flourished..." Billboard magazine has added, "With both bargain hunters and serious collectors, the Princeton Record Exchange has established a secure niche for itself." And major music groups have contributed, as LCD Soundsystem is quoted in Wire, "...if it wasn't for the Princeton Record Exchange, I might as well have grown up in the armpit of the world...The Record Exchange saved my life."
While the store offers an extensive selection of mainstream categories like rock, alternative, hip hop, and punk, it also features a selection of over 15,000 classical cds and jazz cds. In addition to music, Princeton Record Exchange also carries over 10,000 DVDs.
