Table of Contents
RICHMOND, British Columbia — London Drugs isn’t just one of Canada’s top retail pharmacies; it’s also a leading destination for consumer electronics — including music and, increasingly, vinyl records.
London Drugs said it has steadily expanded its vinyl record selection in stores to between 400 and 500 titles, and several hundred additional titles are available at LondonDrugs.com. That has made London Drugs a go-to source for vinyl enthusiasts in western Canada and nationally through its online store, said the retailer, which also runs a blog on vinyl records within its Urban Lifestyle blog.
“The nostalgia associated with vinyl cannot be matched by a digital track, and for many who used to listen to vinyl back in the ’80s and earlier — the entire process beginning with the shopping experience, the perusing of the liner notes and cover art, and ultimately the analog audio experience — brings back memories,” according to Colin Cottrell, electronics and audio/video systems merchandise manager at London Drugs.
Though sales of digital albums have surged in recent years, vinyl records are the fastest-growing music segment, London Drugs noted. In 2015, sales of vinyl records totaled 11.29 million, up from 9.2 million in 2014 and marking the 10th straight year that vinyl sales have risen, the retailer reported, citing figures from Nielsen.
In Canada, vinyl LP sales have climbed 39% for the first six months of 2016, London Drugs said, pointing to Nielsen Canada’s 2016 Mid-Year Music Canada Report.
Friday, Aug. 12, marks Vinyl Record Day — the day that Thomas Edison invented the phonograph in 1877 — and London Drugs said stores will be playing vinyl records and featuring the latest in turntable technology. The retailer also is offering one-day specials, including 15% off all LPs and a free LP (value up to $39.99) with the purchase of the Audio Deal of the Month.
“We see a wide variety of customers looking for vinyl now, from boomers looking to experience the sound quality they remember from their youth, to a whole new generation of young customers who are discovering vinyl for the very first time,” commented Andy Kahrmann, business unit manager at London Drugs.
While London Drugs offers the full range of drug store merchandise, with pharmacy at the center of its operations, most of its stores have a footprint enabling them to offer a mix of products among the most diverse in the industry — notably a large electronics department, which has been a key shopper destination. Computers and computer supplies, software, televisions and home entertainment equipment, mobile phones and devices, household appliances, and a wide selection of cameras and photo equipment are found in almost every London Drugs outlet.
Overall, the chain operates 78 stores in over 35 major markets in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
