Tell us a bit about yourself...

I've DJ'd in Cardiff and London, been a side hustle music journalist and collected music since my teens (I'm now in my 50s).

What inspired your business?

I had done pop ups and record fairs while maintaining a corporate job in marketing and communications. I had enough of the corporate world, and they felt the same too, and decided to go all in with a record shop, when a unit became available. Mint and Sealed is both the ethos of the shop, and a pun on my surname, which is Seal.

What makes your shop special?

Almost all the vinyl is new and sealed and it's a handpicked selection of the best of most genres. I don't have that much 70s rock, but in the shop, pop rubs shoulders with indie, ambient, afrobeat, contemporary jazz, hip hop, funk, soundtracks, alternative metal, grunge and more besides. At the mo it's just me, so I take the time to get to know customers, stock what they like and recommend albums they don't know yet. It's become a nice little community.

Why did you join ERA?

There's strength in numbers in joining a community representing the interests of music retailers - and the annual conference, RSD entry discount and music licences, meant I can learn from peers, as a new shop, and benefit a lot from the membership.

What's the best thing about running your business?

I enjoy being my own boss, and utilising my marketing expertise with the creative and web side of the business. Who doesn't love opening a box of new records and getting to hear new releases before the general public? I held a massive listening party for Hayley Williams Ego Death which was brilliant fun and getting to know customers, their lives and their tastes, then hitting them up with records that hit the spot is a great buzz.

What’s the biggest challenge for retailers right now?

Social media can generate a lot of demand for particular album titles, and having those in stock when a shortlived trend hits can be quite the challenge. There are also a huge variety of colour vinyl pressings and direct to consumer exclusives which mean some albums don't get the shop sales that they should. Also, putting albums back into pvc sleeves after playing them is one of the peskiest challenges known to humankind!

What would make up your desert island discs?

I would have to say either Prince : Parade - which is his funkiest and most touching album, or This Mortal Coil : It'll End in Tears - the Liz Fraser vocals on Song to the Siren make time stand still.

OTHER RECORD STORES