If you are into electronic music, chances are high that you might know our latest interviewee: Matt Caulder. And if his name doesn’t ring the bell, probablyHandsome Zack’s Recordsdoes.
Named after his first cat (awwwwww), Matt had a previous career in retail but when record selling became more than a hobby, he chose to pursue the dream and now he’s a Platinum Seller.
Handsome Zack’s Recordsgoes beyond what you would expect from your average record store and, as the very own Matt puts it into words in his Discogs description: 「By shopping withHandsome Zack’syou’re not only picking up some fantastic vinyl on the cheap accompanied by customer service which is second to none but you’re also helping to support both local and global animal causes because who doesn’t love animals?! Each month a portion of my profits go to supportThe World Wildlife Fund,The Wildcat Sanctuary, ourLocal Humane Societyhere in Jacksonville, FL, TheASPCA, and another big cat sanctuary,The Catty Shack!」. Nice, isn’t it?
Great prices, amazing customer service, and animal charity all together? We must be in heaven.
For all our fellow music and cat lovers, don’t forget to followhis Instagram accountfull of incredible records and feline friends. We are delighted to introduce you to a Mint Discogs Seller.
What’s the name of your shop?
Handsome Zack’s Records
How long have you been selling records on Discogs?
Roughly 8 years total, I used to operate under a different name but when I got serious I decided on a name change. Back then Discogs didn’t allow you to change your account name.
How did you get into selling records?
Like a lot of people here, it started out as a hobby. I had a really nice career in retail and I was just doing the record thing on the side to pay for new records I wanted. I would sell a few old ones to buy some new ones but one thing lead to another and I got to a point where I needed to make a decision and that was to either stay in retail or take a leap so here I am!
What is your favorite record store right now? Why?
At the moment I really only buy new records for myself soRed Eyeis my go-to shop. I』d been shopping with them since before the internet, listening to records over the phone to have shipped.
Do you have a story that you』d like to share about record selling? Please tell us!
I sometimes buy record collections off of Craigslist so a word of advice, never go to someone’s house alone or without your taser!
What is your favorite record of all-time?
That is a tough one, its either 「Let It Be」 byThe Beatlesor 「Unknown Pleasures」 byJoy Divisionso let’s go with 「Architecture and Morality」 byOMD.
What is the most valuable item you』ve ever sold?
J.T. AllenandThe Little Richard Band「Working Hard/ Freeway Crowd「. Picked it up for a $1 about 10 years ago at a dig and just liked the song, I never had a clue as to how valuable it was. I played it all over town totally clueless that I could never replace it if something happened to it. I wound up selling to a Japanese collector to purchase an extremely rare record you can ask me about later.
What does your own record collection look like?
My personal collection looks like a lot of records, of course. Its separated into two collections really as I keep my first love,Drum n Bass, separated from everything else. My general collection is alphabetized as it would be on Discogs while myDrum n Bassis set by release year so I can trace the evolution from 1989Acid Houseand Breaks to 1992Hardcoreup to the current stuff.
What has been your best record find?
I』ll go with the aforementionedJ.T. Allenfor straight 「I went out and dug this record out of a pile of garbage after 8 hours of digging」. Currently, I own an extremely rare copy of 「One Nation/Say It」 byPhotekoff ofGrooveriders Prototypelabel that I bought off of Discogs.
What is your number one tip for buyers and/or sellers on Discogs?
Communicate! Always communicate!