On your marks, Pink Floyd fans: it’s Record Store Day – Kevin Buckle

This year more than ever shops need the boost in sales that this event can deliver, writes Kevin Buckle

Form an orderly queue for the new Biffy Clyro single (Picture: PA)

Today is the first of the Record Store Day drops – a time for David Bowie and Pink Floyd fans, this year joined by Cure fans, to worry that they might not be able to buy a release they already own several times already.

Since we reopened customers have been nothing but sensible so I’ve decided to where possible try to have some elements of normality to the day. We have never opened at 8am, which is the official start time, as that is no time to be selling records and as the mall is still on reduced hours 9am is not possible so we open at 10am.

We have never encouraged queueing but for those who must queue before we open it will start at the Waverley Bridge entrance and there will be signs with further explanation. Any queue will then extend towards the Gardens. Once open we can cater for ten social distancing groups in the shop, with no group more than two people. There will then be a further monitored queue in the mall extending towards Waverley Bridge.

I’ll be disappointed if we run out of the most sought after release which for us is the Biffy Clyro single. Moderns covers David Bowie’s Modern Love and Frightened Rabbit’s The Modern Leper. We have a lot!

Other releases this year include an album by the BMX Bandits and singles from The Vaselines, The Pastels and Nazareth.

Once I’ve seen what stock is left after closing at 5pm I’ll decide what to do with it but won’t be rushing to list at 6pm when online sales are allowed. I’ll leave that mayhem to others. As always I will list what we have left on Saturday night so folk can come along on Sunday knowing what we still have.

It hopefully goes without saying that face masks should be worn and if you do feel unwell please be sensible and take the online option.

I think most shops would agree Record Store Day is normally quite stressful and while this year should in theory be more sedate there is also a large element of the unknown so I’m sure all concerned will be glad when not only the day is over but also the stock is sold.

Over the years the releases have become less limited and more expensive and it is very easy for shops to get carried away and order too many things that they wouldn’t normally dream of selling only to find they are stuck with them.

This year more than ever shops need a boost in sales and while Avalanche has never recorded the massive sales some shops claim hopefully it will indeed be a useful influx of cash and we won’t be left with those expensive Pink Floyd singles I’m already starting to have my doubts about. Some excellent timing also means we take delivery of the first batch of Butcher Billy giclee prints on Friday so if any Bowie or Cure fans don’t get enough of a fix from their Record Store Day vinyl we will have prints to tempt them too.

It goes without saying that all retailers, not just record shops, need customers just now and much as small local independents should be supported the bigger shops are also big employers so hopefully there is enough love out there for everyone.