Owner of Chichester vinyl record shop looks forward to welcoming back customers

Craig Crane, the man behind Analogue October Records in South Street, said he was ‘pleasantly surprised’ at the Prime Minister’s announcement that non-essential businesses could potentially open as early as April 12, as he had feared the lockdown could drag on much longer.

He said of the shop: “We’ve built up a massive loyal following who basically support the shop throughout the year. We really look forward to welcoming them back in April.”

Mr Crane is particularly looking forward to being able to chat with customers again.

“People come in here just to talk and share ideas,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing that I’ve missed during lockdown, people coming in and just chewing the fat for an hour. The shop is a social hub for people.”

When the shop was forced to close last March, he launched a website for the business which ‘took off really well’.

The website is set to stay even when the shop reopens, as he said: “It’s great for letting people know what’s coming up.

“And we have to be aware of the fact that some people, come April 12, might not be ready to come out and shop. Just because you can doesn’t mean you want to.”

Reflecting on the pandemic, he said the last year had been extremely tough for businesses in the city.

“The first couple of weeks of lockdown one, it was very novel to see Chichester so quiet,” he said. “Then reality bites and you think – this isn’t good.

“Lockdown three we’ve seen more retail units being emptied and businesses which have been here for years just closing.”

And he fears the next few months may have more trouble in store for small retailers, as measures such as the business rate holiday come to an end.

“That’s going to have a massive impact on a lot of businesses who are hanging on by their fingernails,” he said. “That’s going to be quite traumatic.”

But he was hopeful for the future of our ‘great city’.

“Chichester has so much to offer, not just in terms of big trade names,” he said. “The independent retail offering, it’s thriving despite all the challenges we face.”

Many customers had told him the city needed more independent shops like his, he said.

“It’s a great shop, it’s a cool shop, I think it’s one of the most attractive shops in Chichester in terms of its aesthetic,” he said.

“When you walk in, you’re immediately taken back to a much more innocent and simple time.

“It’s always nice to have a customer to come in for the first time – they just stand there and say, wow.”

He hopes that some of the empty retail units that have been vacated during lockdown will attract new occupants who share ‘the same vision for Chichester’ that he has.

“At its heart Chichester is blessed with an amazing enterprising spirit and an amazing independent retail scene,” he said. “I hope that will always be the case.”