Record Store Profile: Bondi Records NSW

What is your store called?

Bondi Records

Where are you located?

We’re in Bondi Junction, just a couple of minutes’ walk from the train station – right in the thick of things, but still a bit tucked away. Locals call us a hidden gem, which we don’t mind at all. We’re also online here.

Are you a physical store, online or both?

Both, and that’s been a big part of our growth. We launched online during lockdown when people were stuck at home, rediscovering their record players. Fast forward four years, and we now have a physical shop that has become a real community hub. Some customers shop with us from the other side of the country, others pop in every Saturday to flip through the crates and chat.

Do you cater for a specific niche or genre?

We’re proudly genre-agnostic and like to think there’s a record here for everyone. You’ll find everything from classic rock and Japanese jazz reissues to hip-hop classics, obscure soundtracks, Aussie indies, club staples, and plenty of pop variants, too. That said, we do have a soft spot for records that come with a story; things that make people go, “Oh wow, I haven’t seen that in years.”

Tell us about the people behind the scenes?

We’re a small, music-mad team. I co-founded the store with my partner, Geri, in 2021. We still handle everything, from buying and packing to marketing and customer service. We’ve got a small, casual crew who bring their own musical leanings to the mix, soul singers, punkheads, pop obsessives. Everyone’s got their thing, but we all pitch in. No one’s too good to change the bins or hype a good pre-order.

When and why did the store open?

Bondi Records started in 2021, mid-lockdown, shipping records out of our garage. We wanted to create the kind of online store we wished existed, one that was curated, fast, and actually gave a damn. What started as a side hustle quickly snowballed into something bigger, and at the end of 2024, we opened our first physical shop. From day one, it’s been about building a store that treats music as more than just product, something tactile, emotional, and worth slowing down for.

What do your customers most know you for?

Fast shipping, killer curation, and down-to-earth service. We’re not precious about what you’re into; we want to help you find something you’ll love. We’ve built a bit of a rep for hard-to-find variants, solid pre-order drops, and our Vinyl Club subscription, where members choose from a rotating monthly selection or opt for a surprise pick.

What is the most popular title you stock at the moment?

Ethel Cain’s sophomore album Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You has been our hottest pre-order of the year. We’re struggling to keep up!

What is the most popular evergreen title?

Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours. It’s bulletproof. Every week, without fail, someone picks up a copy. It’s the kind of record people buy for themselves, then come back to buy for a mate. Still timeless, still magic.

What is the best thing about running a record store in 2025?

The fact that records still matter, maybe more than ever. Streaming’s fine for background mode, but vinyl gives people a way to actually listen. To connect. You see it on their faces when they walk in, it’s part nostalgia, part discovery. What’s cool in 2025 is that it’s not just diehards anymore. Teenagers buying their first physical music, whether that’s a Sabrina Carpenter LP or a Daft Punk reissue. Parents introducing their kids to Bowie. Collectors hunting coloured variants. You’re not just selling wax, you’re giving someone a moment. That’s a real privilege. And the best part is when someone messages to say a record made their day.

What is the hardest thing about running a record store in 2025?

Margins are brutal. Between rising wholesale costs, international shipping, local freight, and all the back-end operations that people don’t see, it’s a tough business to scale profitably. And that’s before you factor in pressing delays, barcode errors, damaged stock, or surprise “Deluxe” variants that undercut the 60 copies of the standard version you’ve already got on the shelves. But honestly, the hardest part is time; there’s never enough of it. We’re a small team handling large volumes, so we’re constantly balancing growth with sustainability. It’s not glamorous, but if you love music, it’s worth it.