The owner of a business described as the 'most rural record shop in the UK' has been overwhelmed by the success of the venture as he is soon to celebrate one year in Broadwindsor.
Ian Picken has been a lover of records since he worked in record shops as a teenager.
Last year, he took a chance making his dream of owning a record shop come true after he was knocked off his feet in 2020.
The Record Vault at Redlands(Image: Ian Picken)
Previously, Mr Picken ran an events company in wellbeing and education in Berkshire but sadly lost his business during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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The 58-year-old then became ill with the virus and suffered the harrowing effects of Long Covid thereafter.
He said: "Covid took the rug from my feet and [the business] closed overnight essentially."
Following a change in career, the music lover - who now lives in Beaminster - opened the Record Vault at Redlands Yard last November, and since then, people from all over the country have come to visit.
Ian Picken inside the Record Vault at Redlands(Image: Ian Picken)
Following the increasing popularity in returning to vinyl, Mr Picken said his customers are of all ages interested in a wide range of genres - from pop, classic rock, country and folk.
"It has been so lovely to be part of the community and to get the support from the community. Some people just come in for a chat about music, which is great," he said.
The shop will be celebrating its one-year anniversary on November 23 and has been coined the 'most rural record shop in the UK' by record shop consultant and author Graham Jones, who wrote Last Shop Standing: Whatever Happened to Record Shops?
The shop owner also hosts a regular record club at the White Lion pub, to unite music lovers across west Dorset and to discuss music with likeminded people.
To further give back to the community, Mr Picken is hosting a 'vinyl revival' charity event on Thursday, October 30 at Comrades Hall, in an evening of quizzes, memorabilia and a talk on the resurgence of vinyl popularity from author Mr Jones.
Inside the Record Vault at Redlands(Image: Ian Picken)
Live music will be provided by B Sharp, a charity in Lyme Regis that work with children and young people, to help boost social connections and wellbeing in the area.
Mr Picken said they have already sold 50 tickets for the charity event, and is delighted by the local interest.
He said: "For a small place like we are, that is great.
"When we were younger, you would carry an album back from a shop under your arm for people to see, to show that was your group."
More information regarding the charity event can be found on Eventbrite.