Spinning a profit: How Mr. Vinyl turned nostalgia into a booming business

Stephen Grootes speaks to Bret Dugmore, owner of Mr Vinyl, about the state of South Africa’s vinyl and physical music market.

Listen to the interview in the audio player below.

What started in 2013 as a small online operation with a single crate of records has grown into one of South Africa’s best-known vinyl retailers.

It was started by Bret Dugmore, a DJ himself, who spotted a gap in the local market more than a decade ago.

While vinyl never completely disappeared, it had become difficult to find quality records and reliable equipment in South Africa. Instead of seeing that as a problem, he saw an opportunity.

In an era dominated by music streaming, Dugmore chose to back the older format..

Today, Mr. Vinyl operates both online and from a physical store in Johannesburg, serving collectors, DJs and everyday music lovers.

The store has since become a destination for collectors looking for new, sealed records as well as quality turntables and Hi-Fi equipment.

Dugmore’s broader industry experience also plays a role in the success of the vinyl store.

As CEO of SAMP Records, he understands both the creative and commercial sides of the music business. That insight helps him navigate supplier relationships and industry trends.

Speaking to Stephen Grootes on The Money Show, Dugmore says his deep understanding of the music industry has helped Mr. Vinyl stand out in a competitive retail environment.

"It's always been my passion. It was my lifeline when I was a kid, like so many others around South Africa. I grew up with my parents listening to vinyl records and I would later as a teenager play in bands and get involved in writing about music and it was always an escape for me and always something I really wanted to work hard in."

- Bret Dugmore, owner - Mr. Vinyl

"I was very lucky that I managed to pursue music throughout my life. I did go to university to study a BA in politics, philosophy and economics, but I was lucky at the same time I could step away from that after having finished it and pursue music."

- Bret Dugmore, owner - Mr. Vinyl

"People love collecting things. If you like something and you want to give it a space in your world. You want to have a vinyl record you can put on your shelf and you can see it and you can think of the artist and you can really feel a lot closer to the artist."

- Bret Dugmore, owner - Mr. Vinyl

Scroll to the top of the article to listen to the full interview.