Overview
It's only been a few months since Polyester Records closed their CBD store, but we're already feeling the withdrawls. Where else are we supposed to go while killing time before a coffee date? As Flinders Lane makes its final transformation into a Bonsoy latte and Pieface dispensary, where can we turn for quality vinyl, books and CDs? Luckily Polyester Records still has its smaller Fitzroy store, but now they need your help to make it great.
Polyester have long been champions of the local music scene. Hosting a series of live in-store gigs, their CBD store was always buzzing with the latest talent. Now they want to replicate that energy in their Brunswick Street abode. Though the store's been standing for 30 years now, it's always been too small to accommodate such events and they've launched a Pozible campaign to help crowdfund the renovation.
As you can see, the store's already a tight fit — you'd be hard-pressed to fit a drum kit beside the bulky vinyl shelves let alone a whole band and audience. So, with a target set at $12,000, co-owners Simon Karis and Nathan Nott are planning to build new compact racks for the LPs, create a smaller sales counter and move it to the front of the store, then set up an appropriate performance space down the back.
"Times have been really tough for us — and all record stores," Karis recently told Tone Deaf. "We definitely don’t just want to come off us as ‘hey, poor us’ and ‘give us money’. We want turn the money into something we can all share."
As always, pledgers to the Pozible campaign will get a few perks of their own. Mid-range rewards include Polyester Records' t-shirts, vouchers and CD prize packs. Some big spenders have already snapped up the iconic neon smoking man sign and original screen-printed posters, but if you spend more than $1,000 you can commission your very own oil painting from Melbourne artist Tracy Ellerton!
That being said, the main prize will be what you're getting back from the store. Think of your donation as a down-payment on those free gigs you'll be getting. This is a store who got Best Coast to perform an all-ages, in-store gig. They're pretty unlikely to let you down.
The Pozible campaign ends Monday, July 21. Head over here to read more and make your pledge.