We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Eunice Nnenna Nwankwo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Eunice nnenna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The idea of my business came when an old friend reached out to me asking if I had any vinyl records at home, or knew someone who did. Before then, the last time I’d seen or heard of vinyl records was about 15 years before, when I was going through stuff in our store room at home, and happened across a stack of Michael Jackson albums in vinyl Large plates. I asked my friend what he needed them for and he said he was interested in buying African music on vinyl large plates. He had a collector he usually sold them to; that piqued my interest because at the time, I was so broke! And nothing I tried was working, not 9 to 5 jobs, promo jobs, working at bars, I was frustrated.
So I told my friend that I’d help him find the albums he wanted, if I’d get a commission for my efforts,which he agreed to. Working with him wasn’t easy though, and I wasn’t making much from the commissions, at a point, I thought of just quitting and looking for something else to do to earn some income, but I was curious about the business, moreso as it had to do with music, finding tunes I’d never heard until then. At some point I got a job at an insurance company and my friend had to find someone else to assist him in finding those records.
A few years after,I left my job with the insurance company, and started looking for writing jobs, I worked freelance, writing,transcribing and editing. I wrote some of my own books, but couldn’t publish any,because I didn’t have the capital.
One day, I was visiting another friend and found her neighbor bringing out stacks of vinyl records,all in great condition. The neighbor was bringing them out to throw them away. Immediately, I remembered my friend who bought records and gave him a call, he came by and we spoke to the neighbor, he ended up buying just 5 from the whole lot. More than 300 vinyl records.
That night, when I got home, I kept thinking about the 295 records left. I called that neighbor and asked him to keep the records for me, then I went online and did some research on Vinyl LPs, who buys them, and what they use them for, what conditions they have to be in; because these are old stuff, we’re talking about albums released in the 60s, 70s, 80s, why would people still want the plates? In a time when ipods and Spotify playlists were the new way, why were people still interested in vinyl Lps? I found a couple of record stores and collectors online and had a short talk with them about vinyl LPs, and told them I had about 295 Lps I wanted to sell. Long story short, with the guidance of my friend who introduced me to the business I sold 237 more of those records!. The neighbor who owned them made some cash, I made some cash, More money than I’d ever made in my entire life! That was when it clicked. I could do this as a business,it could work. From my conversations with those stores and collectors,I learned that there was a market for African music and Africans in the diaspora, didn’t really have these music on vinyl LPs available to them. By buying African music, on vinyl plates -that people around here didn’t seem to want anymore , and selling them to people who actually wanted them, I was solving a need, and making money! I sank both feet in and never looked back! It’s a decision I’ve never regretted, and was even able to publish my first book not long after.

Eunice nnenna, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Eunice Nnenna Nwankwo, I’m a writer, and a vinyl dealer, I write under the pen name: Nina Davies, and I’m the C.E.O of vinylrose37, a brand that caters to mainly music and literature lovers.
I got into the industry through my love for reading ,writing, and my love for music, I used to be a singer, and was in a girls band called ‘The Dynamix’, I wrote most of our songs,which is where the love for storytelling developed, I buy and sell African music,reggae music and some other rarely found music on vinyl large plates, we’re working on introducing crafts like beadwork and wood work as well. I authored a book called “Choose the right” which is a book I wrote for middle schoolers and it talks about the importance of living a life of kindness,honesty and moral responsibility in today’s world, the book mainly teaches this through stories of kids, fictional characters of course, who are faced with certain situations and choose to do the right thing.
As a writer,I create stories that stir the heart, challenge the mind,and reflect the world we live in- especially through the lens of African identity, resilience and emotion. As an author, I craft books that inspire young minds,spotlight the strength of women,and give voice to often unheard stories. My work ranges from emotional intelligence guides for children,to short stories addressing real world issues like domestic violence,child abuse,bullying,peer pressure,early marriage and moral dilemmas.
Alongside my writing,I curate and sell vinyl records -timeless music in physical form for lovers of nostalgia, analog warmth and sounds that breathes, for collectors and music enthusiasts. I provide not just records,but an experience: a chance to reconnect with authentic sound and story telling through music.
The problems I solve? I offer meaningful literature that fills the gap in moral and emotional education, especially for young readers, I help people reconnect with soul stirring sound through vinyl, providing a break from the digital noise. And through my stories,I hold up a mirror to society, encouraging healing,empathy and transformation.
What sets me apart is my intersection of passion: I don’t just write or sell- I curate emotion, whether it’s through a character’s journey in a story or the talking drum’s rhythm on a vinyl record, I aim to create experiences that linger.
My writing is deeply rooted in real issues and local realities,yet universal in emotion. I don’t shy away from difficult topics, but I always write with care, compassion and clarity. I offer work that teaches without preaching, entertains without escaping truth, and uplifts without ignoring pain.
As a seller of vinyl records,I don’t just offer products – I build connections, my customers are like my friends. I help people find the soundtrack to their memories,moods and milestones.
I’m most proud of the way my stories have touched lives- how young readers have been touched by, and found strength in my characters, and how music lovers light up when they hear a record they thought they’d lost to time.
I’m proud of staying authentic, building a brand that reflects who I am and what I stand for. I’ve remained committed to quality over trends,and substance over hype.
I want people to know that I create with heart, Every story I write,every vinyl I sell is chosen or crafted with care and intention. I believe in storytelling as a force for change, and in music as a bridge across generations and cultures.
More than anything,my work is a celebration of life- it’s beauty, it’s struggle, it’s rhythm, whether it’s a powerful story or the perfect vinyl.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

My vinyl business started with a bit of luck, a lot of curiosity, and no capital at all- just initiative. I didn’t have a collection, a storefront,or a business plan at the time. What I had was an opportunity: someone had a stack of vinyl records they wanted to dispose of. I saw potential where they saw clutter.
Instead of walking away, I offered to help find buyers. I became the go-between, connecting those forgotten records to people who still valued them. That first sale didn’t just move the records, it sparked an entire business. I used the money from that sale to buy more records,slowly building a small collection of my own. I reinvested everything I made,again and again,growing from a curious middleman to a full fledged supplier.
There was no big capital injection or investor backing- just one opportunity, a willingness to try, and the drive to build something from nothing. That’s how it began: organically, practically,and fueled by passion.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Two things: honesty, and a willingness to take risks on people, even when I had no guarantee they’d do the same for me.
In the early days,some potential buyers were understandably cautious. I was a new game, and in a niche like vinyl records, trust is everything. So rather than push them to commit, I’d flip the script. I’d tell them to select about 20 records they wanted, and I’d send them the package without upfront payment. They could pay once it was delivered, including the delivery charges.
It was risky, not everyone followed through, and I did take a few losses, but for the most part, people were surprised by the trust I showed them, and they responded with loyalty and respect. That simple act of faith opened doors, built relationships and word began to spread. I became known, not just for my records, but for how I treated people.
In a world where trust can be hard to come by, I built my reputation by offering it first.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinyl_rose37?igsh=MWp6bjU5YmxnaW8zcA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CHBqRgh1w/
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/eunice.nnenna.nwankwo?mibextid=ZbWKwL

  Email: [email protected]

Image Credits

Photographer: Prince photos
Outfit: Nchendo Iregbenu & Ajike Amisu
Makeup: cynbys make over

Photographer: Richard Izege
Outfit: Stitches clothing