Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to MICHAEL BELL. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, MICHAEL thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, one thing many business owners consider is donating a percentage of sales or profits to an organization or cause. We’d love to hear your thoughts and the story behind how and why you chose the cause or organization you donate to.
A customer recently dropped off a crate of vinyl records. Normally, these are throwaways or stuff you’d find by the curb or in the thrift stores. But these were not, and I’m saying, it was LOADED with good stuff. The Grateful Dead. Classic Rock. Soul. You name it. So we decided to pay it forward and donated a percentage of sales from the collection to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. We got a kind message from its director saying that our donation helped provide 1500 meals to our hungry friends and neighbors.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m pretty proud of a number of things about my shops. In addition to hosting community events, and live music (charging no fees to those “starving artists”) we often contact customers who have sold us records to give them more money if I undervalued a collection. I believe in good karma. And that honesty has helped our reputation grow more and more.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
When COVID hit, we had to close. But we still had bills to pay. A local friend and fellow business owner loaned me a crowler machine to sell draft beer to-go. I worked solo and made complimentary trips to customers homes bringing them beer so they didn’t have to get out. We were able to make ends meet and stay alive, while also building our reputation as a trustworthy, hard-working business. I haven’t forgotten about my friend’s contribution, and have given him my contacts in the record industry to build up his business as well.
Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?
When I lost my job as a journalist in 2008, I landed a job at a record store in Alabama. Being a native of Raleigh, NC, I wanted to come back home to friends and family. My father believed in me and my passion for vinyl and loaned me the funds to get started. We (my girlfriend, now wife) basically lived in the shop to start it, sleeping on a blow-up mattress and taking what I call “bird baths” in the shop’s sink. We opened our first Hunky Dory in the summer of 2010 and I paid him back his $20,000 loan in 13 months. We opened our second Hunky Dory in Raleigh in 2020.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hunkydorydurham.com
- Instagram: @hunkydorydurham @hunkydoryraleigh
- Facebook: @hunkydorydurham @hunkydoryraleigh
- Yelp: Hunky Dory Durham, Hunky Dory Raleigh
Image Credits
Michael Bell