An interview with Ko, owner of Damn Good Records

How did Damn Good Records come about?
The story of Damn Good Records actually started with Trash & Treasure, which was both an antiques business and a record business.

I've always been interested in unique, collectible and beautiful things – things that people enjoy, but especially things that I enjoy myself. Everything you see at my market stall or in the shop is really an extension of myself. I only buy things that I genuinely like, and I hope other people will enjoy them too.

I've always thought of the shop as something creative. It's about much more than records. It's about creating an experience, an atmosphere, good vibes and positive energy. That's always been really important to me.

How did you go from being a record collector to becoming a record dealer?
I started collecting records when I was about 13 or 14 years old. At first I was buying 45s and playing them at a local disco in my neighbourhood as an amateur DJ.

Later I got into hip-hop 12-inch singles and albums, and before you know it you've built a massive collection.

Around ten years ago I started selling some of those records at flea markets, beginning with my 12-inch singles because I simply had so many of them.

Collectors and dealers would come over and ask if they could buy everything at once, but I always said no. I didn't want one person to take everything – I wanted lots of different people to enjoy the records.

Eventually one buyer came back at the end of the day and we agreed a deal. That really got me into the world of selling records.

I started with one crate. One crate became two crates. Two crates became a market stall. The stall became record fairs, and the record fairs eventually became a record shop.

That's basically the story in a nutshell.

Opening a record shop wasn't your original plan. How did that happen?
A friend of mine owned the shop before me and was one of my regular customers. Sadly, he developed cancer and knew he didn't have long left.

He asked if I'd be interested in taking over the business.

At first I said no – several times! I'm really a market person. I like being outdoors, travelling around and having the freedom that comes with that lifestyle.

Eventually he persuaded me to at least come and look at the shop.

It was small and pretty messy, but I could immediately see the potential. Whenever I walk into a space, I automatically start imagining what I could do with it. I could already picture my own ideas coming together.

I spoke to the building owners, we agreed a deal, and about two years ago I signed the lease.

Fortunately, the building was renovated before I moved in. That made a huge difference because it would have cost me a fortune to refurbish it myself. Once everything was finished, I started creating the shop you see today.

The shop has a really distinctive feel.
Thank you. I love the layout because it's spread over different levels, with lots of natural light coming through the windows.

For me it's not just somewhere to sell records. It's a place where people can browse, discover interesting things and hopefully enjoy spending time.

You're well known for travelling to Japan to buy records. What can you tell us about those trips?
Some things have to stay secret! What I can tell you is that I usually travel to Japan twice a year. I visit record conventions, flea markets and record shops, and I've also built relationships with people who handle house clearances and auctions.

I have a lot of different sources, but I hand-pick almost everything myself.

Occasionally I'll buy an entire collection, but I much prefer choosing every record individually.

Why is hand-picking records so important to you?
I could buy much bigger collections, but I don't really want to.

Shipping records from Japan is already expensive, so I don't want to spend money bringing over records that don't fit the shop.

If I started buying things I didn't really want, what would be the point?

I'd rather fill the shop with records that I genuinely believe in than end up with boxes of records that nobody really wants.

Everything I bring back is something I would happily own myself, and I think that's what makes the shop feel personal.