Marketplace®

Daily business news and economic stories

Need space to store your vinyl records? This small business makes furniture for that.

Matthew Wicker, owner of Oregon-based WickerWoodWorks, is profiting from the renewed popularity of records and record players.

Download
Wicker makes handmade pieces to store vinyl records and turntables.
Wicker makes handmade pieces to store vinyl records and turntables.
Courtesy Matthew Wicker

My Economy” tells the story of the new economic normal through the eyes of people trying to make it, because we know the only numbers that really matter are the ones in your economy.

Vinyl records have come back in a big way. Just last year, 6.8 million vinyl records were sold direct to consumer, according to Luminate, an entertainment data company. That’s not including records sold in stores.

As their collections grow, people might need a place to store them. Matthew Wicker, owner of WickerWoodWorks in Portland, Oregon, makes handmade furniture for vinyl records and turntables. When the pandemic hit, he wasn’t sure what would happen to his business.

“I had no idea if my company would completely dissolve,” Wicker said. But as it turns out, his business grew. “People were staying home, people are buying more records than ever.”

Wicker just hit his ninth year in business and hopes he’ll never have to get another job.

To hear Wicker’s full story, use the media player above.

Tell us about your economy:

Required

By submitting, you consent to receive information about American Public Media's programs and offerings. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.

Related Topics

Collections: