Record Works
Biography
Record Works opened on November 27, 1987, in Woodstock, Ontario. Doug Marsh founded it on the advice of one man, Sid Atlin, owner of Dr. Disc in London, who gave him three instructions: open downtown, stay independent, and pay top dollar for used inventory. Marsh scrapped his original business plan that same afternoon, went home, and started over. What began as 800 square feet of used vinyl has expanded three times over 39 years, survived the death of the CD, the MP3 era, the rise of streaming, and two recessions, and now holds over 20,000 items across vinyl, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, video games, and consoles. Record Works is one of longest running and largest full-line physical media only retailers in Ontario.
The store has been twice named Retailer of the Year by the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce. It was featured on CBC News ahead of Record Store Day. Since 1987, Record Works has paid out more than $4 million in cash to customers who walked in with collections. Marsh personally handles every vinyl appraisal. Collectors drive from London and Kitchener specifically for the inventory depth. Customers under 20 buy vinyl before they own a turntable. The disc resurfacing service costs $3.99, requires no appointment, and works on every format including Blu-ray. The store has outlasted almost every competitor, every format shift, and every prediction that physical media was finished.
Fun Facts
$4M+
Total cash paid to local sellers since 1987. Every dollar went directly into the pockets of customers who walked in with a collection and left with money.
39 Years
In continuous operation in Woodstock, Ontario, surviving the death of the CD, the rise of streaming, and every recession in between.
20,000+
Items currently in stock across vinyl, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, video games, and consoles, making Record Works the only full-line physical media store in Oxford County.
$3.99
The price to resurface any disc, Blu-ray included, no appointment required. The store once brought back a copy of Left 4 Dead 2 described as having “almost no hope.” It worked.
In The News
How this Woodstock, Ont., record shop is still spinning after nearly 4 decades
While streaming and AI-generated music dominate the industry, one independent shop in Woodstock, Ont., shows that physical media still has staying power.
Bands battle for Record Store Day slot at The Record Works
It’s been nearly 20 years since Doug Marsh celebrated his very first Record Store Day.
‘So much more inviting’: Downtown Woodstock gets new look
Downtown Woodstock has reopened for business after months of construction to install rolling curbs, benches, planters and trees.