14th May 2018, London: Independent record shops today celebrate the return of a much-loved music product: the Record Token.
After a 20-year absence, the Record Token returns to British retail. To commemorate its remarkable comeback, we’re inviting music-lovers across the nation to hunt for their original, unspent tokens for a chance to win shiny new ones worth £20 each. That’s £1 for every year since they left our high streets! What’s more, one lucky person will be picked to win a massive £100 Record Token.
50 winners will be selected at random to each win a £20 Record Token, with one lucky vinyl-lover picked to win the grand prize.
The nation will have one week from the 14th – 20th May to uncover their old tokens. Winners of new Record Tokens can redeem them in participating independent record shops nationwide.
The revival of the Record Token, in partnership with National Book Tokens, comes as a direct result of Britain’s continuing love affair with vinyl. The format has been growing steadily for the past decade and in 2017, LP sales were worth £87 million and responsible for 14% of physical music sales.
The Record Token has been designed with flexibility in mind; it can be purchased in-store or online, can be used for vinyl, CD and cassette and will be the perfect gift for the new generation of music lovers.
ERA CEO, Kim Bayley said, “There has never been a better time to bring back record tokens and we predict they will be much coveted gifts this year for music fans of all ages. The unstoppable growth in vinyl sales and year on year increase in independent record shop openings show that the UK’s love affair with vinyl is here to stay.”
Those who unearth an original EMI token should post it to ERA, 3 Soho Square, London, W1D 3HD, along with their full name, email, phone number, postal address and Twitter handle (if applicable). The original EMI token will be returned to the lucky winners along with their new £20 token.
To find out more about the re-launch of Record Tokens and where they can be spent, please visit www.recordtokens.co.uk
Full terms and conditions: http://www.recordtokens.co.uk/revival
About Record Tokens
Gift Cards are a perennial favourite for UK shoppers; 73% of UK shoppers have bought a gift card in the last 3 years and 44% of 18-34 year olds buy more than 5 gift cards a year. And 60% of UK consumers say that they have been introduced to a new brand through a gift card.
(Figures from survey on behalf of UKGCVA 2017)
About ERA
The Entertainment Retailers Association is the trade grouping representing UK independent record shops as well as digital and physical retailers in the music, video and games markets. Formed initially as group of record retailers over 25 years ago, ERA has since grown into a broad-based advocacy group embracing many of the most dynamic and fastest-growing companies in the entertainment industry. ERA members supply the sales data which powers the Official Charts Company (music and video charts) and GfK Chart-Track (videogames). ERA also provides the organisational force behind the UK’s Record Store Day, the annual celebration of independent record stores which has become the most successful new music industry promotion of the past two decades. ERA is a strong proponent of open markets, open standards and consumer choice.
National Book Tokens
Book Tokens Ltd has been successfully operating National Book Tokens, one of the UK’s largest multi retail gift card schemes, since 1932. The scheme is run on behalf of UK high street bookshops.
National Book Tokens is the proud sponsor of World Book Day, and supports Read for Good and Book Aid International.
Book Tokens Ltd is committed to ensuring that when you buy a Record Token you are buying a quality product, supported by an experienced and secure voucher issuer with a best-in-class customer service ethos.
Notes to Editor
For more information please contact Megan Page: 0207 440 1596/ megan@eraltd.org
Images: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4nv1y47rauzn8np/AAC-dmIceOVgVqAT5xvATy9ga?dl=0