Discover New Music on Vinyl

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in entertainment but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Travis Jourdan, founder of Vinylmnky, located in Austin, TX, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Our customers are lovers of enriching their lives and the lives of others through vinyl experiences and community. They’re the new music trendsetters, the supporters and explorers of emerging artists, the ones who favor discovery over disregard, and the ones most likely found at the front row of a concert.

Vinylmnky (“vinyl-monkey”) exists as a catalyst and a facilitator for our customers. While our offerings vary in scale, from exclusively curated vinyl memberships to a robust online record shop or outfitting towering hotels with one-of-a-kind vinyl experiences. The only constant is our passion for enabling our customers to have the best vinyl experiences available.

Tell us about yourself

I started this company, with Nick, as a means to carry out our existing passion of sharing new music while giving us first-hand experience of starting and growing a business. While the business has evolved over the last seven years, the core mission and passion hold firm. As an ESTJ (for my MBTI folks out there), my motivation comes from the opportunity to give max effort and work to ensure that my work and the work of others are completed to the highest standards. As Prefontaine said, “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Being able to employ and enable others is one of the most rewarding accomplishments of being an entrepreneur and small business owner. It provides me with the inspiration to find new ways to collaborate and the motivation to grow and scale our business in support of the people who help carry and implement our shared vision.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

For any entrepreneur, I believe one of the hardest parts is prioritizing balance. The meaning of balance changes as your business evolves, so you have to adapt to ensure that your business goals and personal needs are met. For example, I (and my two business partners) have separate and demanding full-time jobs, so we continually have to redefine, reconsider, or reschedule our downtime (which is just as important as time spent working).

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Here are three tips that may help any entrepreneur as much as they’ve helped me.

You’re challenging yourself more than you are any idea, market, consumer, or competitor. Be prepared to sacrifice your personal comfort for the sake of growth.
The only thing you control is your effort, so adapt to maximize the return on your effort.
Networking is crucial - don’t hesitate to reach out. Feel free to start with me.

I recently discovered this one last tip to share. Our brains come from generations of being outside, so there’s a restorative power of exposure to the natural world and a connection between physical movement and creative thinking/problem-solving. The next time you find yourself stuck, go take a walk outside.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.vinylmnky.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vinylmnky/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinylmnky/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vinylmnky/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjourdan/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.