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Rick Stoner

@rickstoner

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@stirstuff @strictlydiscs
Youth sports chauffeur.
Live music enthusiast.

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The vinyl haul of all hauls is complete.

Three trips with a 20’, 27’ and 20’ truck. And the 8’ cargo cube of our immortal Honda Odyssey (aka Black Sabbath) accompanied each trip. That’s 91’ of wax. Or almost two semi-trailers.

Music & Sports Collectors World opened in 1987 in Appleton, WI. Never too fond of the Internet, they always focused more on sports souvenirs and Hi-Fi units. And when he wasn’t at the shop, owner John was always on the prowl for rust-free classic cars. But the records were always there. That included a full inventory buyout of another shop in 1999, which remained untouched until it arrived at our Cambridge warehouse.

With a Sidney Moncrief-esque assist from the pals @erodingwinds @erodingwindsappleton, we were tipped off about their storefront and storage area of about 23,000 records up for grabs. What nobody knew was a secret test John had in-mind. Which was that a fair offer for the store and storage wax meant first dibs at the almost 72,000 records in his garage. We passed the test.

At 95,000+ records, we think 60-70% will make the cut and find a home in our bins. With the rest coming to a St. Vinny’s near you. We’ll take that ratio all day long...parsing out the good from the bad is the fun part.

At this volume, we’re bound to dig rare gems. Finds so far include a Rodriguez - Cold Fact, 80s/90s rap rare to vinyl, boxes on boxes of funk & soul and enough Beatles, Beach Boys, Genesis and Phil Collins to pleat your Dad’s khakis.

Thanks to @nextroggae, @edslavin and @rickstoner who schlepped and dollied weight, one 50 pound box at a time. The haul also featured the clutch, spinal stenosis-free teenage reinforcements of the Chaney twins.

We now have more records than we’ve ever had as a company. With our online sales moving units over the last couple of years, our replacement rate of used inventory wasn’t looking pretty long-term. Buys like this allow the OG groove to keep spinning.

#vinyl #records #vinylcommunity #recordcollector #vinylIG

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Partner Scenes.

We’d like to (re)introduce you to Evan, Mark and Ed, three new minority partners at Strictly Discs. Give the guys a congrats next time you see them.

Owner Rick here. Today we’re sharing news we’ve been working on since I showed up almost three years ago. The guys earned this. I’m proud of each of them for who they are as individuals. But more so for the team they are when they work together.

After cutting his teeth on the label side of the business, Evan joined us in 2010. If it’s upstairs, he got it here. That includes chart toppers, reissues, imports and Evan’s mind-reading super power; esoteric grooves you never heard of but love within seconds of the first spin. He also handpicks our used CDs and writes the 706-issue-and-counting Words on Sounds newsletter, which previews with wit and joy what we have waiting for you in the bins.

Mark is the heartbeat of what makes us, us; a heaping batch of fresh-used records every week. Those picks are sourced from all over the place to our Cambridge warehouse one truck rental or shop van run and 50 pound box lift at a time. It’s hard work (physically and mentally) and a grind most shops only dabble in or outright avoid. It’s been our way since 1988 and Mark keeps it going. He also manages most of our part-time staff and steps into nearly every role we’ve got; counter, shipping clerk, used vinyl grader and events. I’ve never worked with someone who has grown more in three years than Mark.

Ed went from a long-time Saturday helper to full-timer a few years ago. In the indy record shop game, few people don skills that include digital development, operational problem-solving, a deep knowledge of italian disco, a penchant for early mornings and a work ethic that sees new projects through until they’re up and running. If you dig our website and/or just appreciate a train that runs on time, thank Ed.

And most importantly, they’re all great Dads.

If you are or know an owner, consider an equity plan for the people that keep your company running everyday. The difference between a paycheck and building something as a team is real.

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au revoir, montréal🇨🇦

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Shout out to the Record Store Day block party crew of @edslavin @nextroggae @onticoptic @nedryerson13 @pcaroldactyl @drukorab & @rickstoner for all the hustle in service of wax.

From February’s title release day to launching our wishlists. To working with our label & distro pals on the annual significant risk that is our mondo RSD buy. And checking in inventory during a chaotic couple weeks of Wisconsin weather. All the way up until RSD’s 5:30 AM roll call through 8 PM close. 🫡

And a rustic, rural 🙏 to @dreamboatphoto and @martyfinkel, who held it down in Cambridge. We were grateful to double and sell through last year’s RSD title count at our humble warehouse store and hosted @themarigoldroom_cambridge and @visitcambridgewi Lake Ripley Radio to a small town, Main Street crowd that grows every year.

We grind for each other, for the records and for the community.

✌️❤️

#indierecordstore #madison #recordstoreday @recordstoredayus #cambridgewi

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At STIR, we stand up for what we believe in. And we enjoy ourselves doing it.

To live those values on this most courageous and important day, our President & Owner @rickstoner displaced our desk chairs to an unknown and safe location. And has graced our office Sonos speakers with a playlist containing only the finest of 90s hits.

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Super Bowl ads come with an $8M+ price tag, but that price tag doesn't guarantee a good reception.

STIR President & Owner, @rickstoner, shares his take on this year’s Super Bowl ad hits and misses in the @milwaukeebusinessjournal, breaking down what worked, what didn’t and why. Take a read at the link in bio. #stirstuff #marketinginsights #superbowlads

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Today marks an exciting milestone for STIR.

We’re proud to officially announce the next chapter of the agency, with @rickstoner joining STIR as President and Owner. Rick succeeds founder Brian Bennett, who will continue to support the agency as a strategic advisor during the transition.

With more than 20 years of experience in B2B and consumer marketing, Rick brings deep agency leadership, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a strong commitment to integrated thinking and client partnership. Under his leadership, STIR will continue to build on what defines us: smart strategy, creative excellence, and work that drives results.

We’re grateful to Brian for the foundation he built over the past 25 years and energized by what’s ahead as we continue serving clients with the same team, values, and integrated approach, now with a fresh perspective for the future.

🔗 Read the full announcement at the link in bio. #stirstuff #marketingnews

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Wrapping our staff picks for Top 10 Albums of the Year is Rick, our owner, concert enthusiast and ardent family man who unapologetically forces his musical taste on his children.

1) Bon Iver - SABLE, fABLE
2) Blood Orange - Essex Honey
3) Studio - West Coast (reissue)
4) Jeremiah Chiu, Marta Sofia Honer - Different Rooms
5) Ted Lucas - Self-Titled (reissue)
6) Clipse - Let God Sort ‘em Out
7) Tortoise - Touch
8) Geese - Getting Killed
9) Dijon - Baby
10) Deftones - Private Music

Best Shows: SML @thaliahallchicago, Jack J & Freak Heat Waves @cactusclubmke, Marc Ribot @artlitlab Eddie 9V @highnoonmadison, @summerfest - MJ Lenderman, Ratboys, Brett Newski & The Bad Inventions, Molly Tuttle, Gary Clark Jr.

Ever the film and documentary honk, Rick also encourages you to watch One Battle After Another, It’s Never Over Jeff Buckley and Ken Burn’s The American Revolution.

Overall top 10 and all staff picks are packing the bins at the shop and curated as collections at strictlydiscs.com.

Thanks for tuning in to our say on the year’s best records. Hope y’all’s ears got some interesting homework.

✌️❤️

#top10albums #top10albumsof2025 #indierecordstore #albumoftheyear

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wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else💙🥹 #thankyouseniors

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postcard from nola⚜️💛

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One last look at Record Store Day 2025. Thank you Madison for coming together on the block!

Six hour DJ stream, with sets from @drukorab @gabrealnewstate @kelaiglon @dj_philmoney @n8zookiss and @dj_slimzy_ available on mixcloud. Link in our bio. Consider the ambiance of that spring gathering you got coming up now covered.

👀 What remains of our RSD stock is available at shop.strictlydiscs.com. We’re always a bit surprised at what sneaks through to survive the lines and weekend rush. Check it! 👀

Hi-res vid, pics and DJ mixcloud magic thanks to @drukorab and Best Efforts Inc.

#indierecordstore #recordstoreday #rsd #recordstoreday2025 #rsd2025 @recordstoredayus #madison #madisonevents #madisonmusic #vinyl #vinylig @rotundaonatwood @nelsonschmidtinc @not_bananas @weary_traveler608 @pinerivercheesespread @lolasmadison @jazzbrad @edslavin @nedryerson13 @nextroggae @onticoptic @martyfinkel @rickstoner @dreamboatphoto

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@pbs in the spot!

Yesterday morning we hosted @pbswisconsin as they shot on location to promote the documentary WE WANT THE FUNK!

Our shop was the mise en scène for host/author/poet/professor Nate Marshall @illuminatemics and Madison legend @dj_philmoney to talk about some of their go-to funk, soul, R&B and hip-hop records in connection with Madison’s advanced screening event in March of the Independent Lens documentary WE WANT THE FUNK! More details on that event and content from this shoot coming soon from our pals at @pbswisconsin.

Watching these guys talk vinyl on set was a surreal experience, including a segment that goes deep on James Brown drummer and late great Madisonian Clyde Stubblefield. Imagine a free-flowing chat mixed with a live reading of an encyclopedia entry on 70s funk vinyl. 🤩

This post was brought to you by vinyl and also with support from viewers like you.

#PBS #pbswisconsin #independentlens #independentlenspbs #madison #madisonmusic #madisonevents #wisconsin #vinyl #vinylig #vinyljunkie #vinylcommunity #records #recordstore #vinylrecords #vinyladdict #vinylcollector #indie #supportpbs @itsmelissa_renee @drewanddrew19 @recordstoredayus

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