Record shop owner who lost his job turns his passion into a business and couldn't be happier

"And, so, you should do what you enjoy rather than chasing the dollar all the time."

Mark has been true to his word. He's turned to hobby into a business and he couldn't be happier.

He had, for many years, a job in the corporate world, working in construction sales.

It was a good job, well paid and he met some great people.

But he confesses he would get up and go out to work for the money rather than fully enjoying what he was doing.

Life is very short, Mark says, and so, there came a point when he wanted change.

He left his job and, in many ways, that was the spur he needed.

Five months ago, music-obsessed Mark decided he wanted to try and turn his passion of vinyl collecting into a job.

The Vinyl Countdown was born and the rest is history.

"I left my job in April last year," he recalls. "I just felt then that, rather than going out and getting another job, where I might be bored senseless, I would take time out and decide what I wanted to do.

"I have been involved in music all of my life, playing guitar, and bass, in various bands.

"Music has always been a big part of my life and then one day I discovered a unit was up for rent at the Antiques Emporium in Whitchurch.

"I started to think there was a possibility there. I am into vinyl and so I thought, what about I open up a unit and see what happens?"

"I knew a couple of suppliers and I was getting new vinyl as well as older, pre-loved vinyl.

"I opened on September 1 and, from that point on, I have been amazed at how many other vinyl lovers there are like me, who are also into their music. It has been amazing."

Mark, who played in bands such as Crudearm, Infliction, The 7Ts and The Apples, says he has had customers from as far away as Manchester and regular visitors of all ages.

"I think that has surprised me," he says. "I have some customers who are 15-16, just starting their collections. I have teenagers coming in and buying Elvis or Fleetwood Mac, just as much as pop and rap and that's so nice to see.

"Of course, there are also people like me, in their 50s, trying to finish off their collections, whether that's finding the elusive pre-loved one they couldn't get when they were younger, or replacing one.

"I have honestly been overwhelmed by the response so far. For a small market town like Whitchurch, it's amazing there are so many people willing to travel to me to find the right vinyl."

Mark was originally from London but moved to Shropshire with wife Yvonne as both wanted to escape the 'rat race'.

The couple love it here and, Mark says, 'wouldn't go back'.

And now he's just living his dream. As well as selling vinyl, he recycles it too.

"Anything that is past its best, I turn the vinyl into clocks and the sleeves into pictures with frames," he says. "We keep as much of the vinyl alive as we can, even if unplayable.

"I have turned my hobby into a business to be honest with you and try to push the wonders of vinyl as much a I can.

"Youngsters have grown up with CDs or downloadable music like Spotify but, for me, there's something very special about vinyl.

"Firstly, it's about having a connection with the music. When you download something, there's no effort involved in it.

"But I can remember going on a 20-minute bus to the tube station, 45-minute tube ride into the centre of London and then visiting three or four shops to find the latest album I wanted to buy.

"It was a whole day out, finding music, so I feel I have this connection with every single one of my albums because I can remember the toil and trouble I went through to find it.

"You had the disappointment when it wasn't a great album and the elation when it was a very good one. I think young people are now latching onto that connection with the music."

"And it's also great because, rather than skipping tracks, you listen to a vinyl record in its entirety and that gives a completely different feel to the music as well."

Such has been the interest in vinyl, shown by people of all ages, visiting his base, he's now considering setting up a music club, with 10-20 people picking an album and getting together to listen to it and share opinions

It's about opening up mind to more and more music, he says.

The Vinyl Countdown journey is in its embryonic stages and the future appears bright - and joyous for Mark.

"I'm not earning a tenth of what I was earning a year ago but I am 100 times happier," he says. "I would not go back to the corporate job I had for all the money in the world. I'm loving what I do now."