What Lilliput Records does

Lilliput Records is an independently-owned record store founded in 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operating a physical retail storefront at 1669 N. Farwell Avenue alongside a Squarespace-hosted e-commerce website at lilliputrecords.com. The company specializes in selling new and pre-owned vinyl records, compact discs, and branded merchandise across more than ten genre categories (Rock & Pop, R&B/Soul, Hip-Hop/Rap, Electronic, Metal, Soundtracks, Blues & Jazz, Reggae, World Music, Country & Folk) plus dedicated sub-shops for labels such as Colemine, Numero Group, Slumberland, and Blue Note. It also operates a Buy/Sell/Trade program that sources pre-owned inventory directly from consumers, a Discogs seller profile that extends distribution into the global collector market, and an in-store events program covering artist performances and album signings.

The business runs a direct-to-consumer model with no B2B or enterprise channel and no identified parent company, institutional investor, or venture funding. Pricing is unit-based: standard new vinyl releases typically range from $12.99 to $50.99 (with RSD exclusives, colored variants, and signed copies priced higher), pre-owned records from $24.99 to $119.99 depending on rarity and condition, and merchandise from $10.00 to $19.99. The e-commerce site is committed to WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility, and marketing relies on an email newsletter, organic social media, in-store events, and Record Store Day participation rather than paid acquisition. No AI/ML capabilities, API, or proprietary technology is in use; the operating model is a conventional omnichannel specialty-retail business.

Headcount is reported in the 11-50 range, and revenue is not publicly disclosed; a 2024-06-19 entry referencing BMO Harris Bank at $0 is consistent with a small-business banking relationship rather than equity capital. The company self-positions as a community-focused, inclusive retail space for music enthusiasts in Milwaukee, with no announced plans for additional locations, geographic expansion, or institutional investment in the available data.

Name

Lilliput Records

Legal name

Lilliput Records

Website

https://lilliputrecords.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lilliput Records is an independently-owned Milwaukee record store (founded 2022) operating a physical storefront and Squarespace e-commerce site, selling new and pre-owned vinyl, CDs, and branded merchandise to vinyl collectors and music enthusiasts, with a Buy/Sell/Trade program, Discogs presence, and in-store events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Vinyl Record Sales: One-time sales of new and pre-owned vinyl records across multiple genres including Rock, R&B, Hip-Hop, Electronic, Soundtracks, Metal, and more. Prices range from approximately $10 to $50 for standard releases.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts, tote bags, slipmats, and gift cards.
3. Buy/Sell/Trade: The store accepts vinyl records for trade or purchase, providing a secondary revenue stream through pre-owned inventory sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Lilliput Records is an independently owned record shop that sells new vinyl records, pre-owned vinyl records, compact discs, and branded merchandise (slipmats, tote bags, t-shirts, gift cards) through a Milwaukee storefront and an e-commerce website. The store also operates a buy/sell/trade program for used vinyl and hosts in-store performances, signings, and listening sessions as community engagement offerings.

Product overview

Lilliput Records is an independently-owned record shop and online e-commerce store established in 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company operates as a unified retail platform offering both physical storefront and online purchasing of vinyl records, compact discs, and branded merchandise. The core product line consists of new vinyl releases with exclusive colored vinyl variants, pre-owned records with condition grading, and CDs across diverse genres including Rock & Pop, R&B/Soul, Hip-Hop/Rap, Electronic, Metal, Soundtracks, Blues & Jazz, Reggae, World Music, and Country & Folk. The company also carries merchandise items such as slipmats, tote bags, and t-shirts featuring their signature floral branding, along with physical and digital gift cards. The store positions itself as a community-focused safe space and hosts in-store events for artists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vinyl Records (New Releases)

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Amoeba Music: One of the largest U.S. independent record store chains (Berkeley, Hollywood, San Francisco), selling new and used vinyl, CDs, and merchandise and hosting in-store events. Represents the multi-location end of the indie record retail model that Lilliput operates within.
• Vintage Vinyl: St. Louis-based independent record store specializing in new and used vinyl across genres. Comparable single-metro indie retailer with a buy/sell/trade pre-owned component similar to Lilliput's model.
• Rough Trade: Iconic independent record store with locations in NYC and London, known for curated selection, in-store events, and exclusive releases. Closely mirrors Lilliput's brick-and-mortar plus e-commerce model with an event-driven community focus.
• Easy Street Records: Seattle independent record store and cafe known for in-store events, curated vinyl, and community focus. Highly comparable as a single-metro indie retailer combining physical retail, events, and specialty vinyl curation.
• Waterloo Records: Long-running Austin, TX independent record store with deep curation, in-store performances, and online sales. Closely mirrors Lilliput's combination of physical retail, curated selection, and event programming for music enthusiasts.
• Fingerprints Records: Long Beach, CA independent record store with deep new and used vinyl catalog and frequent in-store performances. Mirrors Lilliput's positioning as a community-anchored indie retailer in a single metro.
• Bull Moose Music: New England-based independent record store chain offering new and used vinyl, CDs, and collectibles. Demonstrates how an indie record retailer can scale to multiple locations while maintaining community-driven positioning comparable to Lilliput.
• Criminal Records: Atlanta-based independent record store with a strong events calendar and curated vinyl selection. Operates a similar omnichannel indie retail model to Lilliput, including in-store performances and Record Store Day participation.

Broad incumbents

• Barnes & Noble: National bookstore chain that has expanded into vinyl and music merchandise at many locations. Competes for the same physical-media music consumer but treats records as one category among many, in contrast to Lilliput's specialized curation.

Others

• Discogs: Online marketplace for buying and selling physical music including vinyl, CDs, and cassettes. Lilliput maintains a seller profile on Discogs, making it an adjacent sales channel and indirect competitor for online vinyl demand.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LilliputRecords

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lilliput Records