Name: Dave Eastwood Comment: I found this advert in the 'Motherwell Times' dated 14th June 1974:
“FRIDAY, JUNE 14 IS THE OPENING DAY OF THE NEW RECORD CENTRE, 81 MERRY STREET, MOTHERWELL (opposite Bairds). Telephone: 65884. Fully comprehensive selection of records, Cassettes, Cartridges, Posters & Sundries. Gift-wrapping Service available.”
… and this piece in the same edition:
“Record Centre Opens FROM today (Friday). Motherwell has a new shop - Record Centre - which is situated in premises in the Garrion Complex that were formerly occupied by Galloway Butchers. Behind the venture are those two hard-working talented individuals - Beatrice & Joe Gardner, who were associated, until recently, with the highly successful Flower Shop. Just as they put their dlstinctive marks on the Flower Shop at the Garrion – in which only flowers were sold - so, in the Record Centre, only records, cassettes and cartridges will be on sale, In the meantime, no instruments will be sold - only discs, etc. Browsers throughout the shop will find an extensive stock, included in which will be budget-priced albums.”
… and this advert in the 17th October 1975 edition:
“RECORD CENTRE. We now have in stock a large selection of COUNTRY & WESTERN IMPORTS from 99p. Also on Special Offer: The James Last Album for £1. Record Tokens - An Ideal Gift. 81 Merry Street, Motherwell (Garrion Complex). Tel. 65884.”
… and this in the 'Wishaw Press' dated 16th January 1976:
“RECORD CENTRE 81 MERRY STREET, MOTHERWELL. STOCK REDUCTION SALE: OVER 2,000 RECORDS AND TAPES DRASTICALLY REDUCED. £1 OFF A LARGE SELECTION OF LP's. GREAT REDUCTIONS TO SUIT EVERY TASTE.”
****THE FOLLOWING ADVERT & PIECES REFER TO A NEW BRANCH OF 'RECORD CENTRE' IN WISHAW, RUN BY THE SAME COUPLE (JOE & BEATRICE GARDNER) FROM THE MOTHERWELL BRANCH (see above):
I found this advert in the 'Wishaw Press' dated 24th September 1976:
“THE SOUNDS OF MUSIC from RECORD CENTRE (JOE & BEATRICE GARDNER) 21 HILL STREET, WISHAW. Telephone 72861 * NOW OPEN * Wide Selection of Records, Cassettes & Cartridges. Gem Box: RINGS, BRACELETS - HAPPY TO ORDER.”
… and this piece on the same page in the same edition:
“Recordsgalore at newcentre. WHETHER your taste is Bach or the Beatles, Scottish or Country and Western you're sure to find the music of your choice at Record Centre, 21 Hill Street, Wishaw. The new store has something for everyone and is the only shop locally which concentrates mainly on records and tapes. Following on the success of their shop in Merry Street, Motherwell, the owners Joe and Beatrice Gardner decided to open up in Wishaw and are confident they can give the best service to local music lovers. You can find all the latest chart sounds plus a wide selection of other albums, singles, cassettes and cartridges at the centre. Altogether there is a selection of over 3000 titles and the Gardners assure us that they can supply most records which are ordered through them. Customer orders are already very popular in their Motherwell branch and they are only too happy to obtain any out of stock record for you. As well as records the centre has a wide variety of cassettes and cartridges to suit every taste in music. And if you're not sure whether you want a certain album or not, there's no need to worry. Headphones are available so that you can listen to an album before you buy it. Record Centre caters for all tastes. Classical, instrumental, Scottish song and dance; and although progressive sounds are still the most popular, Country and Western is growing. Just now you can take advantage of a huge discount offer from the centre which gives 50p off all the top ten albums and 10 per cent off and 10 per cent off all singles. There is a wide range of accessories at the shop to add that bit extra to your musical outlay. Anything from a record rack to a set of stereo headphones can be bought at reasonable prices.”
… plus this piece in the 27th April 1979 edition:
“RECORD CENTRE. If you think the Record Centre at 21 Hill Street, Wishaw, is somewhere you can only buy records and tapes, then a visit to this shop will soon change your mind. As well as a large selection of popular records and tapes, the Record Centre have a large range of accessories available, including headphones, cassette and record care equipment and all types and size of stylus. Apart from this side of the business there is also the Gem Box, which is incorporated inside the Record Centre, and sells a fine range of jewellery at down-to-earth prices.”
Name: Dave Eastwood
Comment: I found this advert in the 'Motherwell Times' dated 14th June 1974:
“FRIDAY, JUNE 14 IS THE OPENING DAY OF THE NEW RECORD CENTRE, 81 MERRY STREET, MOTHERWELL (opposite Bairds). Telephone: 65884. Fully comprehensive selection of records, Cassettes, Cartridges, Posters & Sundries. Gift-wrapping Service available.”
… and this piece in the same edition:
“Record Centre Opens FROM today (Friday). Motherwell has a new shop - Record Centre - which is situated in premises in the Garrion Complex that were formerly occupied by Galloway Butchers. Behind the venture are those two hard-working talented individuals - Beatrice & Joe Gardner, who were associated, until recently, with the highly successful Flower Shop. Just as they put their dlstinctive marks on the Flower Shop at the Garrion – in which only flowers were sold - so, in the Record Centre, only records, cassettes and cartridges will be on sale, In the meantime, no instruments will be sold - only discs, etc. Browsers throughout the shop will find an extensive stock, included in which will be budget-priced albums.”
… and this advert in the 17th October 1975 edition:
“RECORD CENTRE. We now have in stock a large selection of COUNTRY & WESTERN IMPORTS from 99p. Also on Special Offer: The James Last Album for £1. Record Tokens - An Ideal Gift. 81 Merry Street, Motherwell (Garrion Complex). Tel. 65884.”
… and this in the 'Wishaw Press' dated 16th January 1976:
“RECORD CENTRE 81 MERRY STREET, MOTHERWELL. STOCK REDUCTION SALE: OVER 2,000 RECORDS AND TAPES DRASTICALLY REDUCED. £1 OFF A LARGE SELECTION OF LP's. GREAT REDUCTIONS TO SUIT EVERY TASTE.”
****THE FOLLOWING ADVERT & PIECES REFER TO A NEW BRANCH OF 'RECORD CENTRE' IN WISHAW, RUN BY THE SAME COUPLE (JOE & BEATRICE GARDNER) FROM THE MOTHERWELL BRANCH (see above):
I found this advert in the 'Wishaw Press' dated 24th September 1976:
“THE SOUNDS OF MUSIC from RECORD CENTRE (JOE & BEATRICE GARDNER) 21 HILL STREET, WISHAW. Telephone 72861 * NOW OPEN * Wide Selection of Records, Cassettes & Cartridges. Gem Box: RINGS, BRACELETS - HAPPY TO ORDER.”
… and this piece on the same page in the same edition:
“Records galore at new centre. WHETHER your taste is Bach or the Beatles, Scottish or Country and Western you're sure to find the music of your choice at Record Centre, 21 Hill Street, Wishaw. The new store has something for everyone and is the only shop locally which concentrates mainly on records and tapes. Following on the success of their shop in Merry Street, Motherwell, the owners Joe and Beatrice Gardner decided to open up in Wishaw and are confident they can give the best service to local music lovers. You can find all the latest chart sounds plus a wide selection of other albums, singles, cassettes and cartridges at the centre. Altogether there is a selection of over 3000 titles and the Gardners assure us that they can supply most records which are ordered through them. Customer orders are already very popular in their Motherwell branch and they are only too happy to obtain any out of stock record for you. As well as records the centre has a wide variety of cassettes and cartridges to suit every taste in music. And if you're not sure whether you want a certain album or not, there's no need to worry. Headphones are available so that you can listen to an album before you buy it. Record Centre caters for all tastes. Classical, instrumental, Scottish song and dance; and although progressive sounds are still the most popular, Country and Western is growing. Just now you can take advantage of a huge discount offer from the centre which gives 50p off all the top ten albums and 10 per cent off and 10 per cent off all singles. There is a wide range of accessories at the shop to add that bit extra to your musical outlay. Anything from a record rack to a set of stereo headphones can be bought at reasonable prices.”
… plus this piece in the 27th April 1979 edition:
“RECORD CENTRE. If you think the Record Centre at 21 Hill Street, Wishaw, is somewhere you can only buy records and tapes, then a visit to this shop will soon change your mind. As well as a large selection of popular records and tapes, the Record Centre have a large range of accessories available, including headphones, cassette and record care equipment and all types and size of stylus. Apart from this side of the business there is also the Gem Box, which is incorporated inside the Record Centre, and sells a fine range of jewellery at down-to-earth prices.”