Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Shaver.
Hi Lindsay, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Growing up a young punk rock girl in Southern California, there was only a few places to shop for music & clothing that fit my taste, which all entailed going to Hollywood (online shopping had not taken off yet!). Being the mecca for Punk Rock that Southern California is, I decided to take measures into my own hands at the age of 18 and begin DeadRockers. I wanted to create a place where like-minded individuals could find music, clothes, accessories, and even unique housewares that fit their individual styles. What began as an online store & many local pop-up shops from 2005 – 2012, later turned into a permanent locale in Long Beach, where we still continue to operate today. We spent 10 years on 4th Street in Downtown Long Beach, & just recently moved to the Cal Heights neighborhood on Wardlow Road. We now have our largest location yet, where plan to further expand our inventory, and now have the space to host in-store events as well.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I didn’t have any business knowledge or education that pertained to how to run a business, so I really had to learn a lot. Mostly from trial & error, but also from working other random jobs where I gained experience in accounting, customer service, and software knowledge. I learned a lot by researching online as well. I’ve always had a very DIY approach to everything when it comes to my business. I wanted to learn every bit about it, and often couldn’t afford the help anyway. I think knowing how to fully operate every piece of your business is such an important aspect that people overlook. I worked a second job up until the Pandemic in 2020, I always felt the need to supplement my income so the business could grow. I think a lot of people assume they can live off their business immediately, and that unfortunately is generally not the case at all. Money was always a struggle as I built the inventory larger & larger, but balancing time was always a challenge for me working a second job. I never feel like there are enough hours in a day, even now! But I’ve learned a lot about time management over the years, although I don’t feel like business owners ever stop learning (and shouldn’t!)
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about DeadRockers?
DeadRockers is known for specializing in punk rock records, clothing, and style. Over the years we have grown to carry a lot of related subgenres of punk rock including metal, ska, psychobilly, and more. We carry a lot of well-known alternative brands and tailor our inventory very carefully to small & independent brands, bands, and artists. We carry artists from all over the world, and of course have a great selection of local artisans & musician’s work available in the shop as well. In 2019, we began manufacturing our own line of exclusive clothing as well, which has a focus on being cruelty-free, high-quality staple items like leather (faux) jackets & denim vests. And we now offer exclusive record pressings from iconic punk rock bands that are very limited & only available in our shop. We always maintain a very friendly and inclusive environment in our store that we feel is tremendously important. We want everyone to feel comfortable that shops here, and that every fellow misfit out there feels welcomed in DeadRockers.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I’ve had a lot of amazingly supportive friends for sure. The punk rock community is one of the most supportive places in the world, and I’m always grateful I found it as a young kid. Fellow punk rock shop & record store owners (throughout Southern California) that have become good friends over the years have offered a lot of guidance and support as well. We all support each other, and it’s not competitive. We want to see our friends and fellow music lovers succeed. But the most important people of course, are our customers. We have some of the raddest people that shop in our store, and we feel very lucky to have the amazing customer base that we do. Many have even become friends & we wouldn’t have survived without them!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.DEADROCKERS.net
- Instagram: instagram.com/deadrockers
- Facebook: facebook.com/deadrockers
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/deadrockers-long-beach
