Challenge: Looking to make music and an entrepreneurial impact
Solution: Looking to the past for the keys to future success
Gideon Banahene wants to bring music to his customers’ ears. Literally. Gideon is the owner of Kaneshii Vinyl Press Limited, Canada’s newest full-service vinyl record pressing facility and the only company of its kind in Atlantic Canada.
The Charlottetown-based firm uses the latest technology in vinyl manufacturing paired with classic vinyl-pressing processes. The goal, says Gideon, is to create the highest-quality products at competitive prices while boasting industry-leading turnaround times. Indeed, the two-year-old company can turn out an album in 27 seconds from its 3,000 square foot facility.
Most important to Gideon, however, is the quality of the product Kaneshii Vinyl Press produces.
“Our vinyl is pristine. If you’re going to make vinyl, you have to make great vinyl.”
While it was a love of music that prompted Gideon to explore the feasibility of opening a vinyl-press facility, it was the market potential that convinced him the time was right to establish his company. “The vinyl record industry will be worth $1 billion this year. That is the first time since the 1970s,” notes Gideon.
The appeal of vinyl is twofold. It’s nostalgic, and it is a way to disconnect from the phone and the screen. Although less than 5% of the music sales industry is vinyl, the market is growing, says Gideon. “The buzz is getting out.”
Kaneshii Vinyl Press is going to generate some buzz of its own. With two years of experience under its belt, the company is looking to expand its presence on social media, in mainstream media, and with targeted promotions. It’s also branching out to new areas. It has run off a double album soundtrack for a video-game maker based in Nova Scotia and is reaching out to indie bands and labels that want to make their music more accessible by making the process more affordable.
For new companies looking establish themselves successfully, Gideon recommends they start by reaching out to their local business community. “The network is critical. In Atlantic Canada, we are so connected. Business can move so quickly.”
Partnerships, such as the one with the Government of Canada, are key to Kaneshii Vinyl Press’ growth. With support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the government is helping Kaneshii Vinyl Press take advantage of the vinyl resurgence. A recent investment of $175,000 went towards the purchase of a vinyl press machine, which has the capacity to produce up to 180 units per hour and over 1.5 million units per year.
Kaneshii Vinyl Press Limited is a prime example of how innovation and resourcefulness fuel Atlantic Canada’s economy, at home and beyond.
Do you have a business concept? Do you have an innovative idea to improve or grow your business? For more information on programs and services available to businesses in Atlantic Canada call 1-800-561-7862 or go to canada.ca/acoa.
