Rough Trade Records

Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was founded by Geoff Travis in 1978. Travis opened a record shop off Ladbroke Grove - after successfully promoting and selling records by punk and early post punk bands such as Buzzcocks and Desperate Bicycles he began to manage and distribute acts; which is when he began the label. 1978, the shop began organising a record distribution network, dubbed "The Cartel", in collaboration with other independent record stores in the UK.
Interest and investment of major labels in the indie scene in the UK in the late 1980s, and overtrading on behalf of Rough Trade's distribution side, led the company to cash flow problems, and eventually bankruptcy - forcing the label into receivership. However, soon after in 2000, Travis brought the label back with Jeanette Lee, in which it was independently owned with minority partners Sanctuary Records, as a part of the Zomba Group. The label's comeback saw it intoducing new bands and finding success with The Libertines, The Strokes and Anthony and the Johnsons. However in 2002 BMG bought out the business; and yet again in July 2007 Sanctuary Records then sold Rough Trade to the Beggars Group making Rough Trade independent once again. Since the record label got back into shape it has produced many famous bands along the likes of 'Babyshambles' and 'Belle and Sebastian' and as mentioned before 'The Libertines' and 'The Strokes'.
Being a small company to begin with to getting where they are now with such big bands is a huge achievement, especially for someone who started out with a record shop down in Ladbroke Grove.