What’s your name and connection to the shop?
Thomas Ulrich, Owner & CEO.
SHOPS
HHV, Berlin
JUNE 2020
We shine a spotlight on some of our most exciting independent stockists around the globe. This time, we speak with owner and CEO of Berlin’s HHV, Thomas Ulrich.
Tell us where you are.
HHV is located in Berlin, Germany.
How did HHV come to be?
The company was founded almost 2 decades ago out of a living room in Friedrichshain, Berlin as a shop for rare underground hip hop records. Over time as our music tastes developed, more and more genres joined the product mix as well as a number of select urban fashion brands and sneakers.
Describe your shop in three words.
Exclusiveness. We have the stuff that you won’t get at every corner. Independence. We have the freedom not to follow every trend. Movement. We have the courage and the power to change.
What makes your shop so special?
We stock one of the biggest record selections in Europe and have an unbound passion for what we do every day. We have strong roots and loyal customers as well as partners and friends across generations and continents. We have harnessed the unique synergy between music, fashion and sneakers which has definitely led to the success of HHV.
Pick a song that represents your shop.
A Tribe Called Quest – Lyrics To Go.
Tell us something not many people know about your shop?
Mostly people are interested in what HHV stands for. Given our history, the name of our shop used to be Hip Hop Vinyl. In 2007 we changed the name to HHV – staying true to the roots but making clear that we have advanced and become open to all genres.
Who are your favourite independent neighbours – your record shops and live music venues?
We’ve had a close connection to the clubs Yaam, Cassiopeia and Gretchen – those are the venues that we try to support as much as we can.