By Jonnae Greene
Baldwin High School
Success has never been what has motivated Tiny Vinyl co-founder Neil Kohler. Instead, it’s the challenge of creating something meaningful.
“I’ve had enough wins in my life that I’m not that moved by success,” he said. “What gets me up in the morning is the challenges rather than succeeding.”
This mindset has helped Kohler craft miniature versions of items in music culture that allow fans to experience listening to their favorite artist in a new way.
Growing up in Huntington, Kohler was fascinated by miniature collectibles. He also described himself as a perfectionist. At the beginning of his career he mainly worked in the toy industry.
When his friend Daniel Donato introduced Kohler to the emotional power of music, he started collecting it. He saw an opportunity to combine his passion for small things with a culture that people connected with.
The result was Tiny Vinyl, a miniature collectible disk that plays music on a turntable that serves as a tribute to artists and their fans.
The hardest part of marketing Tiny Vinyls was explaining what it was to potential buyers.
“The convincing that Tiny Vinyl was a real thing instead of a gimmick was the hardest moment of my career,” he said.
To overcome that obstacle, he met with buyers, connected with colleagues and continued to refine his work. His hard work paid off when Target agreed to sell Tiny Vinyls exclusively. The company boomed.
“We printed and shipped our one millionth vinyl,” he related. “Our business is built on rewarding the fans of the artist. That really gives the fans something that they’re excited about.”
Tiny Vinyls is a product that helps preserve the experience of music on vinyls. Michael Houlihan, manager of RECORD STOP in Patchogue, believes that listening to music on vinyl is special.
“I always say it’s an experience,” Houlihan said. “Sometimes there’s lyric sheets inside of the album. You get to take out the vinyl and place it onto the record player. … It’s important to keep physical media alive.”
Despite his success, Kohler remains focused on the future.
“We have ambitious plans for Tiny Vinyl,” he said. “It’s going to be good for Tiny Vinyl as a platform to get broader.”
He explained that he’s in discussion with other retailers to carry the player.
Aside from work, Kohler enjoys exercising, traveling and arranging flowers. When reflecting on his love for gardening, he said: “It’s very relaxing and therapeutic, and I get a lot of satisfaction because it’s authentic to me.”
When he thought about how family and friends would describe him, he gave three words: “playful, curious and adventurous.”
While he now lives in Nashville, Kohler credits Long Island for shaping his outlook.
“I’ve always felt super lucky to have grown up in New York for all the cultural reasons,” he said.
Asked what advice he would give his younger self, Kohler replied: “Younger Neil, don’t be afraid. If you never tried something, you never failed. Failing is normal, not bad. … I just had to learn how to dust myself off and pick myself up.”