Vinil Brasil

Musician Michel Nath is old school.

Even in the digital era, he has maintained a passion for vinyl records. When he stumbled upon a set of printing machines in an abandoned factory, he had the tools to pursue his dream of making them. Michel spent years fixing the machines - including 18 months beginning production and conducting trials – and in 2017, he established Vinil Brasil, a record printing business in São Paulo which has already sold 65,000 records.

Like many start-ups, Michel faced daily challenges for which he needed to make quick decisions, rely on various sources of information, and be readily accessible. That is why in January 2018, he turned to the WhatsApp Business app.

Vinil Brasil receives 99.9 percent of its orders via the app, estimates David McLoughlin, the company’s commercial manager. He says it is where all details — from cover art and music samples to purchases — are discussed and agreed upon.

One customer who has placed 20 orders with Vinil Brasil says, “I cannot even remember the last time I placed an order not using WhatsApp; I only use email to deal with the bureaucracy.”

“We can follow all the steps of production, from payment to transportation to pre-sales. WhatsApp makes me feel a part of the process,” adds another customer who previously ordered from factories as far away as Eastern Europe until he discovered Vinil Brasil and gave it a shot.

Vinyl is making a comeback, and Vinil Brasil is cued up to be a part of the revival. With the agility and reliability of the WhatsApp Business app, it can think about expanding and catering to more of its eager customers.

All without skipping a beat.