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contortgroup consults companies that do business on the web (especially startups) on product design, enrollment practice, positioning strategy, & outsourcing remediation.

contortgroup is actually just one person, Tom Gibbons. In the halcyon days of 1998, it was the style to fake being a big company working in a big "suite." Needless to say, the name stuck.

We branch out with our own ventures too.

  
contort.com
November 20th
Record Shopping / Changed Times

Check out this archived Times article:The Pop Life, NY Times, August 29, 1996How many of these places are still open here in NYC? With the changes in the industry, and dated quotes like this, makes me wonder:

People who live outside New York City can order records by letter or telephone from all of these shops except Adult Crash, which is working to remedy the situation.

By letter? This article pre-dates mainstream email use, and predates mainstream mp3 use.Cursory examination reveals that the following shops are still in business. This is true about most of the survivors (and probably the reason why).

Their employees are usually familiar with all the merchandise and willing to play records, make recommendations and order music they don’t carry.

JammylandHard to get Reggae, Ska, and other Jamaican music. Great owners, great shop.KinokuniyaBuoyed by their book and other Japanese product business, I’m guessing. Also, it’s a bit out-of-sector vs. the others. Other MusicTheir brick-and-mortar operation has same idea as Jammyland – hard to get music in original formats – hi-quality authentic recordings that go above and beyond the mp3 trade. They ensured their future by making the hop to digital mp3 sales on their website.

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