Digger:
Good morning John.
John:
Good morning David.
Digger:
Can you please tell us about these businesses you’ve
created?
John:
I started doing the film cells and the gold discs back in
2002. A friend of mine, who ran a wholesale business, said
could I do this? I had a sign-making company at the time.
Shop fronts and screen printing and all the sorts of
things involved with signs. So I decided I’d give it a
go on top of everything else I did. I managed to source
the films and the discs and started selling them to a
friend of mine. And they went all over the world.
Then somebody else came in and undercut me and we
fell out. I thought, “Well, I know how to make these
things. Why don’t I just carry on?” So I did do and
then I got involved selling on eBay. A cousin of mine was
a web designer and so he said he’d build me a website
and it all carried on from there.
Digger:
So now you’ve got both the websites. Are both businesses
going equally well or has one taken off better then the
other?
John:
The films have always done better than the gold discs.
Digger:
Why is that, do you think?
John:
Well, they’re a lot cheaper. (Digger laughs)
Instead of £80 for a gold disc they’re about £15
and so somebody can easily buy one for a present.
For men ... because men are notoriously difficult to
buy for. The film cells have always gone better than the
gold discs.
Digger:
Is there a finite source of these?
John:
There is, especially with films because everything’s
going digital now and all the cinemas are changing to
digital and so eventually all the films are just going to
run out. So whatever’s left will suddenly go up in
price.
Digger:
I’m presuming that there are some particular shots that
are worth a lot more than others?
John:
Well, there are. There are some films that are very
difficult to get hold of. Some of the older films like The
Great Escape and some of the Bruce Lee movies are rare.
You’re going back to the seventies and it’s thirty or
forty years ago
now. So they are very hard to find.
Digger:
You’re still managing to source these at the moment so
demand is bigger than supply I suppose?
John:
It is, yes. This Christmas has been the busiest I have
ever been.
Digger:
Brilliant.
John:
I probably did twice as much business this Christmas as I
did last Christmas. When I first decided to take the
plunge and do this full-time as it were I was nervous as
you know.
Digger:
It’s a seasonal thing so I suppose you have to make hay
while the sun shines?
John:
Yes. But funnily enough I had a phone call from a chap in
Germany yesterday who is interested in wholesaling my gold
discs over there. So he’s been on the 'phone to me a couple of times and
there’s lots of things in the pipeline.
Digger:
It’s hard to find gifts for guys and a lot of people are
looking to decorate their homes with something retro and a
bit different. At £15, it’s not a difficult choice is
it?
John:
No. Absolutely, somebody’s dad always has his favourite
films, doesn’t he? And it makes an unusual present for
birthdays and Christmas.
Digger:
Are you getting a lot of repeat business?
John:
I’m getting quite a lot of repeat business, funnily
enough. It’s strange how the same names keep cropping up.
So obviously people collect them as well.
Digger:
Yes. So who is buying them? Is it UK or international?
John:
I’m selling
them all over the world really. America, Australia, Europe
– probably mainly UK, but they are definitely going all
over the world.
Digger:
It’s nice to know that The Internet is truly working for
you. Why do you think retro is such a big thing in
people’s lives John?
John:
I think it just reminds people of what they see as the
best times. I’m sure everybody says that.
Digger:
They do, but they all have their own take on it. I think
it’s because we are in very uncertain times, so people
like to look back to what they see as a more secure and
familiar time. They retreat back to what they know.
John:
People remember back to their childhood and their
favourite things and films and music always remind people
of those better times.
Digger:
What sorts of film cells have passed through your hands in
the past month or so?
John:
Probably the biggest seller this year has been The Wizard
Of Oz.
Digger:
You’ve got original film cells from the original Oz
movie?
John:
Yes.
Digger:
Amazing. I suppose they would have produced quite a few
prints of these?
John:
Oh yes, there’ll be quite a few prints knocking about
somewhere. But again, now, that’s a very difficult one
to get hold of now.
Digger:
Does that mean there’s a premium for those cells and
they’re more than £15?
John:
Yes, there are certain films that, for a small strip, I
charge £1 or £2 more. As far as music goes, well
probably the biggest sellers have been the standard ones
– Oasis, The Beatles, Elvis. There are so many of these that go
well.
Digger:
Have you got any retro passions yourself?
John:
Believe it or not I’ve got all the original Hulk comics
from 1972.
Digger:
The whole run?
John:
The whole run, complete.
Digger:
They must be worth a fortune?
John:
I don’t know. I don’t think the UK versions are worth
as much as the American.
Digger:
They still might be worth a fair bit if you’ve got the
whole set. It’s probably worth checking it.
John:
They’ve been in a suitcase since I was a young lad.
Digger:
A lot of people say that, but that means they’ll be in
top condition as well so I’d get them checked out if I
was you because they could be worth a bit.
John:
You never know.
Digger:
Can you tell us about your plans for the business John?
Onward and upward I guess?
John:
Yes, onward and upward. I’m increasing the range all the
time, putting on new discs and new movies on the website.
I’ve also just recently got in touch with a factory
called Bygone Times.
Digger:
Oh yes, I know them, they are on my website.
John:
Are they? Yes, where everything is retro stuff. There’s
that one and another called Botany Bay - you can have a
stall in there and you don’t have to man it. So that’s
the next thing
– I’m going to start stocking up these places so I
don’t have to be there and I continue doing what I’m
doing.
Digger:
And they just take a commission when they sell something
for you.
John:
Yes. And I’ve got this chap in Germany that’s very keen on
getting the replica discs over into Germany. So, yes,
things are really looking up. Isn’t it funny though,
when I was wondering if I’d done the right thing?
Digger:
I know. That’s great. No, it’s really good news and if
you can do it in this sort of climate then just think what
it’s going to be like when things really take off.
John:
Absolutely.
Digger:
You’ve done very well there and what a way to start the
new year!
John:
I’m very pleased.
Digger:
I’m very pleased for you. Thanks for letting us know about
your film cells and gold discs John.
John:
Okay David. Thank you.
