A unique 3-D printed sign resembling old BlockBuster Video stores beckons traditional-minded customers to Mike Strickland’s store in a Hanmer, Ontario mall. Strickly Nostalgia specializes in selling retro games, collectibles, and physical media such as CDs, cassettes, VHS tapes, and vinyl records.
Strickland noted that the business caters to a growing demographic motivated by nostalgia and the appeal of possessing physical items. He highlighted that younger adults appreciate having tangible objects like records, even if they don’t actively use them, with some individuals opting to display them as decor.
Initially establishing an online presence through platforms like eBay, Strickland transitioned to a brick-and-mortar store due to the high fees associated with online selling. The move aimed to better meet the demand for nostalgic items in the market.
According to Louis-Paul Willis, a film studies professor at the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, the rise in popularity of physical media signifies a desire for stability and ownership of personal collections, shielded from algorithmic modifications and de-platforming common in digital services.
An emerging trend in favor of physical media may also be influenced by a growing dissatisfaction with major media corporations. Strickland observed a surge in video game sales following Sony’s decision to discontinue releasing PlayStation 5 games on discs, leading to a significant price hike for physical copies.
Despite Sony defending its shift towards digital distribution as a strategic move, many gamers expressed discontent, criticizing the decision and threatening to boycott PlayStation products. Strickland echoed customer concerns, suggesting that Sony misjudged the market by moving away from physical media.
Willis highlighted the entertainment industry’s shift towards digital streaming services as a preemptive measure against unauthorized sharing, a tactic that proved detrimental to the music industry during the era of peer-to-peer file sharing. He noted that consumers are now largely reliant on subscription services to access media content.
The transition to digital platforms has also limited the sharing of media, a practice previously common with physical formats like DVDs and CDs. Willis pointed out that the resurgence of interest in physical media is a response to these changes, emphasizing the unique experience of physically browsing and selecting movies, which contrasts with algorithm-driven content recommendations.
At Strickly Nostalgia, the traditional approach of browsing physical media for communal viewing experiences remains a major draw for customers. Strickland highlighted the nostalgia-inducing atmosphere of the store, where patrons enjoy the interactive process of selecting movies for shared enjoyment, a sentiment absent in modern digital streaming services.