The credits are rolling for one of the last video stores in the South.
After almost 40 years in the business United Video — the last video and DVD store in Invercargill — is closing its doors.
Owners Daryle and Kim Blackler managed to adapt and to survive went through many changes in the industry including VHS, DVD, video-games, blu-ray and now streaming.
"It’s a multitude of reasons — you can’t put it down to one.
"But probably one of the biggest contributing factors would have to be the amount of content on social media now.
"Doesn’t necessarily have to be movies, but ... most live sports are all streamed now, then you’ve got documentaries, you’ve got movies ... A lot of content in there. Most of the game is played online now."
He said the movie companies were also investing in their own platforms and trying to get away from physical content because of the costs such as fabrication, shipping and storage.
In the recent years, he had been struggling to get new releases — in the past they used to have about 70% of turnover with new releases.
"Now it’s about 10% and all the rest is back catalogue. So the dynamics have changed."
He said the decision was not taken lightly and he appreciated the community which supported them throughout the years and all the experiences he had.
One of his favourite memories was when he met Jean-Claude Van Damme during an event in Las Vegas.
Mr Blackler just had come up from the swimming pool and did not realise the event was a cocktail party.
"All these ones were in black ties and tuxedos and I’m standing there with swimming shorts on, jandals, T-shirt and a suit jacket over top.
"Everyone stopped and looked around says — ‘oh, what’s going on here? It must be some sort of a ... show they’re putting on’. But no, it was the Kiwi boy from Invercargill," he said, laughing.
He became almost a celebrity in the event and it was Van Damme who asked to take photos with him.
"He must have lined up and he probably took about 20 photos with me and that was quite funny. He’s shorter than me — And I couldn’t believe it."
Those moments would be always treasured, and while he did not have a final day to say goodbye to his beloved business yet, he was preparing himself for the moment.
The store has put its 80,000-odd titles on sale.
The final day would be when his stock was almost gone, which he believed would happen in August.
"But you’ve got to realise that things change in technology as well and we just have to accept that. The saddest day will be the day that we walk out the door. That’ll be the day."
