Why sell VHS tapes, when we're a candle shop?
This is just a fun little blog post talking about our new RinkyDink shop, in Leeds Corn Exchange! We've now been open for almost six weeks, and have been so touched by all the love and support we've received from the community!
VHS tapes are very popular, and RinkyDink's owner is a collector!
In 2023, I started collecting VHS tapes after buying a CRT TV (with a built in video player) off Facebook marketplace. What started as a small hobby boomed into a collecting obsession!
I became so happy whenever I'd find a childhood classic that I'd not seen in years, and even better that I'd get to relive the joy of manually loading a VHS tape into the mechanisms, hearing them work to play the tape.
When I realised how much joy this brought me, I realised there must be so many other collectors like myself who struggle to find irl outlets to shop for tapes!
Buying tapes online can sometimes be a little risky
I wanted to create a space in Leeds city centre that allowed collectors like myself the chance to review a tape, ensure it's not mould-coated, and be confident it's going to play uninterrupted after purchasing,
When I got approved to sell my candles in Leeds Corn Exchange, I was immediately onto the landlord, asking if I could allocate a chunk of my shop to selling secondhand VHS tapes... and they said yes!
All our tapes are tested for mould and tracking issues, and priced according to their realistic market value (including collectors editions)
Aaron, our shop manager, reviews every tape we sell, to ensure they play, and are mould-free. Then, each tape is researched online to see what it currently is valued at. We aim to price under the current market value, in an effort to encourage irl shopping and supporting independents in Leeds Corn Exchange.
Leeds Corn Exchange is our home, where we sell the VHS tapes, and the scents to escape with while you watch
