In a digital era dominated by streaming, Mars Tapes in Manchester stands as the UK’s last shop exclusively selling cassette tapes.
Co-owner Alex Tadross reports thriving business, especially during events like the Oasis tour announcement, which saw their entire Oasis collection sell out.
The shop also sees high demand for 80s music, notably Kate Bush, whose resurgence followed her feature in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things.
Mars Tapes attracts a diverse audience, from teenagers and twenty-somethings discovering cassettes for the first time to older customers seeking a nostalgic connection.
Tadross notes that most of their customers are under 30, including many teens accompanied by parents.
Alongside tapes, the shop’s branded cassette players are popular, with many buyers experiencing their first foray into analog music.
This revival of cassette culture aligns with a broader trend of embracing vintage audio equipment.
Searches for “CD player repair near me” and “Audio equipment repair near me” have surged, reflecting a growing desire to restore older devices.
Statista forecasts the global electronics repair market will double in value by 2033, indicating a wider cultural shift toward repair over replacement.
Sarah Dodge from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation links this movement to a preference for more personal, empowering ownership experiences, contrasting the sterile convenience of modern devices.
Mark Maher, a repair expert from Perton Electronics, has seen his hobby evolve into a full-time business as demand skyrockets.
He restores items like Sony Walkmans and tape decks, with many customers looking to revive cherished possessions from their youth.
Maher, who runs a popular YouTube channel called Mend it Mark, believes older equipment’s durability makes it more repairable than modern devices.
Meanwhile, refurbished tech marketplaces like Back Market report exponential growth in retro audio gear, with record players leading sales.
The nostalgia factor is significant.
At the Fixing Factory repair center in Camden, Dermot Jones highlights how vintage equipment often comes with service manuals and repair-friendly designs, unlike today’s devices, which are often built to resist repair.
This cultural shift also supports the circular economy, emphasizing sustainability by extending the life of products.
The emotional impact of restoration is exemplified by Mark Hammond, who last Christmas surprised his wife Ellen with her childhood record player, lovingly repaired after decades in storage.
Playing A Hard Day’s Night by The Beatles, the gift brought tears and cherished memories, reminding us of the enduring power of analog music and its connection to life’s milestones.
Mars Tapes and the broader repair movement show that even in a fast-paced digital world, the charm of analog music remains timeless, bridging generations and celebrating the art of preservation.
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