There is a new listing on eBay, Item #260185875224, in which Elstree Props announce intentions to retire and sell their business:
Archive Full eBay Listing: Elstree Props Business for Sale eBay Listing
From the marketing description:
After 30 years in the industry we are retiring and selling our established and profitable business. This is your chance to get into the film industry and take over our entire collection of film props, equipment, workshop and showroom which are based in Elstree Film Studios, England opposite the main George Lucas Stage.
Elstree is where the Star Wars trilogy, Indiana Jones trilogy, the Shining, Flash Gordon, Batman Begins, and many other older and newer films have been made. It’s history is world famous and we get visitors from all over the world. You will be able to use all the facilities such as the Bar, Restaurant, White House cafe, conference rooms, viewing theatre and be protected by 24/7 security and CCTV.
The last photo shows the view of the Big Brother house from our windows, Celebrity Big Brother are moving in as we speak. There are many films and TV shows scheduled for next year, and the studios are soon to have a massive investment in new stages and facilities.
Also included in the sale is our established online account with a rating of 1500, our Event company website and our main website, our database of top private collectors, and our industry contacts.
In addition we will train the new owners in how to case and display film props with our unique backdrops and lighting systems, and provide stock and local manufacturers details.
We will also include our unique collection of life-size costumes and radio controlled characters which we rent out to events and parties.
We will also introduce the new owners to our contacts in the industry who supply original props. Being in a working film studios helps! We are also licensed resellers for all the lucrative official replicas from Star Wars, Harry Potter, Aliens, Dr Who etc.
We have thoroughly enjoyed working in the movie industry and now are offering someone else the chance to take over this exciting and interesting business. Being based in the film studios makes us completely unique and this is a great opportunity to do something different!
If you are serious and have money available, email us to arrange a visit. We are looking at between £70-100k depending on how many of the high-end props you want included. You can make that in a year!
Reading the description, it is not entirely clear what is being sold, in terms of original props and wardrobe.
Though it does state that the “established online account with a rating of 1500” is included with the sale, which is presumably the e11e eBay account under which this sale is listed, as well as the “main website”, which is presumably www.elstreeprops.com.
I am curious to know, once the business is sold, what will happen to the “100% unconditional guarantee” policy for original props, as stated on the elstreeprops.com website:
1. How do we know if props are original and genuine?
Easy, buy them directly from us at the film studios! We offer a 100% unconditional guarantee on all our pieces. We work with productions at Pinewood and Leavesden too.
Pieces offered for sale by Elstree Props have been recent topics of discussion:
- Raiders of the Lost Ark “God of Light” Prop Wall Plaque
- Elstree Props “Original” Return of the Jedi Lightsaber at Auction
I am also interested to see the impact of these developments on the Production Protection Program and United Movie Collectors Guild (see article, “The “Production Protection Program” & The United Movie Collectors Guild“).
Jason De Bord