Southtree

Southtree operates as a direct-to-consumer e-commerce company specializing in the digitization of analog media. The firm is positioned within the personal memory preservation market, serving individuals who possess outdated media formats and wish to convert them into modern digital files.

The company was established in 2009 by Adam Boeselager and Nick Macco, who were students at Lee University at the time. The venture began in their garage in Cleveland, Tennessee, initially as a way to earn extra money. Boeselager was inspired by his parents' collection of aging tapes that were no longer being watched, recognizing a broader need for preserving such recorded moments. Macco, a self-taught designer and business major, complemented Boeselager's vision with a focus on data analysis and direct-to-consumer marketing, which became a key driver of the company's growth. A significant milestone was the 2013 launch of a second brand, Legacybox, following a successful Kickstarter campaign. Southtree, Legacybox, and Kodak Digitizing Box are brands that operate out of the same facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Southtree's business model is centered on processing individual items rather than offering bundled packages. Clients send their analog materials, and the company digitizes them, charging on a per-item basis. The service accepts a wide array of formats, including videotapes (VHS, Betamax, MiniDV), film reels (8mm, Super 8, 16mm), photographic media (prints, slides, negatives), and audio formats like cassettes and reel-to-reel tapes. Upon completion, customers receive their original items back along with the newly created digital versions, which can be delivered on a thumb drive, via cloud download, or on DVDs. Revenue is generated from the per-item digitization fees and charges for the selected digital output media.

The service is designed for simplicity, where customers send their media to Southtree's production facility. The company states that all items are processed by hand by technicians in its Chattanooga facility. An advanced barcode system is used to track orders, providing real-time updates to customers as their items move through the digitization process. However, prospective clients should be aware that customer reviews are mixed. While some customers report positive experiences with communication and the final product, others have raised concerns regarding long turnaround times, final quality, and customer service.

Keywords: media digitization, analog to digital conversion, video tape transfer, film conversion, photo scanning service, audio cassette digitization, 8mm film to digital, vhs to dvd, memory preservation, direct-to-consumer, e-commerce, Chattanooga, Adam Boeselager, Nick Macco, Legacybox, photo digitization, slide scanning, negative scanning, reel-to-reel audio transfer, digital keepsakes