From a simple site to a shopping-hub that's been viewed over one million times, IVPvideos has quickly found itself as one of the biggest sellers of Japanese wrestling DVD's. Not only that, but IVP has recently branched out and is offering DVD's from several independent promotions. Many wonder, what's next for IVPvideos? Following a massive site re-design, IVP owner, operator, founder, guru, and crazed maniac Chris Schoen sat down for a candid interview discussing his website.

Section 1: The Interview

PdW2kX: How did IVPvideos start?

Chris Schoen: IVPvideos was started in January 2005.

P: Did you have any previous experience with DVD selling before starting IVP?

C: The simple version of that was that I was selling WWE stuff before that, and got an e-mail telling me to stop.

P: Did anything else come from that?

C: I had to pay $250.00 to avoid being sued.

P: Ouch. What happened next?

C: The problem was I still had a bunch of equipment and nothing to use it on. At the time, DVD recorders were not owned by everyone and I had the unique advantage of being the first to sell Japanese DVD's. That didn't last very long, but it was nice while it lasted. After a few months of getting tapes from other places, I got connected with someone in Japan and the rest is history.

P: How successful was IVPvideos initially?

C: Not very, the first few months saw sales of about $100.00. Not bad for a side income and one DVD Duplicator. The big blowup occurred when I started selling the AJPW 2/16/2005 (2 Discs) show for $1.00 and the NJPW 2/20/2005 (3 Discs) show for $2.00. A lot of people found out about my site during those sales and things just exploded after that.

P: What were some early setbacks?

C: I wasn't entirely prepared for the massive explosion of customers and my one duplicator was becoming very overworked. I did what I could, but I became about two weeks behind on orders. I ordered two more duplicators to help me out but they took a week to get to me and it was just chaos.

P: What were some early high points?

C: The money was pretty nice, and just watching something grow right before my eyes. I wasn't sure how long it would last, as other websites started popping up around the internet. I love doing this though, and will be doing it as long as the people allow me to.

P: How would you describe IVPvideos right now?

C: Stronger than ever, with a lot of big things planned for the upcoming year.

P: What kind of big things?

C: We have a second DVD Sampler disc featuring independent superstars and a couple big sales coming up. The new website, while it still has some kinks in it, is a king-sized step towards the future of IVPvideos. Also, I am in talks with a few Indy promotions on selling their DVD's and might be co-promoting some shows in the spring.

P: With all the big updates planned, how difficult is it to run such a big site?

C: I wouldn't say difficult, just very time consuming. I work a full time job at a life insurance company from 7:30 A.M until 4:00 P.M. Then I try to get to the gym (fail most of the time) and usually work on DVD's from 6:00 until around 11:00 when I go to sleep. Making DVD's, answering E-mails, going to the post office, ordering new products, listing them, it is a never-ending cycle. Well worth it of course, but it can be rather hectic. My weekends are usually spent working on orders. We sell roughly twelve hundred DVD's a month.

P: Are you still running IVPvideos all by yourself?

C: Yes I am. When I moved to my new place in January I tried hiring my roommates to help but it was a disaster. I am sort of a control freak so I like that everything goes through me. My fiancée helps from time to time, mostly filling out custom forms and packaging orders. Other than that, I do everything.

P: Would you ever think of partnering up with other sites/promotions/etc.?

C: Possibly. I just started an affiliate program where people can earn 10% of each sale that they bring in. This is a very large percentage but I think it is worth it to bring in new customers.

[Editor's Note: If anyone reading this is interested in becoming an affiliate head here.]

P: With the Affiliate Program and the big sales and the massive amounts of Puroresu, many new and even long-time IVP buyers still have one big question: why are your DVD prices so cheap?

C: I believe in giving back to those who have taken care of me. That is why I use thermal printing instead of writing on the discs. It costs me an extra 25 cents per disc but it is well worth it. If anyone has seen my handwriting I am sure they would agree. :-) Seriously though, I believe in the Wal-Mart philosophy of selling a lot of DVD's for cheap instead of a small amount of DVD's for a large amount. Besides, my profit margin per DVD is still larger than most other things you would sell on the Internet.

P: Now, onto a different topic. How did IVPvideos begin affiliating with independent promotions?

C: I have a few connections throughout the wrestling world with some pretty big names. I don't have any real dealings with most of the feds except for buying their DVD's and reselling them. This is one section of the business I plan on trying to expand in 2007.

P: How so?

C: I definitely want to start setting up tables at some Indy shows and seeing how things go.

P: Do you have any past experience regarding that?

C: I did all right selling at Chikara at the ECW Arena last year, so we shall see.

P: What would you say to the people that doubt IVPvideos or have had problems with it in the past?

C: I am just one person, and I do make mistakes. Let me know what the problem is and I will do my best to correct it. It might take more than a day because I do not have the resources other places might have.

P: Another question many are probably wondering: how do you get all your DVD's?

C: I have a connection in Japan that hooks me up once a month. The language barrier is kind of rough, but we have an understanding. They get paid and everyone is happy.

P: Speaking of being happy, how is the site doing financially?

C: I'm RICH!!! Well, not quite, but lets just say I have no problem paying my bills. Last month was our second biggest month in company history and this month is looking to beat that. Thanks once again to every one that has purchased something from us.

P: In that vein, do you ever see IVPvideos shutting down?

C: Not that I can foresee, but you never know. No matter what happens I think we can evolve into something entirely different if need be.

P: From a small tape-trading site to basically one of the largest sellers of J-wrestling on the internet right now, how do you feel about IVPvideos?

C: A blessing and a curse. I love doing it but it is very time consuming. I just can't believe it has gotten as big as it has gotten. I never would have imagined IVPvideos would be as big and well known as it is now.

P: What's next for IVPvideos?

C: I want to start my own promotion in 2008. That is the big goal and I am looking to copy the RF model of selling DVD's in order to fund a new promotion. Of course, without the whole LOL-Gate business, but I am sure that goes without saying. Other than that, just a mixture of beefing up our stock and purchasing more duplicators to get orders done faster.

P: Any final thoughts, Chris?

C: Please join our message board and view the website. I don't really have any final thoughts, just thanks for reading and to order now!!! Thanks.

Section 2: Getting to Know Chris Schoen


P: For those who only know the seller, how would you describe yourself?

C: I feel like I am very laid back, hard working and determined.

P: Do you have any jobs besides running IVP?

C: I work for a life insurance company in downtown Baltimore. It is extremely boring, but I have internet access here and I can do some IVP work while at work. Also, I can do interviews such as this :-).

P: Are you a fan of any of the big wrestling promotions?

C: I am a huge fan of ROH and 80s WWF. I have been to over 30 ROH shows over the years and you can't go wrong with old WWF footage.

P: Thoughts on any of the big wrestling promotions?

C: WWE is pretty good. I still go to Wrestlemania each year and just went to Survivor Series. It was so odd seeing CM Punk teaming with the Hardys & DX. I remember seeing him in front of 400 people at my first ROH show in May 2003 and now he is a national celebrity.

P: Have you ever been involved in a pro wrestling event?

C: Actually, I am currently a manager in a small promotion here in Maryland. It is fun and I have been doing it for about two years now. I don't expect it to go anywhere though, but the people do hate me :-) Check out the pics at my Myspace

P: Dream job, in wrestling?

C: Owner of a promotion no doubt. I trained for wrestling for about two months before realizing that it wasn't for me, so being a wrestler is out of the question. Managing is fun but male managers aren't exactly in demand anywhere. Owner and Booker is where it is at.

P: Dream job, out of wrestling?

C: Not sure, but definitely not working for an insurance company

P: Favorite wrestler?

C: Bret Hart. Without him we wouldn't be having this conversation because I would not be a wrestling fan.

P: Favorite match?

C: Live it would have to be Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock or American Dragon vs. KENTA. The crowd was so electric for both matches I still get goose bumps just thinking about it. On tape I have to say Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart at Wrestlemania X. Just a beautiful match and a classic.

P: Hopes for the future?

C: Buy a house, get married, and stay alive. Really that is all I can ask for.

Section 3: Word Association

P: IVPvideos.

C: Sexy.

P: Chris Schoen.

C: Super-Sexy.

P: WWE.

C: Best and Worst promotion in America

P: TNA.

C: Wasted Potential.

P: AJPW.

C: Amazing past, bleak future.

P: NJPW.

C: Getting better.

P: NOAH.

C: Too many random six man tags. About to MAN UP!

Section 4: Closing Comments

I've known Chris Schoen for about two years. In those two, he's never given me any reason to treat him as anything except a kind, valued friend. His early comments and attentiveness to my reviews compelled me to keep reviewing, even despite my relative lack of knowledge of Puroresu. The prices at IVP sure helped in getting me more exposure, but you can't put a price on positive, supporting feedback. If Chris Schoen hadn't been as supportive as he was when I began reviewing wrestling, we may have had an interviewee, but we wouldn't have had an interviewer.

As he said himself, Chris is a dedicated, charismatic person that wants to give back to the wrestling community that has been so kind to him. In turn, I suggest that we be as kind to him as he is being to us. With IVPvideos, you're not getting some bland, faceless, corporate mega-site. You're not getting "Technical Advisors" and "Website Technicians" and droves upon droves of "Support Staff" that drive you crazy with all the red tape and nonsense. You're not getting a company- you're getting one man with a couple DVD recorders, a bunch of wrestling tapes, and some serious dedication.

And in that vein, I support IVPvideos above all the rest. To date, I have never purchased a single Japanese professional wrestling DVD from anywhere besides IVP. Chris has never given me a reason to buy anywhere else.

In closing, I would like to thank all our readers for taking the time to read this interview. This is a huge stepping stone for me, as I feel it's the next big step in redefining what PdW2kX is all about. I thank Chris Schoen for his time in hammering out this interview, but I also thank Chris Schoen for being Chris Schoen.

Finally, I urge everyone to check out the site for yourself- it's everything we've hyped it up to be. To get to IVPvideos, simply click here. For a manual link: http://www.ivpvideos.com. Also, if you're interested in becoming an active member of the IVPvideos community, check out the official message board of IVP here. For a manual link to that: http://www.crazymax.org/ivp.

One last time, thanks for reading. Feedback and comments are always appreciated.

- PdW2kX