One of the most famous trends on YouTube is unboxing, in which people would record themselves opening products and gadgets to show their viewers what is inside.
The star of the unboxing video genre, Lewis Hilsenteger, is the one who started it all. The 31-year-old owned an Apple technology repair store near Ryerson University in Ontario, Canada. He filmed himself unpacking and testing gadgets and posted the videos on YouTube, and the rest is history.
In one of his clips, he tried out a breathalyzer that can be connected to a smartphone, and in another video, he knocked over an unspillable cup.
Lewis Hilsenteger's Rise to Fame
Hilsenteger's most popular video has more than 68 million views. It was a video of him back in 2014 trying to bend the iPhone 6 with his bare hands.
The video became the 5th highest-trending upload to the video streaming platform that year. His video was the only Canadian entry that trended worldwide in 2014, according to The Star.
In an exclusive interview with The Star, Hilsenteger talked about the appeal of unboxing videos. He shared how he went from a small-business owner to a YouTube celebrity with more than 5 million subscribers.
Hilsenteger shared that he has loved gadgets and technology since he was a child. He always wanted to purchase the latest gadgets.
The YouTube star's first business called iUpgrade allowed him to make tutorial videos. He published the videos on YouTube, and his channel began getting attention from viewers.
Hilsenteger told Business Insider back in 2015 that unboxing videos could be a full-time career. From the start, he knew that the trend would take off.
The YouTuber said that he could predict its popularity because he is aware of the web in general.
The Appeal of Unboxing Videos
Hilsenteger stated that the mass appeal of unboxing is a combination of things. First, it was the concept of consumption.
Second, it is the nostalgia around opening a package and not knowing what is inside. People can draw on the memory that they have that experience.
And third, being able to do it online allows people to connect with others and share their experiences.
Hilsenteger ends up being right. For years, unboxing videos garnered millions of views worldwide.
Tech YouTubers can even open packages and tests gadgets that are not in the market yet, like how a YouTuber leaked the DJI FPV drone in his unboxing video that went viral.
Because of its popularity, YouTube Kids posted new guidelines regarding the unboxing of toys to make sure that minors are not exploited on the platform.
Brand Deals
When it comes to dealing with brands, he revealed to USA Today that brands want YouTubers to bend to the way that they want to do things. He protects himself by reminding himself that his real capital exists in the audience and not in a single video or brand.
Hilsenteger also talked about his day at the office. He has recently decided to start publishing videos on a daily basis. He spends part of his day researching the web for the next gadget that he can order.
The YouTuber also shared that he would deal with his inbox, as he gets 500 emails a day from products and brands that want to get featured on his channel.
Hilsenteger also shared the production of his video. He would sit down with the package, turn on the camera, and film every single step of him unboxing the package so it would be authentic.
The filming process takes 30 minutes to an hour, but he edits his videos, so it will only run for three to four minutes.
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Written by Sophie Webster
