Eastman Kodak: Strong increasing demand for movie film

[Kino]

On reading one statement of contrary opinion, certain types attack journalism. Better to enjoy public relations professionals like Henning than to condemn journalism.

Maybe the type that has a degree in Journalism...

 

[jtk]

Something to think about:

https://www.kodakalaris.com/pressroom/news/2019/kodak-moments-launches-compact,-affordable-photo-p

Video re Alaris and photos


"Kodak Moments US
In a rapidly transforming market, with smartphones changing the face of the photo printing industry, agility is the key to staying ahead of the curve. Compact, scalable and affordable, the new M1 Order station features world-class KODAK Picture Kiosk Software that is designed to help you expand your services and increase your revenue."

“The consumer demand for photo printing is still strong today,” said Michael Graham, Kodak Moments Senior Product Owner. “To succeed, retailers must provide a streamlined and user-friendly system to their customers. We’ve designed the M1 with a customer-centric experience that elicits interaction while driving traffic and building customer loyalty. We’re seeing interest from a variety of retailers who are looking to take advantage of more than a trillion photos taken by consumers annually.”

“Smartphones are changing the face of the photo printing industry and retail kiosks are changing the way consumers engage with brands,” said Nicki Zongrone, President of Kodak Moments. “Our goal with the M1 Order Station is to give retailers who are interested in entering the photo printing category a convenient, easy, affordable solution that serves their customers and drives additional in store revenue.”

 

[jtk]

Maybe the type that has a degree in Journalism...

Kino: Where and when did you get your "degree in journalism?" Congratulations, it's a great profession !

 

[Kino]

H.H. Herbert School of Journalism (since renamed and gutted), 1985, Univ. of Oklahoma, B/A in R/TV/Film. Enlisted in the Army to be a 76 Charlie MOPIC Combat Photographer but they decided I was a better clerk typist. Gave up on my battle photographer/reporter aspirations after that...

 

[jtk]

A buddy was a combat photog in VN. He sold me a stolen Graflex XL kit (had shifted from photo to door gunner).

 

[Henning Serger]

On reading one statement of contrary opinion, certain types attack journalism. Better to enjoy public relations professionals like Henning than to condemn journalism.

I am not a "public relation professional".
My professional background is scientific work in economical and technological research.

When I am writing here about news from the industry my intention is giving proven information which may be of interest for the film community.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[foc]

Something to think about:

https://www.kodakalaris.com/pressroom/news/2019/kodak-moments-launches-compact,-affordable-photo-p

Video re Alaris and photos


"Kodak Moments US
In a rapidly transforming market, with smartphones changing the face of the photo printing industry, agility is the key to staying ahead of the curve. Compact, scalable and affordable, the new M1 Order station features world-class KODAK Picture Kiosk Software that is designed to help you expand your services and increase your revenue."

“The consumer demand for photo printing is still strong today,” said Michael Graham, Kodak Moments Senior Product Owner. “To succeed, retailers must provide a streamlined and user-friendly system to their customers. We’ve designed the M1 with a customer-centric experience that elicits interaction while driving traffic and building customer loyalty. We’re seeing interest from a variety of retailers who are looking to take advantage of more than a trillion photos taken by consumers annually.”

“Smartphones are changing the face of the photo printing industry and retail kiosks are changing the way consumers engage with brands,” said Nicki Zongrone, President of Kodak Moments. “Our goal with the M1 Order Station is to give retailers who are interested in entering the photo printing category a convenient, easy, affordable solution that serves their customers and drives additional in store revenue.”

It looks like they are aiming at the mass market again. The video appears to be aimed at retailers, not just photo retailers.
It reminds me a bit of the minilab lab push back in the late 1980's early 1990's when they sprang up everywhere.
I know this is different as it is an all in one unit that "can't go wrong ! ! !" and the software and connectivity "should be foolproof"
I have 4 of the Fuji kiosks, similar to this Kodak M1 and a lot of time is spent helping customers get setup with the app on their phone and get connected.
Having said that the Fuji app on the phone can be used instore or for online ordering, and if set up correctly can be a great customer repeat business model.

 

[pentaxuser]

I couldn't see anything in the video that had any connection with film, film cameras or RA4 printing. Is this the sum total of "The Kodak Future"?

pentaxuser

 

[jtk]

I am not a "public relation professional".
My professional background is scientific work in economical and technological research.

When I am writing here about news from the industry my intention is giving proven information which may be of interest for the film community.

Best regards,
Henning

OK, you're not a professional.

Please notice that I encouraged readers to enjoy your posts. "Better to enjoy public relations professionals like Henning than to condemn journalism."

 

[jtk]

It looks like they are aiming at the mass market again. The video appears to be aimed at retailers, not just photo retailers.
It reminds me a bit of the minilab lab push back in the late 1980's early 1990's when they sprang up everywhere.
I know this is different as it is an all in one unit that "can't go wrong ! ! !" and the software and connectivity "should be foolproof"
I have 4 of the Fuji kiosks, similar to this Kodak M1 and a lot of time is spent helping customers get setup with the app on their phone and get connected.
Having said that the Fuji app on the phone can be used instore or for online ordering, and if set up correctly can be a great customer repeat business model.

Kodak as George Eastman intended owed its very existence, not to mention incredible burst of growth, almost entirely to "mass market" .

And as we all know, there remain very few "photo retailers" so wasting energy on them would be a disservice to Kodak's owners (the share holders).

 

[MattKing]

I couldn't see anything in the video that had any connection with film, film cameras or RA4 printing. Is this the sum total of "The Kodak Future"?

pentaxuser

The video is from Eastman Kodak, not Kodak Alaris.
Kodak Alaris is the separate entity that owns all the rights to market still film, photo chemistry and colour photographic paper. While Eastman Kodak owns the trademarks, they own none of those marketing rights. They have an exclusive agreement to do contract manufacturing of film for Kodak Alaris. Kodak Alaris contracts with other parties to make the chemicals and the colour paper.
As Eastman Kodak has no right to market any of the products you mention, they have no public presence in that market.
For that reason, unless the video came from both Kodak Alaris and Eastman Kodak, there would be no reason to expect to see any reference to those products.

 

[pentaxuser]

Matt, I seem to be able to confuse people these days. I appreciate the difference between KA and Eastman Kodak in terms of their respective entities due in no small measure to you and others kindly explaining it. The point I was trying to make is that Eastman Kodak makes film which is used in film cameras and from the negatives the usual practice is to make colour prints with the RA4 process so Eastman Kodak's future or at least part of its future in film does look to be tied up with the bigger analogue photography picture.

None of the video seemed to have anything to do with film. Is there any reason why Eastman Kodak should not be promoting film as well in videos given it forms part of its revenue or in fact are you saying that as it makes film for KA then it relies entirely on KA to promote the use of film and cannot by itself make any reference to film without the express permission of KA even if film is a part and according to Henning a growing part of its business once again?

That is to say, Eastman Kodak's control over film begins and ends with KA orders for said film? It would seem that on that basis a sizeable portion of Eastman Kodak's business and thus its future is one in which it has no control over at all? If KA were to decide on a policy that was unfortunately to seriously affect film sales adversely and thus seriously affect a part of Eastman Kodaks future then Eastman Kodak can have no influence on this. It simply has to do what it is told and lacks any ability to influence its production of film or promotion of a product it makes?

If for instance Eastman Kodak think there is a future in a new film like Ilford's orthochromatic does it rely on persuading KA to adopt the idea and if so who pays for the research and facilities needed? If on the other hand it is KA who decides that such a film is a good idea what are the limits on what it can do in terms of telling Eastman Kodak to do about making the film?

Can Eastman Kodak simply refuse to have anything to such a request even if for instance KA is prepared to fund the research and set up costs?

Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[MattKing]

I have reliable information indicating that Eastman Kodak and Kodak Alaris are looking at and/or working on bringing back old still film products and introducing new still film products.
But Eastman Kodak is doing so in its role as a supplier to Kodak Alaris, not as a supplier to the world at large.
It wouldn't make any sense for them to communicate details to the world, when the world has no direct contact with them with respect to those products.
They are simply a contract manufacturer, whose only customer (for still film) is Kodak Alaris.
I've drawn the parallel before - people don't contact Foxconn and Foxconn doesn't reach out to the world about the Apple products they manufacture for Apple.
If you see information from Eastman Kodak about products, it will be about products that they sell to their own customers, not to Kodak Alaris' customers.
Eastman Kodak will do contract coating (both photographic and non-photographic) for others. If you want to have them make some film for you that differs from Kodak film and won't be branded as Kodak film, give them a call. You will need to buy a very large amount, but they will do it for you.
I think a large part of the problem arises from the fact that all parties involved share the Kodak name as part of what they do. As a result, people tend to expect both Kodaks to do all things.

 

[Henning Serger]

OK, you're not a professional.

Please notice that I encouraged readers to enjoy your posts. "Better to enjoy public relations professionals like Henning than to condemn journalism."

No problem at all.
I just wanted to give all readers precise information, my background included. Because the long-established members here may know me and my prof. background, but most new members probabaly don't.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Henning Serger]

Hello Matt,

I have reliable information indicating that Eastman Kodak and Kodak Alaris are looking at and/or working on bringing back old still film products and introducing new still film products.
But Eastman Kodak is doing so in its role as a supplier to Kodak Alaris, not as a supplier to the world at large.
It wouldn't make any sense for them to communicate details to the world, when the world has no direct contact with them with respect to those products.
They are simply a contract manufacturer, whose only customer (for still film) is Kodak Alaris.

I completely agree with you.
Just some additional information: Eastman Kodak and Kodak Alaris are extremely aware of the fact that they need each other in the business of still / photo film. Therefore they are cooperating in a very close relationsship. That even includes that EK is also doing marketing to end customers = film photographers in addition to what Kodak Alaris is doing.
Example:
https://www.instagram.com/kodak/ That is an official Eastman Kodak account.

And that are Kodak Alaris accounts:
https://www.instagram.com/kodakprofessional/
https://www.instagram.com/kodakprofessional_europe/

Best regards,
Henning

 

[iandvaag]

I have reliable information indicating that Eastman Kodak and Kodak Alaris are looking at and/or working on bringing back old still film products and introducing new still film products.

Are you just going to leave that tantalizing tidbit of information and leave it to our imaginations?

 

[pentaxuser]

Yes thanks for the clarification, Matt. I was simply curious about the actual business relationship between EK and KA in practical terms it would appear that in reality EK relationship is perhaps a little more that one of a simply contract supplier and I posed my relationship question about a new film simply as a means of anyone "in the know" to use it as an illustration of how the relationship would work in practice

pentaxuser

 

[MattKing]

Are you just going to leave that tantalizing tidbit of information and leave it to our imaginations?

I'm constrained by a couple of things:
1) I agreed to keep confidential most of the information I've received; and
2) most of the information I've received is in itself indicative rather than definitive.
I'll say this though - if there is a product that you would like to see return, tell your friendly retailer!

 

[jtk]

I have reliable information indicating that Eastman Kodak and Kodak Alaris are looking at and/or working on bringing back old still film products and introducing new still film products.
But Eastman Kodak is doing so in its role as a supplier to Kodak Alaris, not as a supplier to the world at large.
It wouldn't make any sense for them to communicate details to the world, when the world has no direct contact with them with respect to those products.
They are simply a contract manufacturer, whose only customer (for still film) is Kodak Alaris.
I've drawn the parallel before - people don't contact Foxconn and Foxconn doesn't reach out to the world about the Apple products they manufacture for Apple.
If you see information from Eastman Kodak about products, it will be about products that they sell to their own customers, not to Kodak Alaris' customers.
Eastman Kodak will do contract coating (both photographic and non-photographic) for others. If you want to have them make some film for you that differs from Kodak film and won't be branded as Kodak film, give them a call. You will need to buy a very large amount, but they will do it for you.
I think a large part of the problem arises from the fact that all parties involved share the Kodak name as part of what they do. As a result, people tend to expect both Kodaks to do all things.

Way back in history it was widely recognized that the confusion was created intentionally . I

 

[pentaxuser]

Way back in history it was widely recognized that the confusion was created intentionally . I

Interesting stuff. What time are you referring to and what is the evidence that the confusion was intentional? Do you also know what the reasons for this was.

Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[jtk]

Interesting stuff. What time are you referring to and what is the evidence that the confusion was intentional? Do you also know what the reasons for this was.

Thanks

pentaxuser

The intention was to allow a totally incompetent industrial entity to continue to deplete residual assets rather than be sold by the bankruptcy court, which might have benefitted injured investors more than the cartoon ghost of EK has done for so long.

 

[pentaxuser]

The intention was to allow a totally incompetent industrial entity to continue to deplete residual assets rather than be sold by the bankruptcy court, which might have benefitted injured investors more than the cartoon ghost of EK has done for so long.

Thanks and interesting. Whose intention was this? Not sure how to interpret the rest. Can you elaborate?

Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[MattKing]

Pffft!
The intention was to try to transfer something of real value to the Kodak Limited pension plan, because otherwise the super priority that it enjoyed would otherwise leave the secured creditors with less than they would otherwise get.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I have reliable information indicating that Eastman Kodak and Kodak Alaris are looking at and/or working on bringing back old still film products and introducing new still film products.
But Eastman Kodak is doing so in its role as a supplier to Kodak Alaris, not as a supplier to the world at large.
It wouldn't make any sense for them to communicate details to the world, when the world has no direct contact with them with respect to those products.
They are simply a contract manufacturer, whose only customer (for still film) is Kodak Alaris.
I've drawn the parallel before - people don't contact Foxconn and Foxconn doesn't reach out to the world about the Apple products they manufacture for Apple.
If you see information from Eastman Kodak about products, it will be about products that they sell to their own customers, not to Kodak Alaris' customers.
Eastman Kodak will do contract coating (both photographic and non-photographic) for others. If you want to have them make some film for you that differs from Kodak film and won't be branded as Kodak film, give them a call. You will need to buy a very large amount, but they will do it for you.
I think a large part of the problem arises from the fact that all parties involved share the Kodak name as part of what they do. As a result, people tend to expect both Kodaks to do all things.

I wonder what those old still film products could be.... HIE!!!! Please!!!

 

[MattKing]

I wonder what those old still film products could be.... HIE!!!! Please!!!

Andrew,
I've passed on your desire for HIE, and Bob and Nicole's desire for EIR .
Plus-X is my request.