Fuji launch 'choose-film'

[Moopheus]

In the grand scheme of things fuji's new site is not a big investment, but it is pretty clear, form those posting here, that it will have a good return.

Indeed, considering they get a good boost of goodwill among film users for a relatively low investment it's surprising they haven't done it already. And they must be smart enough to realize they're in a good position to take market share away from Kodak. It does seem like at least publicly, Fuji and Ilford are trying to attract the film user while Kodak seems to be turning their back on them.

It would be cool if Fuji reps actually participated in the forums the way Simon Galley does here.

 

[Alex Bishop-Thorpe]

Signed up! looks good to me, It'll go on my regular routine with APUG. The store only caters to the UK at this stage, but as they grow I'd expect that to change. Good news for us.

 

[CGross]

THANKS FUJI

Now this is kind of news I really like to see.
Thank you Fuji for promoting and supporting each and everyone of us film users!!

Now, may please have some B&W sheet film that's not in quickloads?

Michael, I agree, it sure would be nice to see Across in loose sheets and not the quickloads here in the states. I'm getting ready to place an order with Megaperls for some Acros 100 sheets.

And, I am really waiting to see what everyone thinks of the New Velvia when it hits the shelves.

 

[reub2000]

Kodak has presented Fuji with an opportunity to differentiate themselves among film users and they're wise enough to take advantage of it.

Elaborate on what you mean.

 

[jstraw]

I just mean that Fuji has an opportunity to build and consolidate brand loyalty among film die-hards that's enhanced by Kodak's decision not to do so. While Kodak has a lot of analog product still in their catalog they have done little to make fim users feel valued. Ilford has. Fuji is now making a public affirmation of their intentions as well. This engenders a positive attitude for these manufacturors that I'm sure they hope will translate into a more fervent embracing of their products. I think they're (both Ilford and Fuji) wise to understand that loyalty is a two-way street. I think many of us are likely to feel more loyalty to companies that are loyal to us.

 

[jsouther]

Hurray for Fuji!

I just signed up. Its great to see more attention and recognition directed towards film users.

 

[Soeren]

HMM
Sean have you contacted or been contacted by Fuji? I mean why another analog website? couldn't they just as well support APUG.
Ok there could be the question about control and being undependent but isn't it just spreading analog photographers into smaller groups? shall we have a Fuji site, an Ilford site, a Maco site and and and or just a few strong groups?
Cheers
Søren

 

[crispinuk]

Before going off on one, please read all of my post
I think this is a commercial initiative by Fuji-UK to sell Fuji (film) products and gather 'marketing data', i.e. names and email addresses of people they might be able to sell to. This is a good thing. It means Fuji see there is still money to be made in film and it is worth promoting rather than being left to whither on the vine. I have already signed up (with an email address that I can delete/change when the SPAM fest starts, see JD Callow's warning above).

The list of independent film shops is excellent. While this only covers the UK at the moment it could easily be expanded to cover the world, and would provide the resource that has been suggested several times on APUG. Fuji have invited information on shops/companies to add to the list, if people start submitting international shops they will soon get the message.

In conclusion: good one Fuji !

Crispin

 

[Steve Smith]

I think this is a commercial initiative by Fuji-UK to sell Fuji (film) products and gather 'marketing data', i.e. names and email addresses of people they might be able to sell to. This is a good thing.

I agree! And the more people who sign up, the greater the justification will be for them to retain their film products.

Steve.

 

[Eric Rose]

Nice to see some familiar names over at the Fuji site. But better still there are a lot of new faces. For the most part there is some outstanding photography posted there. Nice to see a new vibrant community.

 

[Sean]

From what I can see the site looks like a new form of interactive advertising. Don't get me wrong it's not an attack on what they are doing because I think it's an effective way to get product exposure and reach out to their customers vs. a static mode of advertising. Technically the site itself is a wordpress blog with a few plugins and modified theme. The domain is also the only domain I can see that isn't actually listed as being owned by Fuji which makes it seem it's an outsourced venture owned by a marketing firm. That's not necessarily a bad thing but I am wondering how much participation Fuji will have on the site, only time will tell..

 

[Peter Black]

One other thing about this (and I don't think it has been mentioned) is that there is a minimum order of £80 in the film shop, plus it looks like £10 minimum postage. The £80 figure only seems to come up at checkout time.

 

[copake_ham]

Reading through it all - and not being in the UK - I still signed-up.

I figure that the data will get to Fuji in some form or other; so it's worth a try. But thank goodness for the good old spamblocker.

I just want to be sure I have some color film to shoot in the future. I figure Ilford is in this for the long haul - but they are monochrome only.

For example, ust this week I shot a ton of both F & K color film at the Tucson Rodeo - both 35mm and 120. So I desperately want either (or better yet, both) Fuji and Kodak to survive.

 

[michaelsalomon]

the more, the better.

 

[naturephoto1]

Glad to see Fuji's interest and enthusiasm for film. I am glad that I have been a long time user of Fuji transparency film since about 1990.

Rich

 

[John Bragg]

I joined because it is the right thing to do, in that we should embrace any opportunity to stand up and be counted as dedicated film users. I will still gladly use Kodak and Ilford products, as I do now, but Fuji have gone up in my estimation for taking this initiative. I will be looking in daily, as I always do with APUG...

 

[film_guy]

Although I'm not in the UK I signed up because Fuji seems to be the only other company (besides Ilford) to continue to support film. Although I like Kodak for their history and Tri-X, after seeing how they're not that enthusiastic about supporting their film business, I think I might just go over to Fuji for all my 35mm products.

 

[Sean]

Hi folks, I am wondering if anyone has seen an actual official notice of this site made by Fuji other than an email. I can not seem to find any mention of this on fuji or fuji.co.uk websites. The choose-film site is not registered to fuji, the system it is based on a wordpress blog which could be built in about an hour, slap on some fuji logos and content etc.. and to top it off when you place an order they state "we will contact you to obtain your credit card info" something which would be hard to trace. Also, there appears to be no activity on the site from Fuji reps. I am not saying that the site is scam but it would certainly set my mind at ease to see an official press release by fuji about this site. As for getting an email from fuji stating a new site is available anyone can mock a sending email address to appear it came from fuji or anywhere. Unless there is something solid from fuji about this site I would urge caution..

 

[Alex Bishop-Thorpe]

I'm kind of disappointed about the lack of Fuji representation, It's basically just a small forum if there's nothing official. Not like there was a void needing to be filled of a place for analogue photographers to talk, so I'm not sure how useful it'll actually be in the long run unless Fuji step in and sort of take some responsibility for it.

 

[arigram]

I think Sean is just jealous and feels threatened by the possibillity that we will all abandon APUG for that other site and force him to go kissing the feet of IT managers begging for a job...

 

[Sean]

Ok Baxter sent me his correspondence with Fuji and it looks fine to me. I was just worried because I used to work for a large bank and over the years there were several fake sites built by overseas parties used to lure bank customers into "contests", they were done very well and many customers would get taken in the days it took to have them shut down..

 

[Sean]

I think Sean is just jealous and feels threatened by the possibillity that we will all abandon APUG for that other site and force him to go kissing the feet of IT managers begging for a job...

Back to I.T.!? I don't think I could go there again.. bagging groceries or pumping gas would be far more appealing

 

[tbm]

Last week I read in a business-related magazine that Kodak earned $2 billion in its film division, yet the assholish CEO has chosen to close a plant in Europe and there is a rumor that it will also discontinue certain films. All of this relates to---guess what? As usual, the goddamned STOCK MARKET and its stock value! I am so sick and tired of companies making decisions based on their goddamned stock value, I'm ready to vomit! Dammit!

Meanwhile, I've been making photographs with Fuji's color and black and white films for 10 years and I still LOVE what it manufactures. From Provia 100slide film to Acros 100 b&W film, I'm constantly in heaven. Thank you, Fuji, for opening the Web site mentioned herein and for continuing to support millions of film users worldwide!

 

[Roger Hicks]

Hi folks, I am wondering if anyone has seen an actual official notice of this site made by Fuji other than an email.

Dear Sean,

There were several guys with Choose Film T-shirts at Focus on Imaging, the premium UK show, on the Fuji stand. From a brief conversation with one of them, yes, it does seem to be bought in. It's VERY recent (announced just before the show, which opened last Sunday) and they've had a lot of international sign-ups.

Of course it's a jumped-up ad campaign, but it's a brilliant idea to stand Perez's stance on its head and SHOW a commitment to film.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Uncle Bill]

I think Choose Film is a brilliant marketing communications campaign. Fuji is getting closer to it customers, while the site is based in the UK, just the fact there is a high international participation rate will not go un-noticed.

I hope the marketing people Kodak are taking notes on this for their sake.

Bill