Five percent is not a heck of a whole lot if it’s per year. It’s acceptable, but not optimal.So Helge, given your #176, any theories as to whom is responsible for the 5% increase in Ilford film sales? Presumably the 5% increase in b&w film sales must result in those 5% more of b&w films being developed somehow? Maybe, just maybe, it is not as difficult to find labs who will process b&w as you assume or the kit needed is not as much of a problem for b&w film buyers as you think..
pentaxuser
Less cameras working than five years ago (supply/demand).As another indication of a revival of film photography, it is my impression that there are now fewer bargains on decent film cameras than there were five years ago or so. Of course, I could be wrong. What do you think?
Sure, we agree.So we are agreed, are we, that despite the difficulties you mention, enough new buyers of b&w have overcome these difficulties of processing b&w to make a 5% increase in sales possible?
I wonder how others here view a 5% increase in sales. It seems quite good to me and a 5% increase in a year is 20% in four years. What is a heck of a lot in a year, 6%, 8% 10% ?
It may or may not be a lot against colour film sales but I just don't know as it seems we will never know the figures for colour film sales
It may be that colour film sales increases are much better. Do you have any knowledge of this? If you do then let us know
pentaxuser
Many more cameras getting dug out of cellars, closets and attics, from people eager to make a bug or what they think a fortune on their old Mju II or grandpas old Nikon.Less cameras working than five years ago (supply/demand).
Many more cameras getting dug out of cellars, closets and attics, from people eager to make a bug or what they think a fortune on their old Mju II or grandpas old Nikon.
Even if they do want to shoot B&W, finding a lab or getting their own chemistry and tank and beakers and thermometer and measuring graduate etc. seems an insurmountable challenge.
On the IlfordPhoto site yesterday there was info on the Photography Show at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre (NEC) next month and there seemed to be little there in terms of lectures, stands etc to indicate that those in the "photography business" other than Ilford's presence have yet recognised a revival in analogue matters that is of sufficient import to warrant much attention.
That’s very, very heartening and encouraging considering the shit we have been through globally during the last eighteen months.Harman Technology Limited published their results for calendar year 2020 on 4 October. They are available for free on UK Companies House for anyone to download.
Key points are as follows:
- Turnover £18.9m vs £23m in 2019
- Operating Profit £0.5m vs £2.6m in 2019
- Film sales the same as 2019 (this year they quoted film sales and not film volume which they said increased 5% in 2019). So it sounds like volume may have declined but sales flat (propped up by price increases since last year).
- Paper volume decline 47% vs 2019 (esp. stark in the USA with schools/colleges closed)
- Supporting products for film and paper did well. Revenue for processing chemicals grew by 10% and darkroom accessories by 50% (no disclosure of volume or growth excluding prince increases though).
- Gross Margin down 6.1% vs 2019, primarily due to raw material price inflation and staff cost increases.
Thanks for sharing this. I don't think meaningful conclusions about the health of the analog industries can be made with pandemic numbers, but still it's impressive that they were able to hold it together as well as they did last year. Ilford's customers are a loyal bunch, I think.Harman Technology Limited published their results for calendar year 2020 on 4 October. They are available for free on UK Companies House for anyone to download.
Key points are as follows:
- Turnover £18.9m vs £23m in 2019
- Operating Profit £0.5m vs £2.6m in 2019
- Film sales the same as 2019 (this year they quoted film sales and not film volume which they said increased 5% in 2019). So it sounds like volume may have declined but sales flat (propped up by price increases since last year).
- Paper volume decline 47% vs 2019 (esp. stark in the USA with schools/colleges closed)
- Supporting products for film and paper did well. Revenue for processing chemicals grew by 10% and darkroom accessories by 50% (no disclosure of volume or growth excluding prince increases though).
- Gross Margin down 6.1% vs 2019, primarily due to raw material price inflation and staff cost increases.
Harman seems to be hit pretty hard with inflation. The higher the costs, the less they're going to sell lowering their profits even more. Most of the economy will follow suit. Sounds like stagflation of the 1970s. Stock up and freeze your film at today's lower prices.
That's a good point that moving purchases up from the future to today reduces what people will buy in the future. On the other hand, most people won't purchase earlier than they need. So those that do will save a little.The problem with this advice for the future of film, Alan, is that if we all did this for our projected needs for, say, the next 5 years or maybe even less then don't we put film companies out of business?
pentaxuser
Stock up and freeze your film at today's lower prices.
The problem with this advice for the future of film, Alan, is that if we all did this for our projected needs for, say, the next 5 years or maybe even less then don't we put film companies out of business?
I think most people with a freezer full of film keep buying film to keep the freezer full.
Harman Technology Limited published their results for calendar year 2020 on 4 October. They are available for free on UK Companies House for anyone to download.
Key points are as follows:
- Turnover £18.9m vs £23m in 2019
- Operating Profit £0.5m vs £2.6m in 2019
- Film sales the same as 2019 (this year they quoted film sales and not film volume which they said increased 5% in 2019). So it sounds like volume may have declined but sales flat (propped up by price increases since last year).
- Paper volume decline 47% vs 2019 (esp. stark in the USA with schools/colleges closed)
- Supporting products for film and paper did well. Revenue for processing chemicals grew by 10% and darkroom accessories by 50% (no disclosure of volume or growth excluding prince increases though).
- Gross Margin down 6.1% vs 2019, primarily due to raw material price inflation and staff cost increases.
I think most people with a freezer full of film keep buying film to keep the freezer full.
The problem is people with a freezer full of film expose 2 frames a weekend—the freezer was filled 14 years ago when J+C had their "moving to KC Missouri" sale.I think most people with a freezer full of film keep buying film to keep the freezer full.
I know I have done my share to help keep them afloat. I will be interested to see the 2021 numbers, hope they are big.Thanks for sharing this. I don't think meaningful conclusions about the health of the analog industries can be made with pandemic numbers, but still it's impressive that they were able to hold it together as well as they did last year. Ilford's customers are a loyal bunch, I think.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?