new kodak ceo.

[Prof_Pixel]

Why can't they pick someone, preferably internally, that has some history and knowledge of Kodak

They did with Dan Carp. He started with Kodak in 1970 and was president and CEO from 2000 to 2005 (between Fisher and Perez and he wasn't any better than either of them).

 

[lxdude]

They went directly from a Fisher to a Carp-- scaling down, perhaps?

 

[bdial]

I hope for the best, but don't have much confidence.
Based to the profile linked earlier, it looks like Clarke's early engagements were more about disassembling once vital companies into acquisition pieces, rather than building them up.
I hope I am wrong though, we'll see.

 

[Alan Klein]

He's keeping his family and home in California and will do his job in upstate NY. Real commitment.

 

[ambaker]

Considering what is left of Kodak.... By rights it really should only be a part time job.


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[RattyMouse]

Ken, I think it's because Kodak is no longer what we were talking about. That place has been taken by Kodak Alaris. And there really isn't much coming out of them for us to talk about.

Kodak Alaris has to generate millions and millions of dollars to pay their pensioners. Surely they will keep the film rolling no?

 

[pdeeh]

Only so long as it makes money for the fund

 

[Chan Tran]

Whether Kodak is going to survive doesn't matter to me now. Perez managed to turned my 1000 shares of Kodak stock into nothing and now if it survives I won't get my money back and it won't make my film. So it really doesn't matter to me any more.

 

[ambaker]

Sadly, the new Kodak is pretty much just an emotional reminder of the past.

The signs say Kodak, many of the buildings are the same. It is almost like meeting someone who could almost be a twin of a departed loved one.

So much is so familiar. But when you look close, they are still gone.

My favorite impossible revenge fantasy is that Alaris grows to the point that it buys and takes over the rest of the company. Ushering in a new age of my favorite romanticized and idealized memories of what never really was.


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[Bob Carnie]

I was at SPE in Baltimore with a booth right beside Kodak Alaris.


Most bizarre situation that I still cannot figure out, all the guy did was collect business cards by giving out a roll or two of film, His booth was swamped with students lining up for a free roll of film. Ok this makes kind of sense, collect names for future marketing??? not what I think is the best way to spend marketing money.

I could not engage the rep in conversation as he was too busy handing out film and by the end of two days was not interested in talking to him as
he obviously was not there talking Kodak products other than the free film give away.
I did not get the sense that anything was coming down the pipeline in terms of Kodak products , other than they have a bucket full of film to get rid of.

He would start his spiel by WHO SHOOTS FILM then make them stand like lemmings to get a free roll, this was very strange marketing and promotion , as
there was no information other than a chance to get a roll of film.

I heard from other vendors that this is going on at all photoevents and this guy is there handing our single rolls, of colour , black and white in different sizes.

 

[Xmas]

I was at SPE in Baltimore with a booth right beside Kodak Alaris.


Most bizarre situation that I still cannot figure out, all the guy did was collect business cards by giving out a roll or two of film, His booth was swamped with students lining up for a free roll of film. Ok this makes kind of sense, collect names for future marketing??? not what I think is the best way to spend marketing money.

I could not engage the rep in conversation as he was too busy handing out film and by the end of two days was not interested in talking to him as
he obviously was not there talking Kodak products other than the free film give away.
I did not get the sense that anything was coming down the pipeline in terms of Kodak products , other than they have a bucket full of film to get rid of.

He would start his spiel by WHO SHOOTS FILM then make them stand like lemmings to get a free roll, this was very strange marketing and promotion , as
there was no information other than a chance to get a roll of film.

I heard from other vendors that this is going on at all photoevents and this guy is there handing our single rolls, of colour , black and white in different sizes.

Rational if they have made too much, Fuji have been dumping C41 since spring 13.

 

[mrred]

In my opinion, the only future contribution Kodak will make is when their film supplies are finally depleted. At that time (or near) film prices will sky rocket and the film world will reveal itself for what it finally will be. Outside of closing production runs and factories, I don't think there has been any attempt to actually scale down their manufacturing process. If they could actually learn (doubtful) , they should bring ilford in for advice.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Kodak Alaris has to generate millions and millions of dollars to pay their pensioners. Surely they will keep the film rolling no?

It would seem that Kodak Alaris doesn't control that. Eastman Kodak does. KA is completely dependent on EK for their remaining supply of Kodak film. And when the current EK contract for large volume MP runs out and it's time to sell or dismantle the manufacturing infrastructure, will KA be interested in buying and operating it? Even if they could afford it? And the potential risk to their pensioners by doing so didn't prevent it?

Or will it just be less risky and more market appropriate at that time to send out a press release stating that, while they would love to continue selling Kodak film, sadly and for reasons beyond their control their supplier has stopped making it. And in a good faith effort to help out their remaining film customers, they will continue by offering replacement black-and-white films from Adox and Harman/llford, and color from Film Ferrania. Just like everyone else.

As alluded to in earlier posts, EK is no longer a film—or even a photography—business. The new CEO mentioned in his interview that the Kodak board has primarily tasked him with growing their new business. He isn't going to do that by sitting down at his first staff meeting and saying "Let's introduce more film products into that declining market space." They no longer market and sell film to consumers. They're a business-to-business packaging printing company now. One that has only a final large legacy film order to service.

Ken

 

[37th Exposure]

If they're out of the photography business, maybe Kodak could try a sure money maker like say various paper products, since rolled products were their claim to fame. They can even keep the names, such as:

T-Max Triple Strength Super Strong and Absorbent paper towels, 100 and 400 sheet rolls
Super-XX economy paper towels
Royal-X triple ply extra soft bathroom tissue, also available in extra large sheets
Tri-X mega roll 2 ply plush bathroom tissue
Plus-X economy version of previous
Panatomic-X lint free single ply bath tissue in huge roll for commercial use
Verichrome bath tissue and towels in colors to match your home decor, can also use the "Elite" designation
Pro-Pack case quantities of any of the above for hotels, schools, prisons, etc.
Double-Two handy travel sized packs
Autographic custom products for large volume users

Etc.
All in the classic yellow pack.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

It took Kodak over a century of sustained effort and world-class photographic excellence to reach a point where the common public perception was,

"Kodak = The Finest in Photographic Film"​

and it will probably take at least that long to undo that perception and replace it with,

"Kodak = Cheap Blister-Pack Cardboard Hanging Packages"​

or whatever it is they are doing now. That new CEO does indeed have his work cut out for him.



Ken

 

[PKM-25]

And there really isn't much coming out of them for us to talk about.

This page seems mighty active, actual photographers making actual photographs on actual Kodak film and actually getting published. Now if all folks want to talk about is tech and gear, well then beyond the price hike on TMY in 4x5, yeah, there is not much going on there....

I don't know anymore either what is to happen to Kodak film, if they are gnawing away at master rolls with an aim to coat more. I simply love the products and hope it sticks around for another 5-10 years...

 

[Xmas]

I though KA owned Harrow (inUK) which is involved with some non film coating?

It would probably be difficult and expensive to make Trix or Doublex at Harrow but alternates are more grim? Unless you like Ilford and Forma more...

That was the question the FND people did not ask the KA marketing.

 

[omaha]

when the current EK contract for large volume MP runs out and it's time to sell or dismantle the manufacturing infrastructure, will KA be interested in buying and operating it?

I think that's exactly right.

EK was set up to serve a market about 99,999 times bigger than the market that currently exists.

From what I can gather, Ilford has found a niche for B&W products, and is "right sized" to the reality of the level of sales that currently exists.

The question is whether this new Kodak cum Kodak Alaris model is similarly "right sized". Personally, I doubt it. Even if, in the reasonably near future, Kodak decides to get out of film manufacturing and offers to sell off all the equipment and IP, my sense is that everything about how they produce the product is scaled wrong for the future.

 

[AgX]

The question is whether this new Kodak cum Kodak Alaris model is similarly "right sized". Personally, I doubt it. Even if, in the reasonably near future, Kodak decides to get out of film manufacturing and offers to sell off all the equipment and IP, my sense is that everything about how they produce the product is scaled wrong for the future.

The example of the current state of affair at Ferrania shows that there might be a chance for small scale production even on the premises of a large plant. Of course this very much depends on the local situation which is very beneficial at the Ferrania plant.

 

[MattKing]

We need to remember that Kodak Alaris is already "right" sized for current markets for Kodak colour paper. It may be that their intention is to devote substantial efforts to preserving and revitalizing that market.
They do, after all, actually manufacture that product.

 

[RattyMouse]

We need to remember that Kodak Alaris is already "right" sized for current markets for Kodak colour paper. It may be that their intention is to devote substantial efforts to preserving and revitalizing that market.
They do, after all, actually manufacture that product.

This does nothing to help Kodak film though, so I dont see how this can be of any comfort.

 

[Xmas]

it means they coat silver halide emulsion... a big step to making a KA film eg a simple c41...

 

[RattyMouse]

Ah, I get it now. Let's hope that this turns out to be true.

 

[MattKing]

This does nothing to help Kodak film though, so I dont see how this can be of any comfort.

It is a lot of comfort to me - I much prefer silver halide based colour prints to inkjet based colour prints.

 

[c6h6o3]

I made the switch to Ilford when they announced that 8x10 TMY would become a special order item. I'm so glad I did. Kodak matters to me now about as much as Justin Beiber.