Oldest camera business in Calgary closes after 81 years

[Ces1um]

I'm pretty sure most brick and mortar stores are feeling this same pressure from online sales.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I'm pretty sure most brick and mortar stores are feeling this same pressure from online sales.

Those that are business savvy already successfully added online shopping, the rest are going out of business unfortunately.

 

[AgX]

Well, here in Germany most towns and non-major cities have many empty stores in their shopping streets.
But it is not the internet as such. It is unfriendly and ignorant shop owners and assistants believing to go on with business as usual. It is landlords doing business as usual, not understanding that offering stores makes themselves part of the retail business, and lesser store revenues should have influence on their renting policy.

But I know photo stores that are crowded and a a store that has a growing number of branches.

 

[BradS]

.......It is unfriendly and ignorant shop owners and assistants.....

Bingo!

Way too many photo stores treated the customer like a shit....this is why they failed.

 

[Ces1um]

Bingo!

Way too many photo stores treated the customer like a shit....this is why they failed.

I can't say that I have ever experienced that in any of the stores here in Nova Scotia and that's not just in camera stores. Camera stores go under because nobody buys cameras anymore, they buy phones. Regular brick and mortar stores go under because they can't compete with big box stores, and big box stores go under because Amazon just makes it too easy to buy from them.

 

[BradS]

I can't say that I have ever experienced that in any of the stores here in Nova Scotia and that's not just in camera stores. Camera stores go under because nobody buys cameras anymore, they buy phones. Regular brick and mortar stores go under because they can't compete with big box stores, and big box stores go under because Amazon just makes it too easy to buy from them.

Yes, that's mostly true. I mildly regretted the post as almost as soon as I hit the 'post reply' button. I do remember being treated like I was an idiot at more than a few camera stores (and auto parts stores) though.

As an aside, I live in a large apartment complex. There are six or seven buildings and all have the street address <building number> Vintage Circle. The street, 'Vintage Circle' is literally the little bits of pavement that connect the parking lots. The complex is so new that it did not appear on Google Maps until fairly recently. I am an Amazon prime member (but, will not be much longer!). Today, when I got home, I found a pile of packages just left in the hallway near the entrance to my building...all from Amazon, all having the distinctive AmazonPrime markings, and all addresses to different apartments. I guess the delivery driver just could not be bothered deliver each package to the proper destination (usually, packages are left at the door). Shitty customer service that we pay more than $100 a year for. and there's no way for me to tell Amazon how much they suck right now.... Sorry, I will not be renewing my prime membership.

 

[AgX]

I can't say that I have ever experienced that in any of the stores here in Nova Scotia and that's not just in camera stores. Camera stores go under because nobody buys cameras anymore, they buy phones. Regular brick and mortar stores go under because they can't compete with big box stores, and big box stores go under because Amazon just makes it too easy to buy from them.

People buy at the internet, if it is cheaper or things are available they cannot get locally, even could not get in the good old days.

However that is not all. If people feel comfortable, entertained at shopping, what they cannot not feel in the anonomity of the net, they will frequent brick and mortar shops.

(And I know shopping centers that thrive and grow. People are even queuing to get in.

 

[Ste_S]

Well, here in Germany most towns and non-major cities have many empty stores in their shopping streets.
But it is not the internet as such. It is unfriendly and ignorant shop owners and assistants believing to go on with business as usual. It is landlords doing business as usual, not understanding that offering stores makes themselves part of the retail business, and lesser store revenues should have influence on their renting policy.

But I know photo stores that are crowded and a a store that has a growing number of branches.

I think high streets the world over are still trying to pretend the internet (and Amazon) in particular didn't happen. Chain shops are still following the same pre-internet business model and failing. Landlords are charging too high rents that dissuade independent start ups with fresh ideas.

For photography shops, I think the Lomography model is quite good. Knowledgeable, enthusiastic staff with a range of product. Crucially they offer the 'boutique' experience by running workshops and social gatherings which attract people to their shops. They also actually display photography on their walls which most chain camera shops don't seem to do.

 

[AgX]

For photography shops, I think the Lomography model is quite good. Knowledgeable, enthusiastic staff with a range of product. Crucially they offer the 'boutique' experience by running workshops and social gatherings which attract people to their shops.

Lomography is a worldwide active enterprise. But where are those shops you are referring to?
I for instance would have to go more than two hours by car, to the next Lomography outlet. And that even is just a museum shop with some Lomography stuff hanging at a wall and staff with zero expertise.
In the past I saw several shops (photo and non-photo) removing their Lomography offer as there was not enough turn-over.

 

[Ces1um]

Lomography is a worldwide active enterprise. But where are those shops you are referring to?
I for instance would have to go more than two hours by car, to the next Lomography outlet. And that even is just a museum shop with some Lomography stuff hanging at a wall and staff with zero expertise.
In the past I saw several shops (photo and non-photo) removing their Lomography offer as there was not enough turn-over.

Here are the locations of the shops that they were referring too. There aren't very many but the ones that exist are quite actively putting on courses and photo walks, etc...

https://www.lomography.com/about/stores

 

[Paul Manuell]

I'm not entirely sure what a camera store offers that i cant just get online.

Which is the main reason so many high street shops - and not just photography related ones - close down these days. Sad, but a sign of the times I suppose.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Bingo!

Way too many photo stores treated the customer like a shit....this is why they failed.

About eight years ago I posted on APUG about being insulted by a camera store employee in Northern Virginia. There was a big blow up and Sean removed the thread. It employee had posted a rebuttal and sent PMs to me about getting in trouble with his boss, but the boss had the video with sound to review.

 

[cmacd123]

Camera stores go under because nobody buys cameras anymore, they buy phones.

A few years back, one of the Largest chains of Camera stores here in Canada - Blacks Photography - was taken over by a major Cell Phone service provider. They figured on selling Phones instead of Cameras and offering Prints from Phone pictures. I don't think it lasted more than a year before they closed all the stores.

 

[Ces1um]

A few years back, one of the Largest chains of Camera stores here in Canada - Blacks Photography - was taken over by a major Cell Phone service provider. They figured on selling Phones instead of Cameras and offering Prints from Phone pictures. I don't think it lasted more than a year before they closed all the stores.

They also went to being a web only store at the same time though if I remember correctly.