Positive Fujifilm News: "Fujifilm House of Photography" opened in London

[Henning Serger]

Hello,
there is some further positive news from Fujifilm:
In the last years they have opened lots of "Fujifilm Wonder Photo Shop" brick-and-mortar photo stores worldwide:
http://wonderphotoshop.fujifilm.com/
Some of them completely by their own, some of them in cooperation with established local photo stores. Meanwhile in 23 countries Fujifilm Wonder Photo Shops have opened.
In all of these stores instax instant film and cameras, instax accessoires, prints and print-gift products and their digital X-system are offered. And in lots of them also Fujifilm standard film (35mm and 120) and film processing is offered.

It looks like Fujifilm is making now the next and much bigger step in that concept. They have opened the huge "Fujifilm House of Photography" in London, Covent Garden:
https://www.fujifilm.eu/uk/news/article/welcome-to-the-fujifilm-house-of-photography
and homepage
https://www.fujifilm-houseofphotography.com/

When you look at the store pictures on their homepage you can see that they offer their standard photo films there, too. The Fujifilm film boxes of their current color films are there on display on the counter.
I also know from first customers who have bought film there.

That is now another very good possibility for film customers to get in direct, personal contact with Fujifilm. Also to tell them and motivate them to increase their efforts in traditional film business. The reintroduction of Acros II has demonstrated that they are listening. The more we communicate with them, give them positive feedback, demonstrate demand, buy the films, the more / better they will listen. And the more likely are further reintroduced films in the future. Which will be good for the whole film market, strengthening the film revival.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Agulliver]

The links you posted aren't working for me but I have also heard of this new "experience" shop elsewhere.

 

[Nodda Duma]

Try these

https://www.fujifilm.eu/uk/news/article/welcome-to-the-fujifilm-house-of-photography

and

https://fujifilm-houseofphotography.com/

 

[Henning Serger]

The links you posted aren't working for me but I have also heard of this new "experience" shop elsewhere.

Angus, I have replaced the links. It should now be working for you. At least it works here on my computer. If not, write the address by hand in the browser. That helps in most cases when links don't work properly.
As you are not far away from London, maybe this new House of Photography is worth a visit for you.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[BradS]

Henning, do Fujifilm pay you a fee ?

 

[Deleted member 88956]

I hope they are not a one-day wonder with Acros reintroduction and this is not just a stunt to put them on a Lomo map. The links provided here outside FuijFILM have no mention of film anywhere, it remains as we have known for some years now, Instax and Digital.

 

[Henning Serger]

Henning, do Fujifilm pay you a fee ?

?????
No, of course not.
I am reporting here about all news - independent from the manufacturer - which I think are relevant or of interest for the film community. Just look at the history of my postings here on photrio.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Henning Serger]

I hope they are not a one-day wonder with Acros reintroduction

I hope that, too. Time will tell.
But in the end it is all in the hands of the film photographers: If they buy enough Acros = making the reintroduction a success, Acros will stay. And we may see further reintroductions.

The links provided here outside FuijFILM have no mention of film anywhere, it remains as we have known for some years now, Instax and Digital.

As explained above, lots of the Fujifilm Wonder Photo Shops offer the standard film programme, too. Some even film processing.
Should that be much more prominent, much more advertized by them? Of course!!
Marketing for their normal films is absolutely one of their weakest points.
But all these shops offer a possibility for the film shooters: Go in and talk to them. Tell your wishes, give them feedback. The more film photographers doing that, the better they will listen.
Their recent history with instax, X-system and now Acros II show that they are reacting to customer demands.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Deleted member 88956]

I hope that, too. Time will tell.
But in the end it is all in the hands of the film photographers: If they buy enough Acros = making the reintroduction a success, Acros will stay. And we may see further reintroductions.



As explained above, lots of the Fujifilm Wonder Photo Shops offer the standard film programme, too. Some even film processing.
Should that be much more prominent, much more advertized by them? Of course!!
Marketing for their normal films is absolutely one of their weakest points.
But all these shops offer a possibility for the film shooters: Go in and talk to them. Tell your wishes, give them feedback. The more film photographers doing that, the better they will listen.
Their recent history with instax, X-system and now Acros II show that they are reacting to customer demands.

Best regards,
Henning

My point was that if they are not actively even mentioning film in places showcasing their wonderland, it brings up doubts about their commitment to film. To me this a serious omission ... unless intended.

 

[Henning Serger]

My point was that if they are not actively even mentioning film in places showcasing their wonderland, it brings up doubts about their commitment to film. To me this a serious omission ... unless intended.

I absolutely understand that. I see your point. And my personal opinion ist that they are making a big mistake in reacting too slowly to the increasing film demand.
But it has been more probably a question of advertizing focus in the last years: At the time when the Wonder Photo Shop concept (it is also a store design concept with determined modules) was made (some years ago), instax and X-system were the product fields with increasing demand. And not (yet) standard photo film.
I have severe doubts based on my market analysis that the growth of the X-system will continue in the coming years. The whole market of DSLM cameras already decreased last year by a bit more than 10% (despite the flood of new models from all manufacturers!). And this downward trend will continue in the coming years. It is quite unlikely that Fujifilm can grow in an overall significantly decreasing digital camera market with a brutal competition.
They will then look at their sales numbers and see: Oh, meanwhile standard photo film is increasing again. Let's benefit from that trend.
Fujifilm is a huge company. And therefore also much more "bureaucratic" and slower in decision making and implementing of new decisions and strategies. Other film manufacturers are much smaller and can be faster and more flexible. Therefore I think it takes some time until we see the changes we want to see.
But again, we certainly can speed-up these changes by our behaviour as customers: Get in direct contact with them, tell them our wishes, and of course demonstrate demand by buying their standard film products.

Concerning their commitment to standard film in general:
Last Photokina (2018) they had a big billboard on their booth (about 40% of the booth space was about their silver-halide products, by the way) with a clear commitment to film. The same text and pictures have been also available to all visitors by flyers (see attachment).
Then they started a film-homepage for mainly beginners in film:
https://www.ishootfujifilm.com/
They started advertizing their standard (non-instax) films on instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/fujifilm_profilm/?hl=de
In the NA market 3-packs of C200 and X-Tra 400 were reintroduced, with complete new design.
And Acros has been reintroduced as Acros II.

Would you all do these investments, if you don't want to continue standard film production?
At least it would be extremely stupid to put all that money in a product line you don't want to keep on with. And the big economic success Fujifilm had in the last decade as a company, clearly show that they are not such "money burners".

Best regards,
Henning

 

[B&Wpositive]

Very cool. Unfortunately, I'm skeptical that such a place would ever be opened in the US...maybe in major city like NY or LA though.

 

[Henning Serger]

Very cool. Unfortunately, I'm skeptical that such a place would ever be opened in the US...maybe in major city like NY or LA though.

There is already a Fujifilm Wonder Photo Shop in New York City. And there they are selling standard films, offer film processing and also workshops for film photography.
In Toronto in Canada there is the Wonder Photo Shop in cooperation with Annex Photo. They also offer the normal Fujifilm films and film processing.

Best regards,
Henning