Silverprint London Store closed from 18 Feb. 2016

[ooze]

I used to buy from their shop during my time in London when they were still at Valentine Place. One nice thing back then was, they had this drawer full of prints on different papers and surfaces which you could leaf through, giving you ideas what you could use for your own work.

 

[TheToadMen]

... they had this drawer full of prints on different papers and surfaces which you could leaf through, giving you ideas what you could use for your own work.

Not that's a thing I'd miss in any online store ... and the coffee, and the good folks and just a nice conversation ....
Luckily there is still such a nice store in my town where I can get this and they even offer chemicals again.
But another nice store with used analogue cameras closed last month overhere.

 

[pdeeh]

What "moving with the times"?
So, if some idiot started to tell other idiots to jump from the cliffs of Dover, would that be "moving with the times"?
Sometimes, "going forward" is actually moving back?
Remember Concord? No more 3 hours to NYC trips.

That's a very peculiar analogy to try and make in this situation.
It works only if you believe that Silverprint management don't have the best interests of their business at heart and are acting purely in pursuit of some mad fad.
UK retailing has shifted massively over to online selling over the past decade. It's hardly the "advice of an idiot" to focus on that rather than a perhaps unprofitable part of their means to market.

I do remember Concord. It was a fantastically beautiful piece of outdated technology, which was only available to the wealthiest people for regular use, used vast amounts of fuel and produced so much noise when it passed over that it was often painful (and I was brought up just West of Heathrow directly under the flightpath)

 

[Ian Grant]

It seems no coincidence that Robert white were giving a vouched for £200 to spend at Silverprnt to customers buying an Ebony camera.

Both companies seem to have drifted under new ownership in recent years, maybe this is a good move meanwhile I'm happy using Process supplies.

Ian

 

[AgX]

What do you mean by "drifted"?

 

[Ian Grant]

What do you mean by "drifted"?

I meant that both companies seemed less competitive and had changed, moving away from their earlier roots and goals after their owners retired/left. They are companies I've used since the mid 1980's. Change is of course inevitable but loyalty can switch to alternative suppliers.

Ian

 

[David Allen]

and "85% of customers are purchasing either through the Website, via email or phone" too.

and they expect that the 15% will now buy online? - I don't think so. If you want advice, want to browse or have a desire to deal with a human being then these 15% would be well advised to go to Process Supplies. As to the 85% who buy online, presumably these are people to far away from London. The one thing that you can guarantee with online sales is that people will only buy from you when you have the lowest prices (and hence the tiniest of margins). Not a good day for analogue photography in the UK.

Best,

David.
www.dsallen.de

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

That's a very peculiar analogy to try and make in this situation.
It works only if you believe that Silverprint management don't have the best interests of their business at heart and are acting purely in pursuit of some mad fad.
UK retailing has shifted massively over to online selling over the past decade. It's hardly the "advice of an idiot" to focus on that rather than a perhaps unprofitable part of their means to market.

I do remember Concord. It was a fantastically beautiful piece of outdated technology, which was only available to the wealthiest people for regular use, used vast amounts of fuel and produced so much noise when it passed over that it was often painful (and I was brought up just West of Heathrow directly under the flightpath)

Film is also an "outdated technology"?
Why are you using it?

 

[TheToadMen]

... Not a good day for analogue photography in the UK.

Indeed, in several ways.

 

[R.Gould]

I moved from Silverprint to Process Supplies for my film and some supplies away from Silverprint a while ago, they simply were not the same after Martin Reed sold the firm, The last time I tried to buy something from them I phoned to check availabilty and order, and it was quite a big order, and was told that if I couldn't order on line then they were not interested, I got the same Email and I am not surprised, I will continue to order from Firstcall, Process Supplies and AG, depending on what I need, because, bluntly, the service is better, mostly things arrive next day, and they are nicer people to deal with, plus the phone is answered promptly, Sorry, but over the last year or two since Martin left I believe Silverprint has become only realy interested in On Line, Sadly I have no choice, there is no longer a Photo dealer in Jersey, so I have to go Mail Order, and I prefer to order over the phone.

 

[Luckless]

and they expect that the 15% will now buy online? - I don't think so. If you want advice, want to browse or have a desire to deal with a human being then these 15% would be well advised to go to Process Supplies. As to the 85% who buy online, presumably these are people to far away from London. The one thing that you can guarantee with online sales is that people will only buy from you when you have the lowest prices (and hence the tiniest of margins). Not a good day for analogue photography in the UK.

Best,

David.
www.dsallen.de

I buy online from the businesses that offer the best and most reliable service at a fair price. I can get stuff for less on ebay, frequently for a fraction of what I would pay at somewhere like B&H, but 75% of my photo related business goes through B&H because they have reasonable prices, fast service, and have actually taken the time to setup he customs clearance paperwork ahead of time. Buying from other companies comes with the random risk of an extra $20-50 bill on top of it, or having to jump through hoops to have the delivery service actually release my package to me.

And as for the 15% who buy in store... Well, so what about them? A chunk will likely keep dealing with them and go to phone/online orders, and any who don't, well, it really probably won't matter. The reduction in rent and expenses in the move sounds like it is going to more than make up for a 5-15% loss in customer base.

(And in general online orders tend to be larger than nearby walk in orders. If it is just down the street, then popping in to buy one or two things is easy and makes sense. If you're ordering online and going to have to wait for a delivery, then people tend to 'buy in bulk', and get more things stuffed into the one box, even if they don't need it right away, just to save having to deal with receiving more than one shipment. The odds of that 15% of in store customers being 15% of their business is slim.)

 

[pdeeh]

Film is also an "outdated technology"?
Why are you using it?

Ricardo, it does really sometimes seem as if you would pick a fight in an empty room.

I'm sorry silverprint are closing their shop, but it will make only the tiniest difference to the local arts dept, and it has nothing to do with idiots jumping off cliffs at other idiots' behest, and absolutely nothing to do with Concorde.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Ricardo, it does really sometimes seem as if you would pick a fight in an empty room.

I'm sorry silverprint are closing their shop, but it will make only the tiniest difference to the local arts dept, and it has nothing to do with idiots jumping off cliffs at other idiots' behest, and absolutely nothing to do with Concorde.

Nah, just like to point out alternatives.

 

[Taraxacum]

For those wondering if you will still be able to go into their new location. The statement/email does say 'Customers are also welcome to visit the new Premises, as a Trade Counter will be in operation.'

 

[Sirius Glass]

Damn, now I don't have a reason to go to Elephant & Castle.

You need a reason???

 

[NJH]

For those wondering if you will still be able to go into their new location. The statement/email does say 'Customers are also welcome to visit the new Premises, as a Trade Counter will be in operation.'

Time to move to Dorset then, just as well I did that 15 years ago. The move Robert Whites made the other year is a case in point. It was reported on the internet as some form of disaster end of the outfit but when leaving aside any staff/management/ownership stuff they literally moved from one side of a small trading estate round to the other side of the same small trading estate. The newer place being somewhat nicer than the last one as well IMHO.

Hope the moves goes well for Silverprint.

 

[richyd]

t isn't so much the added cost, but the loss of a marketing presence just outside an University campus.
You knew they are located next to an Arts college, didn't you?
It is the promotion and sale of film and other materials right next door to a large group of young people for whom these materials are a new reality.
In that shop they could see what film is about. Now, there aren't that many shops left where people can see and touch film before buying. It is only "virtual".
That is another loss not only for Londoners, but for all.

I passed by this afternoon hoping to pick up a few items, as I many times during the year, and discovered they were closed, I didn't get the email. A lot of the above comments crossed my mind. There was also a gallery, a noticeboard from which I gained lot of useful information and services and even advertised and sold a camera to a post graduate. I could find odd things not necessarily looking for, see sample paper prints. Whenever I've been there there were always other customers. Part of the customer experience is the face to face contact and as social animals that is a very important part of any transaction and interaction.

They owned the previous premises and I guess this one was rented and unfortunately the way things are in London now many diverse businesses are being priced out by tripling rents over the last few years. That said I did detect a change in the business when they moved and found less reason to shop there, increased prices, no stock. Process Supplies and West End Cameras have already been mentioned but Calumet also have very good prices on many films and you can check availability on line.

The other thing with Silverprint was that I would often pay a visit and find items I wanted weren't in stock with no indication on the website. Going web only is just a race to the bottom line and there is plenty of competition out there and many of their prices are uncompetitive. They are, however one of the few sources of chemicals available. The last times I have bought online have been from Germany, because of product availability and actually much cheaper, the transport cost is about the same and service superb.

 

[R.Gould]

I have just re read the Email and they do state that they will be maintaining a Trade Counter in Dorset, so you can still buy in person, not a lot of use for Lomdoner's who would pop in, Thank heavens for Process Supplies, who offer a much better service and stock, and much nicer people to deal with than Silverprint in recent years, since Martin departed, Maybe thats why he is working on Foma though Process