Statement from Harman Technology regarding recent sale to Pemberstone Ventures Ltd.

[Xmas]

Harman has been THE essence of stability up until this week.

Only in your perception...
Smoke and mirrors they were a management buy out, it is normal for such to end in a sell off.
The bankruptsy of the parent left them with site lease exposure, which has come home to roost.

It need not be any worse than it was.

You need to plan for change, in life, climate, etc.

 

[Xmas]

After a factory visit to Mobberley last year, my wife (who will be the first to admit she is no business woman) commented that most skilled staff and directors appeared older people, and wondered who would have the specialist knowledge to run the business when they retired.

You have one way sharp lady.
The ex-manufacturing photo site people on the forum have posted the same sympathy explicitly and would concur again.

 

[RattyMouse]

Only in your perception...
Smoke and mirrors they were a management buy out, it is normal for such to end in a sell off.
The bankruptsy of the parent left them with site lease exposure, which has come home to roost.

It need not be any worse than it was.

You need to plan for change, in life, climate, etc.

Smoke and mirrors? Your post is profoundly offensive.

 

[georg16nik]

Yes it would, because if I am unsure of how secure Harmon is, I am unsure how secure the future of film is. This lack of security may lead me to sell off my film cameras as they are VERY expensive and I dont want them to be rendered useless or too expensive to use.

If Harman seems unstable, I am less likely to stay shooting film.

Harman has been THE essence of stability up until this week.

“essence of stability” ???
No, not even by a long shot.

The cat is totally out of the bag and you are still debating

Ilford, Kodak and Fuji are not the protagonist in the film story, especially not in 2015.

Since APUG is not the place to exercise analog photographers personal freedoms, the buck stops here.

 

[RattyMouse]

“essence of stability” ???
No, not even by a long shot.

The cat is totally out of the bag and you are still debating

Ilford, Kodak and Fuji are not the protagonist in the film story, especially not in 2015.

Since APUG is not the place to exercise analog photographers personal freedoms, the buck stops here.

I can't even begin to understand what point you are trying to make here. It is that nonsensical.

Tally up how many emulsions Fujifilm has discontinued, how many emulsions and papers that Kodak has discontinued and compare them to how many Ilford has eliminated and see which company is more stable.

 

[georg16nik]

...Tally up how many emulsions Fujifilm has discontinued, how many emulsions and papers that Kodak has discontinued and compare them to how many Ilford has eliminated and see which company is more stable.

That's how you gain market share.
99% commenters here are employees, not business owners so it's a long shot to “get it” and that's fine.

 

[Xmas]

Thanks for that. I like a good laugh as much as the next man.

Some of the posts on this thread if you treat them as deadpan would do justice to a John Cleese training film...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cF39VQXEpjk

We used to have to use them... as training ... But none of our people learnt anything...

 

[analoguey]

Here's an idea -Pemberton could add clarity to this themselves. Go out and buy Devere and possibly make a few new affordable enlargers series. :-D
Or draft up a statement with agreement between ex and current management that addresses concern here.
Don't need to be hyperbolic or optimistic etc. .
Many businesses do that when they need to assert continuity, Ilford has a really good connect with users here, to not take advantage of it is bad marketing!

Sent from Tap-a-talk

 

[Xmas]

That's how you gain market share.
99% commenters here are employees, not business owners so it's a long shot to “get it” and that's fine.

I'd sample for 99.73 rather than 99.0

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/68–95–99.7_rule

 

[Xmas]

Smoke and mirrors? Your post is profoundly offensive.

Sorry if I upset you but that is a normal euphuism for marketing.
The exposure has not actually changed.
Simons replacement has posted see thread starter.

The PV group may expedite the site changes and improve things there by.

It is not my fault you were not aware I think all the information or links to was on the site already. The only thing that may need any local knowledge is how Manchester is changing and expanding, this is apparent from the fast through trains.

 

[Xmas]

Here's an idea -Pemberton could add clarity to this themselves. Go out and buy Devere and possibly make a few new affordable enlargers series. :-D
Or draft up a statement with agreement between ex and current management that addresses concern here.
Don't need to be hyperbolic or optimistic etc. .
Many businesses do that when they need to assert continuity, Ilford has a really good connect with users here, to not take advantage of it is bad marketing!

Sent from Tap-a-talk

Does not seem practical, enlargers are still free to take away here, I even got a free NOS 75mm lens, trying to get into a glut market seems incautious.
Even expanding into colour in current market would seem strange.
I've got boxes full of ilford colour prints and slides... From byegone days.
The PV company are very small there only interest need be real estate.
The Harman factory existence on the large site an advantage of local employer.
Harman have just lost three directors after buy out, pretty normal.

 

[Roger Cole]

Interesting post over on FADU that's more encouraging, provided one can believe the information received (very big IF.)

http://www.film-and-darkroom-user.org.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=104666&postcount=30

 

[canuhead]

I see diversification/product expansion in that statement.

 

[AgX]

After a factory visit to Mobberley last year, my wife commented that most skilled staff and directors appeared older people, and wondered who would have the specialist knowledge to run the business when they retired.

This comes true for the whole industry.

A delicate issue I hinted at repeatedly. Soon there will be the big bang.

 

[BrianShaw]

You dont know much about Ilford do you? Simon used to promise that "Ilford would be THE last one standing" in the film world.

That's pretty clear and unambiguous.

Check the timestamp on that statement. That was then and now is now. CEOs and marketing folks make both "clear and unambiguous" as well as obfuscating statements all the time. Some are very true and some are only somewhat true... and some are fairy tales to keep folks placated. But the truth, if the statement is really truthful, is really only true at the moment they are spoken. I have no doubt that Simon meant that as a clear and unambiguous statement of their intent at that time. Times have changed. Ilford has changed. Harman has changed.

 

[Hatchetman]

I have a question. Why did Harman always report their revenues? They may have even made some statements of their profitability. Does UK law require that? Otherwise it seems like an obvious way to attract potential buyers.

 

[georg16nik]

This comes true for the whole industry.

A delicate issue I hinted at repeatedly. Soon there will be the big bang.

The big bang certainly sounds ominous in the given context...

But, Pemberstone Ventures talk about the Analogue Photography movement.

-- Is that the Lomography kids?
-- The recent film Leica M-A?
-- The group of “silver screen” film directors still sticking around film?
-- ...or This slightly dated (by now) news? “All of a sudden, China is importing vast amounts of photographic film from the US”
http://qz.com/150796/all-of-a-sudden-the-us-is-sending-vast-amounts-of-analog-film-to-china/

 

[pentaxuser]

The sale and loss of a few directors doesn't necessarily invalidate the "last man standing" statement.

Only time will tell

pentaxuser

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

I could be wrong, but I haven't actually seen many attacks on Simon in these threads.

Me neither.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

I see diversification/product expansion in that statement.

How so and into what exactly?

 

[trythis]

Statement from Harman Technology regarding recent sale to Pemberstone Venture...

This sounds like a venture capital group wants to make money. Of course they do but are they willing to change the product lineup and raise prices to do that? Do they now have more top end investors to reimburse (provide monthly dividends) than Ilford Harmon had before? Are they willing to drop slightly less profitable activities like the annual special order to maintain the higher margins required? Will they take unnecessary risks with the aim of short term profit or to garner another buyout?
This is venture capital right? The press release can be spun anyway we like, aren't they written to be vague and positive?
I would be worried if I was an employee there that my benefits might be cut or my pay raise would be reduced knowing that I was a component in the venture-capital profit-making system.

Maybe Pemberton is a benevolent organization that operates like Trader Joe's where treating employees well makes for loyal, happy customers. We can hope


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[paul_c5x4]

I have a question. Why did Harman always report their revenues? They may have even made some statements of their profitability. Does UK law require that?

Limited Liability companies and most other registered businesses must register accounts with Companies House every year in the UK. For small businesses (sole trades, mom'n'pop corner stores), there is generally no requirement.

 

[BrianShaw]

The sale and loss of a few directors doesn't necessarily invalidate the "last man standing" statement.

Only time will tell

pentaxuser

That, my friends, is all we can really count on!

 

[timparkin]

Nothing scans like Portra 160. I shoot a LOT of Fujifilm and none of their films come close. If you are not seeing it, then you have low quality scans. Portra sets the bar here and it is truly innovative.

I run a drum scanning service and will back this up wholeheartedly. The new Portra's and Ektar scan exceptionally well in comparison with previous media

 

[Bob Carnie]

Actually a very good idea.. Deverre (Odessey Sales) make a digital enlarger that would accept silver paper which btw is compatible with digital exposure. Combine that expertise and now we have something of note for young users who have never used a film camera.

This type of acquisition by Pemberton would be an outstanding signal to the marketplace.


QUOTE=analoguey;1953789387]Here's an idea -Pemberton could add clarity to this themselves. Go out and buy Devere and possibly make a few new affordable enlargers series. :-D
Or draft up a statement with agreement between ex and current management that addresses concern here.
Don't need to be hyperbolic or optimistic etc. .
Many businesses do that when they need to assert continuity, Ilford has a really good connect with users here, to not take advantage of it is bad marketing!

Sent from Tap-a-talk[/QUOTE]