tbcass
Forum Pro
Yes, specialty grocery stores can do well. My next-door neighbor is from Nepal. He made enough selling Nepalese groceries to buy a $330,000 house.
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How Do Camera Stores Survive?
- Thread starter BillyBobSenna
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The simple reality is that for the most part the camera industry is the equivalent of the horse and buggy industry slowly achieving obsolescence at the beginning of the last century. There will be a niche market of professionals and die hard amateurs but nothing like post world war 2 to beginning of this century popularity of film and subsequently phone cameras which have contributed to the need for most potential buyers to need a stand alone camera. I guess it could be called progress.
tbcass
Forum Pro
That's a totally false analogy. Cars supplanted horses because they were a far better mode of transportation. Cameras, on the other hand, will always be a better more versatile tool than a smartphone for anyone serious about photography.
Just because you and I like cameras doesn’t mean the world revolves around our needs and desires. Have you ever gone to a botanical garden and counted how many people are taking photos with I pads and cell phones vs. real cameras.
i didn’t think so. And I’ve noticed you just love to argue and believe yours is the only valid viewpoint. I won’t bother to respond to your little response.
i didn’t think so. And I’ve noticed you just love to argue and believe yours is the only valid viewpoint. I won’t bother to respond to your little response.
User4286416121
Senior Member
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When film was the only way..
When cameras were the only way..
Now with options we see who, what, etc....
Phones take most of the group, cameras will take a smaller amount than before. Add easier technology and adjust.
When cameras were the only way..
Now with options we see who, what, etc....
Phones take most of the group, cameras will take a smaller amount than before. Add easier technology and adjust.
Glen Barrington
Forum Pro
[No message]
Other stores, that were once common, are now getting pretty rare. They still exist, but in much smaller numbers:
Long ago, every town no matter how small had a blacksmith. Today, they still exist, but are pretty rare. And once we started using oil, gas, and electricity for heat, the demand for chimney sweeps probably went down a lot. And in the near future, the "camera store" will become very rare, and will only exist in the largest cities with a large number of professional photographers in it.
This is neither good nor bad. It is just what happens when things change.
If you want a business that will always exist, then consider becoming a Funeral Director, or a Tax Preparer. The only two things that are certain in life are death and taxes.
- Book stores
- Butcher Shops
- Shoe Repair stores
- CD and Record Shops
- Travel Agents
- Bakery Shops
- Toy Stores
- Videotape Rental Stores
- Newspaper and Magazine Shops
- TV Repair Shops
- Shopping Malls
Long ago, every town no matter how small had a blacksmith. Today, they still exist, but are pretty rare. And once we started using oil, gas, and electricity for heat, the demand for chimney sweeps probably went down a lot. And in the near future, the "camera store" will become very rare, and will only exist in the largest cities with a large number of professional photographers in it.
This is neither good nor bad. It is just what happens when things change.
If you want a business that will always exist, then consider becoming a Funeral Director, or a Tax Preparer. The only two things that are certain in life are death and taxes.
Agreed, the declining sales of dedicated cameras is evidence of this, not just a shift from sales by local camera to online. The pros and enthusiasts continue to buy, but their numbers are slowly dwindling as well.
People aren't taking fewer photos, if anything it's probably more, and phones with cameras meet many people's needs.
Cheers,
Doug
tbcass
Forum Pro
That is true but that does not mean that there are not enough of us to sustain the camera industry if only at a lesser degree of popularity. When I started photography in the 1960s I was the only person I knew that had an SLR yet there were enough of us to keep the camera business viable. The camera boom of the digital age was an aberration and not representative of the history of photography. The general population did not use expensive cameras. It was first brownies, then P&S 35mm, then P&S digital, and now smartphones.
You didn't think what? Of course, I've noticed how many people use smartphones for photography. Previously those same people used P&S cameras or entry-level ICLs with kit lenses.
Have you noticed that it's true of most people on DPR, that we love to argue? That does not mean we believe it's the only valid viewpoint. It means that there are other viewpoints that should be considered.
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Tom
I will retract my initial declaration of no response.
Your response to my response was certainly not the declarative assertion that was made earlier. This one was more reasoned. I think you understand where I’m coming from and I understand where your coming from. Differing approaches to the same truth.
I do prefer discussion over argument. I reserve argument for politics. Have a great day and though camera sales slowly dwindle we will inevitably long gone from our respective mortal coils long before cameras are nothing but museum displays.
Your response to my response was certainly not the declarative assertion that was made earlier. This one was more reasoned. I think you understand where I’m coming from and I understand where your coming from. Differing approaches to the same truth.
I do prefer discussion over argument. I reserve argument for politics. Have a great day and though camera sales slowly dwindle we will inevitably long gone from our respective mortal coils long before cameras are nothing but museum displays.
tbcass
Forum Pro
Thank you.
My earlier response was not meant to be declarative. I merely pointed out that the horse analogy didn't fit.
Sometimes there's a fine line between discussion and argument. Disagreeing is not always arguing unless it's done in a dogmatic way. Some people do that. I try not to do that. If it comes off that way it's my fault for presenting it incorrectly. My purpose is to give an alternative and what I believe is a valid opinion.
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Tom
Amen, but when all is said and done regarding the demise of the typical neighborhood camera store, I feel for the owners. I had an acquaintance not that long ago who owned a camera store. He described one of many shoppers who would stand at his counter examining and playing with a lens, promising to come back and make a purchase. My friend speculated that the potential buyer like many made their buys online, beating the sales tax which are sizable in some states, and in some cases saving a few dollars. So much for supporting your neighborhood businesses.
The store owner also described the small margins on such lenses from major brands. He made more on film processing and used camera sales, repairs and ancillary product lines.
A year or two after that conversation I helped him and ex employees move the last of his stock and display cases out of a now defunct business.
It was a sad experience I’ll never forget.
The store owner also described the small margins on such lenses from major brands. He made more on film processing and used camera sales, repairs and ancillary product lines.
A year or two after that conversation I helped him and ex employees move the last of his stock and display cases out of a now defunct business.
It was a sad experience I’ll never forget.
I would agree with most of these but a couple seem to be making a comeback. There are half as many bookstores but the remaining ones seem to be doing well with plenty of customers who want real books and enjoy browsing.
In my area bakeries are doing well and I don't believe any have closed in recent years. There are also a couple of high end butcher shops that are doing well.
The newspaper/magazine/greeting card places made their money mostly on cigarette sales. They are gone.
AstigmaticOwl
Senior Member
I have never been pushed to by unnecessary accessories at the local camera store I use. And I find the clerks helpful.
AstigmaticOwl
Senior Member
By driving 20 minutes I get to touch and feel the equipment.
I can compare the 24-70 F/4 to the 24-120 F/4 to see if the added reach is worth the increase in size and weight.
I can examine a camera bag to see if it fits my use case.
I can pre-order newly announced cameras or lenses and often get in on the 1st shipment. And I don't have to worry about how well it was packed or whether the FedEx driver will have time to take it into our package room.
If it is something they don't stock, like the Kirk lens foot, I will order online. Usually B&H.
LeicaEye
Forum Pro
Getting to a camera store is the difficulty for many, apart from a now gone Sears (a few P&S) there has never been a proper photography store in our town, we move here 10years ago, even then I had to drive 60miles (Fresno) for a camera store.. At least for me online is now the way to go.. Take Care L
AstigmaticOwl
Senior Member
Our upscale local mall has a Leica store. It seems to function more like a jewelry store than a camera store.
Overrank
Veteran Member
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I got a email recently from a smallish UK based chain of camera stores which made a big thing of their pre-owned cameras, and particularly their film cameras. I suspect the pre-tax margins on some of these second hand cameras must be approaching 50% so you can see why they might want to diversify
BigBen08
Veteran Member
I live in the suburbs of Los Angeles and there are a TON of bakeries.
And I have the waist line to prove it ;-)
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My best aviation photos: https://500px.com/kenfm2018
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M
Marek M
Guest
Opening hours.
Photo stores close at 7.00 pm on weekdays. Many people come back from work not much before then.
Who has time to go there during the day? Generally, for many, weekends are the only opportunity.
While online stores are there, at your convenience, all the time.
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