14th Dec Pixelk.e$S:Layout 1 10/12/2009 23:22 Page 13
P I X E L C A L L I N G . . .
PIXEL CALLING...
compact cameras like the GE and prices? Where are they getting
Fuji models, plus a few of the bridge their discounts from? Some of the
PIXEL CALLS RICHARD IRVING OF THE CAMERA SHOP,
and hybrid cameras. Memory cards prices are 30% or more less than
PENRITH  TO ASK “HOW’S BUSINESS?”
keep ticking along nicely and RRP – we just can’t compete.
multichargers are always good For example, some time ago, a
We’ ve traded for over 40 years but However, in Penrith we have suffered sellers. Accessories thankfully do help friend wanted to buy a particular
it is very difficult at the moment. We over the past few months there was a with sales, especially as they carry a camera, and the cheapest i could
have a kodak lab that continues to major fire last week at the large better mark-up than some higher sell if for was £200 only allowing
go steady but the camera side is Morrisons and massive commercial ticket items. Conversely, we struggle for £5 profit. She bought it off the
very quiet. Internet is the cause, and infrastructure that was meant to be to sell cameras over £200 because internet for £185 – nobody seems
we just can’t compete. Over the past built has been pulled – all the of internet prices. to care about customer service
20-30 years we’ve sold plenty of incentives to draw visitors and We've not brought in any additional anymore it’s all about cost.
SLRs but now I won’t stock them as it shoppers to Penrith have now gone. sales strategies in preparation for I feel upset and frustrated at the
is too risky as internet prices are Things have changed for the worse Christmas - I've kept things the same present state of our industry. My
sometimes as much as £100 pounds business-wise even with insurance as last year. I expect budget cameras father built this business 40 years
less. Customer service means claims from the floods et cetera. to sell well over Christmas together ago and i took over in 1985. I saw
nothing, unfortunately – it all comes Insurance companies no longer deal with the usual accessories. the boom times when Christmases
down to cost. with the small independents they get Sometimes you make more money were incredible: we were
We're lucky in the sense that the the goods from the internet, which is selling accessories than the actual absolutely snowed under with
flooding hasn't affected Penrith like it a huge potential slice of business lost. cameras. customers! Unfortunately, due to
has Cockermouth which, as you We do most of our sales on What I would like to know is how the success of internet shopping,
know, has been devastated. compacts in the £69 to £99 range, come the internet can offer such those days are long gone!
D E A L E R S U P P O RT
GIANT CAMERA FOLLOWS
GIANT PIGEON
Claim
A giant camera recently appeared up to
at London Waterloo station £50
providing passers by with a fun
visual focus. The larger than life
£30
camera is the last of a series of which weighs 160kg - spent three
cashback
cashback!
available
objects which have been days at London Waterloo before
magnified and brought to life by moving to Victoria and then
Panasonic to illustrate the 8 x Liverpool Street Station.
optical zoom lens of the Lumix The sculpture incorporates the
DMC-ZX1. Further installations massive Panasonic 103” plasma
include a giant conker, postbox, screen, posing as the camera’s £50
traffic cone, park bench, pigeon LCD screen and displaying video
cashback
and crumpled coffee cup. These footage of how the giant sized
available
six sculptures then in position in objects were built as well as
On the Award-Winning
high profile locations in the footage of all objects in location.
respective cities of Edinburgh, Mark Robinson Head of Lumix
FinePix F200EXR and FinePix S200EXR
Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Marketing at Panasonic says:
London (Neal Street, Covent “We’ve received some fun and
Offer valid for one month only
Garden) and Bristol until almost imaginative photos on our
1st December - 31st December 2009
the end of November. facebook page showcasing
See instore or www.fujifilm.co.uk/christmascashback for details
A team of 6 artists spent 5 weeks perspective resulting from our
creating the 3.6 metre high and 2 larger than life sculptures. We’re
metre wide fibre glass camera sure our giant sized camera will
which was constructed into place prove a popular past time for
at London Waterloo Station at commuters and help to raise the
4am! The larger than life camera - profile of our 8x life campaign.”
For the claim form and full terms and conditions visit www.fujifilm.co.uk/christmascashback
PIXEL 013
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