RETIREMENT OFF TO THE GOLF COURSE!


I’ve seen a lot of changes, decimalisation, the end of Purchase Tax, the introduction of VAT, many rate changes, three recessions, the three day weeks, the miners’ strikes, digital revolution and much more. I started in Dixons in 1968, progressed to the LCE group, went back to Dixons and then spent two years out of the trade with Courtaulds. I was very lucky with them as they trained me in most facets of accounting and I then turned up at Hanimex where I was Credit Manager for five years. I then became the Finance Director of Inter City Camera Centres and saw the group grow from 4 stores to 17 within two years.


I then opened Great Western Cameras with Nigel Moorcroft and we were in business for 12 years together, We decided to go


business nine years ago, and we have a daughter, Clare and two grandchildren. Daniel is nearly 14 (we have high hopes of him being a professional footballer) and Poppy who is nearly 8. We are now filling our time growing fruit and veg, bird watching, golf, yoga and Tai-chi. I can’t say that we will ever be bored! I have found that since I decided to call it a day, I have begun analysing why I was happy to do so. I really haven’t enjoyed the last two years and I think it was because I retired form county and league badminton and had nowhere to release the aggression that built up during the day – consequently I became very sharp and critical with both staff and customers. My staff are incredibly loyal and we have very little churn rate. We have 9 staff and they have worked


Tom, Left, with ski-ing pals


our separate ways and I started T4 in 1994; I am delighted to say that Nigel and I are still close, even though our ideas and characters are very different. I now leave the business in the


very capable hands of Bruce, my son and Maggie Cain (Maggie was my secretary at Hanimex) and I am sure that it will continue to flourish. My wife, Glenys retired from her consultancy


with me for a total of 80 years; I think that this is a very telling statistic. The


products over the years have


changed out of all recognition. I remember the ‘dogs’ with fondness as I can honestly say that we bought very few of them. Agfa Family, Nimslo, Pentax Daylab, Vivitar Q-Dos lenses to name the ones that really stand out. The major, major change now is that the life of a product is so short, and we can no longer develop the relationships with our customers as we did even up


ON HIS RETIREMENT T4 CAMERA’S TOM DINGWALL LOOKS BACK ON HIS WORKING LIFE


to as little as 5 years ago. If we have a customer buying (say) a Canon G10 at £479, how do we feel when the next week, we have to sell the same product at £399 and the customer sees this


We are now filling our time growing fruit and veg, bird watching, golf, yoga and Tai-chi. I can’t say that we will ever be bored!


in our windows. He thinks that we have overcharged him and that we are making a small fortune.


GOLF NEWS WELL ABOVE PAR!


Digital Distribution held its inaugural Golf Day at the breathtaking Old Thorns championship golf course in Hampshire. The event, organised to thank customers for their business during the year, was a big hit for all. Many of the leading names in the photo retail industry were there and divided into teams with the overall team prize going to Simon Pilsworth (Harpers Group), Stuart Smith (Fleet Photographic) and Michael Helyer (Fujifilm). Sales Director and


organiser Ron Deprez paid tribute to the players: “The standard of play was very high, with just the right balance between competition and fun. Simon Pilsworth was also crowned the overall winner following a great performance, so congratulations to him. I would like to thank Fujifilm and GE for sponsoring the individual competitions and all those that


took part in the day and evening. The day was a massive success and plans are now underway for the next event”.


PIXEL 05


In the same vein, we recommend a G10 and then two weeks later the customer comes in to purchase only to be told that it is discontinued! We no longer have much control of our market (which we have to accept) but I have found that very difficult to stomach at times, as I have always been a very independent thinker. In short though, I have had a blast. I’ve enjoyed nearly every minute of my life in the trade. Despite all the problems the trade has had over the years, it always bounces back with a smile on it’s face. We’ve had great trips, great golf, great drinking and met some great people. I salute you all – you are unique.


Do you have a message for Tom (or a memory you would like to share). Email ian@parkview-publishing. co.uk or call 07989 970804


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