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It just goes to show the more things change the more they stay the same. Predicting where our industry is headed is fraught with danger :)
It's great to see however that a number of our current industry leaders were in that position 32 years ago and their assessment of the future obviously worked well for them.
Andrew Mason from Photo Continental sent through this blast from the past article and makes for great reading.
Photo Forum April 1980 Vol 1 No 1
From this issue which gave us detailed information on "How to sell a Hanimex Lens" & "How to sell Poloroid Auto Focus cameras" + Levinson's Newsletter
We also had an interesting article entitled "What do you think of the minilab concept?"
A selection of industry panellists had their say:
John Paxton - Paxton Photographics
Paxton Photographics is faced with a progressive minilab operation just down the street, and the prospect of another about to open just up the street. But John Paxton currently has no intention of opening his own lab.
" It doesn't warrant the extra staff worries" he said "When you're running a comprehensive photographic store there's no time to start worrying about processing machines breaking down and operators not turning up. If you're going to run a simple fish & chips operation in a busy location it might be different".
"However they have had no effect on our business as we already offer a same day service through Pacific"
Terry Rimmer - General Manager of Georges
"At this stage I doubt their economic viability in Australia except for those highly trafficked areas supported by a good surrounding population. And really there's not many such locations.
"I would predict that within two years, many of these businesses will be forced to sell. But my main concern is the quality, this is most important and it seems to be contrary to the short turn- around of the minilab, which is really just sophisticated sausage processing machine"
Mike Gilmore - Classic Cameras NSW
'In certain areas they will be a goer, but I don't think the big processors will sit back and let the business in major city locations just be taken from them. The competition is going to be tough. "We're going to see some big changes in the D&P business this year. With soaring film costs, free film is going to go and print prices will probably fall. And that's when the minilabs popping up like mushrooms are going to have to redo their figures"
Des Franklin - General Manager of Consumer products for Hanimex
Says "you have to look at the origin of concept. It all began in the States where there are many towns of 50,000 to 70,000 people who were not serviced by a major laboratory. Sending the work away meant customers had to wait a week, so the minilab was a practical solution".
"In Australia they could satisfy such a requirement in those isolated areas where the major labs can't offer the same service. Bathurst in NSW might be such an example".
"So what are the minilabs offering? Is it limited to the extent of its services. It is not better, or cheaper, just quicker. And the reliability has yet to be proven".
Alan Michael - Michael's Camera House (slap-bang in the centre of Melbourne's CBD)
"We've looked at six systems, and we've now put down a deposit.
"For us, the big advantage is that we can now control our own destiny and no longer be the tool on someone else.
'We will not be out to cut prices.Rather; we're going to offer a very personal service. It will be important to be right on the ball and to pay proper attention to staff training and strict housekeeping.
"The film processing will be done upstairs, but the print processors will be highly visible through the windows and sure to attract large crowds.
"How long the novelty of this system will attract the public is hard to say, but we're so convinced it's going to be a winner that we've made provision for the installation of a back up machine.
"And besides, Alan added wryly, think of all those silver ingots we're going to get".
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