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Author Topic: Calumet Photographic abruptly shuts down, files for bankruptcy  (Read 8650 times)

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Goofy

« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2014, 22:08 »
0
sad, we had a good camera store near our workplace- family business that had been around since 1940 and folded just a few years ago- the owner told me digital killed him...

« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2014, 01:05 »
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That stinks.  I've bought a lot of specialty studio stuff from Calumet.  Not sure where I'll go for those things now.

Ron

« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2014, 02:33 »
0
I bought my tripod and ballhead in the Chicago store. They also have a store in Belfast. Is the EU branch closing as well?

Too bad, always had a soft spot for them.


Edit:

Quote
Calumet said on its Facebook page that it was closing its stores in the United States, but that its European stores would remain.

PaulieWalnuts

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« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2014, 06:42 »
+3
I've been to the Calumet Oak Brook store a couple of times and have a Calumet bag which is top notch. So it's sad but not surprising. The GlassDoor reviews show the company was doing pretty bad. The big chains that killed the mom and pop stores are now being killed by the internet.

And I'm sure the salespeople were helpful but that role is from a time before the internet when a salesperson was one of the only people you could get good information from. Now there are plenty of review sites and dozens of online stores with user ratings that have made that role and chain stores mostly obsolete except for the hard core specialists. The last time I was in Best Buy I knew way more than the salesperson. I don't think Best Buy stores will exist in five years.

In Chicago there's still Central Camera which is family owned and has been around since 1899. A great old school place of a dying breed. http://centralcameracompany.com/

Ron

« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2014, 06:55 »
+7
The other day I was out to buy a new monitor. I went to Currys/PC World and had my eye on a few monitors. But I needed a sales person to convince me of what would be best for me. I kid came up and when I asked him if the monitor I wanted had a good contrast ratio and true blacks. He looked at me if I had just set his hair on fire. He looked at the monitor and pointed at the Microsoft system tray pop up and said, 'that is black'. I smiled at him and asked for him to get a colleague who would understand what I was asking about.

« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2014, 12:03 »
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Unfortunately I see little future for high street electrical/photographic stores. You can get all the advice you need from the internet and best price too. Maybe the odd niche store will survive.

In the UK were are heading for high streets full of charity shops, fast food joints, betting shops, nail bars and barbers!!!

« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2014, 16:13 »
+1
Unfortunately I see little future for high street electrical/photographic stores. You can get all the advice you need from the internet and best price too. Maybe the odd niche store will survive.

In the UK were are heading for high streets full of charity shops, fast food joints, betting shops, nail bars and barbers!!!

You forgot the countless pawnbroking and "pay day loan" shops :(

mlwinphoto

« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2014, 16:21 »
+4
sad, we had a good camera store near our workplace- family business that had been around since 1940 and folded just a few years ago- the owner told me digital killed him...

We have a family owned camera store (Kenmore Camera) in our town that's been around for years and they just moved into much larger space....embraced digital and are doing better than ever but they are also very active in the local photographic community, offering classes, putting on expos, bringing in speakers, etc.


« Reply #9 on: March 16, 2014, 02:48 »
0
I seriously doubt internet shopping had anything to do with Calumet closing up. First time I shopped with them was in the 1980's and I've never stepped foot in one of their physical locations .. most of their customers haven't. Funny enough both the popular mom n pop stores here in my area have expanded their stores while NOT embracing online shopping .. sounds like Calumet had one too many bad executives that should have been fired before the business flopped.

« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2014, 08:27 »
0
I seriously doubt internet shopping had anything to do with Calumet closing up. First time I shopped with them was in the 1980's and I've never stepped foot in one of their physical locations .. most of their customers haven't. Funny enough both the popular mom n pop stores here in my area have expanded their stores while NOT embracing online shopping .. sounds like Calumet had one too many bad executives that should have been fired before the business flopped.

It may have something to do with it but downsizing and strategic shifting would be the more reasonable approach.  Here in southern California I use Sammy's Camera and they are also near a Calumet store (5-6 miles away) and Calumet inventory quality stinks in comparison, at least at this store.  I go into Sammy's a lot and it is nearly always packed.  There are times when I leave without anything because there's a line of people trying to hook up with one of the 10-12 service people.  This single observation would contradict the Internet angle, though.  Now, I work in an industry that is linked to The Home Depot.  And I know for a fact (because I am involved in it) that Home Depot is eliminating certain inventory items due to the Internet.  BOPIS is killing their current inventory model, so they expect to begin shrinking their store inventory and moving more into the warehouse BOPIS model, like Best Buy does.  In the case of Home Depot, though, they see it happening so they are adjusting.
« Last Edit: March 16, 2014, 08:29 by Mantis »

« Reply #11 on: March 17, 2014, 00:21 »
0
Mantis, excuse my ignorance but what is BOPIS?  I looked through 3 pages of a Google search and all I could find was a spicy Filipino dish.


Ron

« Reply #12 on: March 17, 2014, 04:08 »
+2
It all depends on how you search  :)

buy online, pick-up in-store (BOPIS) model

Second result for 'warehouse BOPIS model'

http://connected.retailnetgroup.com/index.php/2012/09/24/ship-from-store-what-retailers-can-learn-from-the-early-adopters/

« Reply #13 on: March 17, 2014, 18:16 »
0
Thanks Ron...

Uncle Pete

« Reply #14 on: March 18, 2014, 13:50 »
0
Maybe it's a local thing. For years they were good for used equipment and Mail Order sales. Seems that for a place that was doing that, they could have embraced the Internet better. But sad to see them go.

Biggest places in Milwaukee, went years ago. I mean big, rentals, used, the major distribution points for some brands. Poof! The last Blacks/Wolf in the shopping center just disappeared a couple of years ago. Last  neighborhood stores, one by one (and they looked like antique shops, dusty and stale) have closed.

What's left is one place with good intelligent staff. They run classes and have tent sales with factory Reps. They have news and keep up with the market. Two stores, next one is some 20 miles West. But they seem to be filling the need.

Otherwise I agree. You have every appliance and electronics store on the planet, including big box and drug stores, selling cameras and doing processing. It's just been overtaken by big. I'm a B&H buyer. They deliver, sometimes in one day. Have reasonable prices, I get what I need and don't have to leave the office.

True I can't get my hands on things and try them, but personally it's not that important, I have a good idea what a camera is and I'm not that fussy. If it makes good photo, and does what the reviews and Mfg. claim it will. That's what I want.

If you think back, most small family run stores have been overtaken by big groups or corporate giants. Maybe it's just "old folks" like my age, but there used to be corner stores and shops all over. Now we have shopping centers and giant malls, and the little places have be re-purposed into office space, trades, or homes.
« Last Edit: March 18, 2014, 13:55 by Uncle Pete »

cuppacoffee

« Reply #15 on: March 18, 2014, 16:08 »
0
Art's and Crivello's in (around) Milwaukee are good. The guys at Crivello's knew their stuff but I haven't been in the Bluemound store in awhile. Perhaps they've changed. I buy over the internet too. I like Freestyle Photo, lots of quirky stuff.

Hobostocker

    This user is banned.
« Reply #16 on: March 18, 2014, 19:03 »
0
The big chains that killed the mom and pop stores are now being killed by the internet.

and actually Amazon and Alibaba will soon kill the remaining online competition.






OM

« Reply #17 on: March 18, 2014, 20:47 »
+1
It all depends on how you search  :)

buy online, pick-up in-store (BOPIS) model

Second result for 'warehouse BOPIS model'

http://connected.retailnetgroup.com/index.php/2012/09/24/ship-from-store-what-retailers-can-learn-from-the-early-adopters/


I propose that the great problem for bricks and mortar stores is the TOIS and BEACOL type of client! (Try out in store and buy elsewhere at cheapest on-line!) client. Been like that for a long time. At least according to a friend who worked in a not-lowest price camera store.

PZF

« Reply #18 on: April 24, 2014, 02:48 »
0
Calumet still replying to email queries re products....

« Reply #19 on: April 24, 2014, 04:42 »
0
Personally I would love to have a localy owned camera store that could provide me with the equipment I need with good customer service. The local shop to me (Paul's Photo) sells everything at full list. Their customer service is horrible, when you have any prolem, they make you feel like an idiot or try to put the blame on you if the lens/body has any problems. I have dealy with B&H for years and have always gotten great prices snd great service.

« Reply #20 on: May 28, 2014, 16:14 »
0
The big chains that killed the mom and pop stores are now being killed by the internet.

and actually Amazon and Alibaba will soon kill the remaining online competition.

You may be surprised. One of the fastest growing online business last year was walmart.com

« Reply #21 on: May 28, 2014, 18:31 »
0
Better re-evaluate that comment

http://blogs.marketwatch.com/behindthestorefront/2014/04/04/wal-marts-in-store-shoppers-prefer-amazon-com-not-walmart-com/

Walmart has been market shre over the past 5 quarters. They are no longer the cheapest in any of the market segments. And many people are biycotting walmart due to their employee relations


 

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