Industry Notes for the week of Aug. 1

GaryPageau

Retail news

Best Buy to be closed on Thanksgiving

Best Buy announced all retail locations will be closed Thanksgiving Day, joining a growing number of retailers who are doing the same.

5 ways retailers can embrace the new consumer mentality during Covid-19

Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doc, offers solid advice: “Economic pressures of Covid-19 are accelerating the rightsizing of America’s retail footprint. It is going to be brutal for big-boxes, boutiques, and direct-to-consumer brands. But it doesn’t have to be brutal on you.” Click here for more.

Pro Photography

International Photography Hall of Fame announces 2020 inductees and award recipients

The International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum (IPHF) announced its 2020 class of Photography Hall of Fame inductees, which will be added to the Hall of Fame and Museum, located in the Grand Center Arts District in St. Louis, Mo.

Pro Photographers and their camera use – Are the pros ready to switch to smartphones?

According to Hans Hartman at Visual 1st, most pros use smartphones quite often for their personal photos and are therefore quite familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of smartphones vs. standalone cameras.

Printing News

Shutterfly expansion of Galion, Ohio, plant adds 100 jobs

The Galion Inquirer reports Shutterfly Inc. is embarking a three-year, $23 million expansion of its Galion, Ohio, The company, which already employs nearly 200 people there, expects to add another 100 new jobs through this expansion project. The Galion site is well-known as a church directory plant, and recently had added preschool and studio photography products. The article stated the plant will offer the full range of Lifetouch and Shutterfly personalized products.

Events

CTA changes CES 2021 to virtual format

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) announced CES 2021 – Jan. 6-9, 2021 – will be an all-digital experience connecting exhibitors, customers, thought leaders, and media from around the world, said the organization.

App news and website updates

EverAlbum shutting down

EverAlbum, the photo organizing app and website, announced it is shutting down effective Aug. 31, after seven years. “With increasing competition over the last several years from Apple and Google’s photo storage products (excellent products in their own right, and worth checking out as an alternative), the Ever service is no longer sustainable,” the company said. “All customer photos and videos are scheduled to be deleted from Ever servers on August 31, 2020.”

Firmware updates

Hasselblad X1D II 50C AND 907X special edition firmware 1.3.0

Firmware 1.3.0 for X1D II 50C and 907X Special Edition enhances camera functionality with quicker ISO and White Balance setting, faster battery charging, and new accessory compatibility with 907X Special Edition

Panasonic releases LUMIX S1H firmware 2.1 for supporting RAW Video Output

Panasonic announced the LUMIX S1H firmware update program Version 2.1 supporting RAW video data output. enabling the output of maximum 5.9K/29.97p and 59.94p 4K* RAW video data over HDMI to save it as Apple ProRes RAW on the Atomos Ninja V 4K HDR monitor-recorder.

Financial news

Apple reports third-quarter revenue up 11 percent

Apple Inc. posted quarterly revenue of $59.7 billion in the third quarter, an increase of 11 percent from the year-ago quarter, and quarterly earnings per diluted share of $2.58, up 18 percent. International sales accounted for 60 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

Cimpress’ fourth-quarter sales drops to $421 million

Vistaprint parent Cimpress plc CMPR reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2020, with total revenues of $429.1 million compared with $675 million in the year-ago quarter. This, however, exceeded the top-line consensus estimate of $421 million.

Canon sufferers eight-year record drop after quarterly loss: Bloomberg

Canon Inc. slid to a two-decade low after reporting its first quarterly loss, according to Bloomberg. Its shares slid as much as 11.5%, the biggest decline on an intraday basis since July 2012. The Japanese maker of printers and scanners warned the pandemic had dampened demand for printers and cameras more than anticipated, forcing it to slash its interim dividend. Canon also forecasts an annual profit of 45 billion yen ($428 million), missing the lowest of analysts’ estimates.

Kodak launches Kodak Pharmaceuticals

Eastman Kodak Co. is going back to its chemical roots with the launch of Kodak Pharmaceuticals, The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation signed a letter of interest to provide a $765 million loan to Kodak to support the launch of Kodak Pharmaceuticals, a new arm of the company that will “produce critical pharmaceutical components.” The announcement sent EK’s stock soaring ten-fold, but not without some criticism.

Long-time industry members will remember this isn’t Kodak’s first foray into chemicals after it spun off Eastman Chemical in 1994 and the purchase (and later divestiture) of Sterling Drugs in the 1990s.

Xerox reports second-quarter revenue drops 35.3 percent

Xerox Holdings Corp. reported second-quarter revenue of $1.47 billion, a decrease of 35.3 percent year-over-year. The company also reported $34 million of operating cash flow from continuing operations, down $242 million year-over-year, and $15 million of free cash flow, down $245 million year-over-year.

Interesting items from around the web

VentureBeat: OpenSpace raises $15.9 million to automate photo documentation on construction sites

OpenSpace, a platform helping construction teams track the progress of building projects by capturing 360-degree photos of construction sites, has raised $15.9 million in a series B round of funding led by Menlo Ventures, according to VentureBeat.

The Flip Video almost became Google’s first camera

Before Android, before the iPhone, and before GoPro became a known brand, the Flip Video camcorder took the world by storm; here’s how it almost became a Google camera, according to The Verge. Google bought YouTube instead.

Open Positions

AAA Imaging

AAA Imaging is looking for a Product Development Manager, involved in creating new products that will be sold to photo retailers around the country.

Albelli

Albelli, the Netherlands based operator of European brands – Albelli, Bonusprint, Fotoknudsen, Onskefoto, MonAlbumPhoto, and Resnap – is looking for a Head of Performance Marketing at its Amsterdam headquarters.

Popsa

Popsa is looking for a CRM Executive and a Customer Acquisition Specialist in its Soho HQ.

People on the Move

Photobox CEO Jody Ford to Trainline in operations role

Trainline announced Jody Ford, CEO of U.K.-based photo printing company Photobox Group, will serve in a newly created role of Chief Operating Officer, effective Sept. 21 2020. Ford will join then board and report into CEO Clare Gilmartin.