Retailer news roundup

August 15, 2022December 24, 2022 GaryPageau

Jack’s Cameras is Digital Imaging Reporter’s 2022 E-tailer of the Year

Family-owned and operated Jack’s Cameras, a full-service camera retailer based in Philadelphia, Pa, was named Digital Imaging Reporter’s 2022 E-tailer of the Year. The company’s roots go back to the early 1950s and today the three-store chain is a successful e-commerce business.

DI Reporter: Newcomers revitalize old camera stores

The most recent edition of Digital Imaging Reporter features three camera stores where new owners have revitalized the operations. The Bill McCurry-scribed feature shows how individuals with new energy and new money from outside the industry have bought camera stores, bringing fresh perspectives, passion as well as focus. The businesses featured include Justin and Deb Price, Armadillo Camera; Will Lange and Samantha Maclaren, Nelson Photo & Video; and Phil Livingston, Precision Camera & Video.

Longtime Montreal photo retailer Lozeau closes

Lozeau, the nearly 100-year-old Montreal retailer, has closed, according to an announcement on the company’s website. The company cited the “COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant reduction in foot traffic; this situation was exacerbated by the start of the St-Hubert Street revitalization project, which began in 2019 and lasted longer than expected; and we have also been affected by global supply chain issues that are creating challenges for retailers globally.” Founded in 1929, Lozeau was purchased by Toronto-based Henry’s in 2019.

Rowe Photo, one of the earliest Kodak dealers, closes in Rochester

The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports Rowe Photo has closed its third-generation family-owned store. Reporter Patrick Harney writes: “The closure of Rowe signals a major change in Rochester’s business landscape, with the store being one of the original retailers of Kodak cameras and film. ‘We were Kodak dealers maybe forever,’ (owner Dick) Rowe said, adding that one of his family’s former stores in Greece’s Buckman Plaza did beta testing on new photo paper and development chemicals for Kodak.”

Walgreens abandons £5 billion Boots sale

Reuters reported Boots will remain under the ownership of Walgreens Boots Alliance after the US pharmacy company abandoned a sale of Britain’s biggest chemist.

Work from the office, from home, or the Mediaclip chalet

Like most high-tech companies, Mediaclip has faced challenges attracting high-quality employees. According to Le Presse, the Quebec-based personalized photo software company recently purchased a chalet on the edge of Lac à la Perchaude to provide a remote workplace or weekend getaway for employees. The chalet, in the forest sector of Saint-Gérard-des-Laurentides in Shawinigan, is accessible to all employees, for teleworking or weekends with the family.

Moonpig launched My 1st Years brand

Moonpig launched the brand My 1st Years, a personalized baby brand in the United Kingdom. The site provides options for new babies to early-year birthdays.

Mixbook partners with Crayola

Mixbook has partnered with Crayola to help parents preserve their children’s artwork in a Crayola-themed photo book.

Myposter increases sales to almost 100 million euros this year

Munich’s Myposter increased sales to almost 100 million euros this year, spurred by a recent acquisition, according to Handelsblatt. At the beginning of the year, Myposter over Juniqe. The Berlin company specializes in prints and posters by artists. The Ruhland’s acquired the company, which recently had a turnover of 22 million euros, in the tens of millions. According to the article, Myposter was founded in 2011 by brothers Marc and René Ruhland. Both had previously imported art prints from China with their joint venture RMR Art Co. Two years later, René Ruhland’s wife Anna stepped in to take care of finance and production.