Jessops go into administration

[andrewmore]

Jessops (the largest photographic shop chain in the UK?) have just gone into administration according to various UK news sources. Their chain of shops is expected to close. No great surprise, but sad none-the-less.

Regards

Andrew More

 

[rayfoxlee]

With high high street rents demanded by pension fund landlords, high business rates, salaries, lighting, heating and increased competition from on-line sellers this is really no surprise - the profit margin with these kind of overheads are just not there anymore. It is becoming more and more difficult to see what you want to buy first. Factor in a probably slowing upgrade cycle during these recessionary times too and it is difficult to see how any firms in this sector are going to do well for quite some time.

I guess it's much the same in the US?

Ray

 

[kuvvy]

Following on from the recent loss of Jacobs Digital this is bad news indeed.

Paul

 

[Bike Tourist]

I never shopped there (naturally) but I did learn some Nikon facts from their web site. I suppose that's the new world in which we live.

 

[John Bragg]

I heard this afternoon whilst in Mathers, an Independent retailer in Bolton. Sad indeed, however they never had anything I needed or wanted at a sensible price. I didn't realise Jacobs had gone too.

 

[bobbyrab]

I used to buy all my Canon gear from Jacobs in New Oxford St, the manager [Donal I think his name was], would look after you which was worth the slight premium you paid over online deals, but I recently had dealings with a Jessops and was disappointed with the advise they were giving which was ill informed.
I Bought my most recent 5d mark iii online as the price was £450 cheaper than Calumet, much as I'd prefer to support retailers like Calumet, it's difficult to walk away from that kind of saving.
It seems unless we can do something to take some of the pressure off of high street retailers, we are doomed to a future of deserted shops and roads clogged with delivery vans.

 

[Vics]

With high high street rents demanded by pension fund landlords, high business rates, salaries, lighting, heating and increased competition from on-line sellers this is really no surprise - the profit margin with these kind of overheads are just not there anymore. It is becoming more and more difficult to see what you want to buy first. Factor in a probably slowing upgrade cycle during these recessionary times too and it is difficult to see how any firms in this sector are going to do well for quite some time.

I guess it's much the same in the US?

Ray

I think your point about high street rents is right on point. In the US there is no financial incentive for a commercial real estate owner to rent his building. He makes all his money from tax rebates and the 5-year roll-over of the financing. It's all a cash-flow game. It's killing bricks-and-mortar business in this country just as much as the internet is.

 

[mugent]

I actually worked for Jessops a little over 12 years ago. If you shopped in the Shandwick Place, Edinburgh branch, then you probably saw me.
Jessops was in a poor state even then, they were very badly run, and it continued to get worse from there. They stopped selling 2nd hand goods which had a much bigger profit margin than new, as it they wanted a 'new and modern image', totally ignoring a huge customer base.

Why would you bother going into a shop when you can get it cheaper and easier online? This isn't a photography problem, it's retail in general, rents are a part of the problem, but the main cause is the internet, and I don't think there is anything the retail industry can do to change it.

 

[DtheG]

Jessops expanded fast, no doubt funded by debt, and drove a lot of independents out of business. Now the internet and paying off that debt and expensive high street store has put them out of business. They were useful as a place to look and handle stuff before looking for a better deal online. But not a great camera shop.

 

[ronnies]

I actually worked for Jessops a little over 12 years ago. If you shopped in the Shandwick Place, Edinburgh branch, then you probably saw me.
Jessops was in a poor state even then, they were very badly run, and it continued to get worse from there. They stopped selling 2nd hand goods which had a much bigger profit margin than new, as it they wanted a 'new and modern image', totally ignoring a huge customer base.

Why would you bother going into a shop when you can get it cheaper and easier online? This isn't a photography problem, it's retail in general, rents are a part of the problem, but the main cause is the internet, and I don't think there is anything the retail industry can do to change it.

I used to shop in Shandwick Place regularly ! Then about 10 years ago Jessops went way down hill, just about the time they stopped selling used kit. They had nothing in the store and most of the staff knew nothing about photography. I thought they'd managed to turn it round recently with more cameras to try in the shop and quite enjoyed chatting to the Nikon girl in Shandwick Place last Saturday.

I have bought from them recently but bought online to collect in the shop in the Gyle. I also bought my D200 from them in about 2006 using the same method, but collected from the shop that was just of St Andrews square (now long gone !).

It is a shame to see another retail outlet go but to be honest I'm surprised that Jessops lasted this long.

That could leave Calumet and Camerabase as the only dedicated photo stores in Edinburgh.

Ronnie

 

[mugent]

I used to shop in Shandwick Place regularly ! Then about 10 years ago Jessops went way down hill, just about the time they stopped selling used kit. They had nothing in the store and most of the staff knew nothing about photography. I thought they'd managed to turn it round recently with more cameras to try in the shop and quite enjoyed chatting to the Nikon girl in Shandwick Place last Saturday.

I have bought from them recently but bought online to collect in the shop in the Gyle. I also bought my D200 from them in about 2006 using the same method, but collected from the shop that was just of St Andrews square (now long gone !).

It is a shame to see another retail outlet go but to be honest I'm surprised that Jessops lasted this long.

That could leave Calumet and Camerabase as the only dedicated photo stores in Edinburgh.

Ronnie

Wow, small world! I was the short-ish long haired guy...

I too am surprised they've lasted this long, they were very overstaffed during my tenure too, the overheads must have been huge.

If it gives more trade to the independent shops, it's a good thing, but I think Jessops were competing with Currys and Argos rather than actual photo shops.

 

[ronnies]

Wow, small world! I was the short-ish long haired guy...

I too am surprised they've lasted this long, they were very overstaffed during my tenure too, the overheads must have been huge.

If it gives more trade to the independent shops, it's a good thing, but I think Jessops were competing with Currys and Argos rather than actual photo shops.

Agreed. I didn't see much commonality in stock between Jessops and Calumet. Camerabase is of course a mostly second hand shop and a completely different beast.

Will be in Camerabase (well Cameratiks really) this afternoon to pick up my repaired EOS 300D. 🙂

Ronnie

 

[Paul T.]

The same day Jessops went into administration, so did virgin france. I went in to their Paris store only a few weeks ago to load up on CDs by French performers. THey were still cheaper than Amazon.

The high street is facing a perfect storm. The greed of commercial property owners is part of the problem. The transparently unfair tax arrangements, which allow Starbucks, Amazon etc to undercut other, better high street businesses, are a bigger part of the problem. But sometimes, it's simpy that a company has lost its way. That was part of the Jessops problem.

You only have to look at Apple stores, to see how a High Street environment can look. THey make places like Dixons or Currys (where I had to buy my X100 with a stupid insurance voucher) look like dumps. But, sadly, most small businesses will never have the leverage that places like Apple have.

 

[StefanJozef]

I was going into the Shandwick Place branch in Edinburgh tomorrow with my £25 gift voucher which apparently now is worthless. Similarly to other individuals on this page, I used to shop at the Shandwick place branch regularly, and bought several cameras there,but stopped about 10 years ago when it went rapidly downhill.

 

[citizen99]

... If it gives more trade to the independent shops, it's a good thing, but I think Jessops were competing with Currys and Argos rather than actual photo shops.

Yes. And I think that independent shops, to survive, would have to offer specialist services in 'niche' parts of the market, and to compete with on-line businesses they would have to be located where there is a large catchment area for that sort of 'footfall'.

 

[ernstk]

I actually worked for Jessops a little over 12 years ago. If you shopped in the Shandwick Place, Edinburgh branch, then you probably saw me.
Jessops was in a poor state even then, they were very badly run, and it continued to get worse from there. They stopped selling 2nd hand goods which had a much bigger profit margin than new, as it they wanted a 'new and modern image', totally ignoring a huge customer base.

Why would you bother going into a shop when you can get it cheaper and easier online? This isn't a photography problem, it's retail in general, rents are a part of the problem, but the main cause is the internet, and I don't think there is anything the retail industry can do to change it.

I used to shop there regularly, for cameras and photo developing supplies.

Regarding Camerabase, I have bought lots of secondhand Leica and Nikon gear from them. However, it amazes me that they survive, given how thoroughly miserable the owner (?) is.

 

[RichW]

I occasionally buy (bought) film from their Bluewater branch, it always amused me how when you asked for it they would disappear for a minute out the back door and then return with a crate of random film and put it down on the counter for you to rummage through as if you were at a car boot sale 🙂

Richard

 

[ronnies]

I used to shop there regularly, for cameras and photo developing supplies.

Regarding Camerabase, I have bought lots of secondhand Leica and Nikon gear from them. However, it amazes me that they survive, given how thoroughly miserable the owner (?) is.

Ha Ha (ROFL) ! Too true. 🙂

Actually he's OK once you get chatting to him but the initial contact can be a bit daunting.

Ronnie

 

[nikkor-watching]

about 10 years ago Jessops went way down hill, just about the time they stopped selling used kit.

Yeah, the second-hand turnover gave us an excuse to go in there, in case there was something "new" knocking about. Once photo processors standardised on Fuji Frontier machines, there was little reason to go in Jessops over the supermarket processors once you had your kit. If I walked in I would see UV filters for 20 quid. Yikes.

 

[j j]

Closed completely today. Stock returned to suppliers. All jobs lost.