leica stores

[aizan]

so a leica store is opening in los angeles this week. i haven't looked up the square footage, but i get the sense that it'll be one of the larger ones, if not the largest; it'll be 2 stories, and it's not part of a preexisting camera store. i'm looking forward to visiting after the grand opening. 🙂

i was about to ask what the deal with all of these leica stores was, but an article from businessweek turned up on google:

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-06-14/why-leica-is-opening-so-many-stores

aside from acknowledging that the stores are high-risk, and schopf wouldn't say how much the stores cost, there doesn't seem to be much info in it. can anyone read something interesting between the lines?

if you've been to a leica store, what has your experience been? any snobbish customer service? are the leica akademie classes challenging? are the exhibits exciting or are they the same old stuff?

 

[CameraQuest]

so a leica store is opening in los angeles this week. i haven't looked up the square footage, but i get the sense that it'll be one of the larger ones, if not the largest; it'll be 2 stories, and it's not part of a preexisting camera store. i'm looking forward to visiting after the grand opening. 🙂

i was about to ask what the deal with all of these leica stores was, but an article from businessweek turned up on google:

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-06-14/why-leica-is-opening-so-many-stores

aside from acknowledging that the stores are high-risk, and schopf wouldn't say how much the stores cost, there doesn't seem to be much info in it. can anyone read something interesting between the lines?

if you've been to a leica store, what has your experience been? any snobbish customer service? are the leica akademie classes challenging? are the exhibits exciting or are they the same old stuff?

Leica may be copying the Apple store marketing plan,

eventually aiming to replace independent Leica dealers.

How well such a plan would work out,
only time will tell.

IF that is the game plan,
count me skeptical about long term success.

Stephen

 

[Ronald M]

I have been to Tamarkin in Chicago and they sell 99% Leica. He seems to do a fair mail order business.

 

[raphaelaaron]

Leica may be copying the Apple store marketing plan,

eventually aiming to replace independent Leica dealers.

How well such a plan would work out,
only time will tell.

IF that is the game plan,
count me skeptical about long term success.

Stephen

Agreed. With all the boutiques they've been opening, they could've spent it in better ways. Went to the one here in SoHo, and wasn't impressed even. It wasnt even strategically placed in a busy tourist part of the area. I feel like the store will likely lose money than it rakes in. But who knows, I could be wrong.

 

[Keith]

Instead of opening big dollar boutique stores they could just make their products more reasonably priced and accessible to photographers on average incomes?

 

[maitani]

hopefully they have the new zoomy-leica in stock 🙂

 

[alan davus]

Can't quite see the purpose of opening all these boutique stores: nobody's got any Leica stock.

 

[tohara]

I've been to the Leica store in Ginza, from memory the first Leica store ever?
It was quite large and they had a fair amount of new camera bodies and rare pieces in cabinets. They didn't have many lenses though.

I walzed in and was having a good chat with one of the customer service people. He was kind enough and let me play with the new S. Following that i figured i might give the 90 Summicron a whiz on my M9, i made it clear that i just wanted to see what it was like focusing a 90mm lens using an RF. He rang downstairs and the 'boss' came up with the lens. I shot a few frames and said thankyou and took it off my camera. He then proceeded to box it up and ring it up on the register. His english wasn't great so it was difficult to say that i was just having a look, but once he registered i wouldn't be buying the lens he was not happy!

 

[thegman]

I've been into the Leica store in London, the staff were pleasant enough. I can't say I liked the experience though, it felt like that 'fake classiness' you get in casinos and high end watch shops. Just trying so hard to be exclusive and of 'exquisite taste' but really it's just expensive 'stuff'.

It goes without saying that Leica make some remarkable cameras, in the same way that Rolex make some remarkable watches, but the "Look at how exclusive and aspirational we are!" comes over false, overbearing and a bit distasteful.

It's not a reflection on the products at all, and clearly it is a marketing strategy that works, but I can't say I like it.

 

[jsrockit]

Instead of opening big dollar boutique stores they could just make their products more reasonably priced and accessible to photographers on average incomes?

That would be a sure fire way for them to go out of business though...

 

[kshapero]

We now have 2 down here. One in Palm Beach and another in Miami. Both are "operated" by long time local Leica dealers. They both appeal to the well heeled not to me. I have no problem with them, it just serves a different population. I think that part of Leica's financial success is in selling into the "Gucci" crowd. If so then I think it is good all the way around. Usually when they tire of their current toy, it goes on the used market in very good shape. That's where my interest perks up.

 

[Keith]

That would be a sure fire way for them to go out of business though...

When I say more reasonable I mean quit the gouging with models like the MM and some of the limited edition nightmares.

I don't expect an M-E to cost three thousand dollars or the MM four grand .... just what they're actually worth instead of what they think they can get out of us!

 

[daveywaugh]

I'd say the 'limited edition nightmares' are in fact keeping the rest of the prices reasonable Keith. I agree with your sentiment, but reality is the uber high end probably keeps the 'lower end' and R&D viable.

 

[Keith]

I'd say the 'limited edition nightmares' are in fact keeping the rest of the prices reasonable Keith. I agree with your sentiment, but reality is the uber high end probably keeps the 'lower end' and R&D viable.

And as Akiva said ... the well heeled soon get sick of their new toys and put them on the market for the 'bottom feeders!' 😀

 

[Lflex]

It makes perfect sense. They can control and place the quality of presentation at the level required for a brand that is really belongs to the luxury brand category now, (as opposed to a professional tool - nobody needs to compare a M with a top of the line Nikon DSLR).
Regular camera stores are a dying breed, they are replaced by super electronics stores and online sales - none of which can or will allow you to look at or try the real thing in this price bracket - even if they are willing to stock.
The physical Leica store will be able to facilitate that AND Leica don't suffer much if you decide to buy online after looking/trying - a major problem for bricks and mortar stores which too often serves as showrooms for people that goes home and buy online instead.

The Tokyo, Ginza shop is nice. You can walk right in and have a talk with a camera tech upstairs and browse some books or see an exhibit. Tech prices are high, but fast and as competent as they can possibly be. You could always take your buisness elsewhere if the quote is too scary. I can't really speak for the shop floor people as I don't buy new Leica stuff, but they have an appearance/attitude of the usual ultra luxury shop segment - not my cup of tea, but in line with what Leica represents these days.

 

[daveywaugh]

And as Akira said ... the well heeled soon get sick of their new toys and put them on the market for the 'bottom feeders!' 😀

Yes - good point! ;-)

 

[rscheffler]

Completely agree with Lflex about the benefits Leica gains from these shops.

Premium products don't really work if there are too many cheap offerings of that brand.

Same can be said about trying to attract luxury brand buyers when said luxury brand is stuffed in a corner of a busy camera shop where the staff might not indulge a high-end tire-kicker and instead try to sell him/her on a 'more logical' Canikony product.

I've only been to the Munich Leica store, which is definitely located in a high-end and high rent district, while visiting, and was always happy with the service there. At first I was apprehensive it might be snooty, but it never was. Those guys are all laid back, down to earth and even enthusiastic about photography once I got chatting with them (in my broken German mixed with English, which often was a combination that invited poor customer service experiences in Germany). They were always very kind about allowing me to browse and test shoot used lenses outside the door, as well as whatever demo stock they had available. They also helped with rush service at Solms by shipping out and receiving the equipment on my behalf.

Apparently that shop is not directly owned by Leica, but whatever the case, it was certainly a great chance to try some gear and I actually did buy a couple lenses from them. After the VAT refund and exchange rate, then paying the HST upon arrival here in Canada, it was still slightly less expensive - and they had stock (which you can confirm at their online store) at a time when most had nothing.

But my understanding is the shopping experience at Leica shops in other countries, particularly Asia, can vary considerably...

 

[GaryLH]

I can understand Leica setting up their own stores. If u are going after the high end or boutique market as Leica seems to be, u need your own store where there are people that know your product inside out.

But it is a delicate balancing act between
- not alienating existing store fronts that have been selling your product
- real cost versus actual sales given u need to be in high rent areas to match your so called exclusiveness.

Haven't bought any Leica stuff in a very long time (before the m8 was announced). Have no urge to as well.. Would be fun to walk into a store just to check it out..

Gary

 

[kiss-o-matic]

I can't speak for all of them, but one store here (Daikanyama) carries quite a few other used lenses and cameras. There's a nice display of Poloroids. I've never given the shop too much time as I'm only in that shopping center w/ my rambunctious offspring. Maybe I'll go when I can soak it in.

 

[agfa100]

We have the first store in the US here in Washington DC. Before it opened the few camera stores that still carried Leica did not have a lot of stock. Plus as we all know lenses were very hard to come by, and not every dealer had a big inventory of bodies either. I think Leica looked at what Apple was able to do with their stores. Apple has a good reputation for product, but the dealers were doing a piss poor job of stocking or carrying product.

I would GUESS they have the same issue not as big a markup from cost to msrp and the need for trained staff to handle the sales, and give you a better retail experience. Now when I go into the Leica store in DC they have cameras, lenses, binoc's, bag's. Plus half the store is a photo gallery so you have full exposure to equipment and photography as art. And let's be honest most of those old line camera stores still open are a bit of a nightmare, cluttered and not enough space for everything they stock. Don't get me wrong it's always fun to find a store like that, you never know what you are going to find or what they will be able to pull out of the backroom or a drawer.

So Leica is going after the higher price market and doing it in a smart way, it will take time. Just look how empty the Apple stores are these days 🙂 🙂 people said it would never work for them, how wrong they were.

Just my two cent's

wbill