Within the next 30 days or sooner, we will likely see some new directions from Leica's new CEO.
If you were the new CEO, what would you do ?
Stephen
If you were the new CEO, what would you do ?
Stephen
sdotkling
Sent through the ether
I'd make sure Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, JayZ, Kanye, Beyonce and Pharrel Williams and Sean P. Diddy Combs had really nice M-240s or Monochromes hanging from their shoulders at all times.
I wouldn't have a clue what to do. It's a miracle that it is still around and with so many camera models.
back alley
IMAGES
i've read that when steve jobs re-took apple that he refused to use an apple notebook because they were not good enough...
back alley
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f16sunshine
Moderator
Create a second brand to allow "Leica" to become an even higher priced luxury camera-jewelry product.
Commit to the 1% with a true luxury oriented line that may include a social media portal to let those folks show off their Leica bling images.
In the mean time produce a second line of no nonsense professional oriented products more in line with the legacy of Leica optics.
Pros don't care about red dots, sapphire glass, and, celebrity endorsements that inflate the cost of doing business.
Maybe even bring back the Leitz name for this second line.
Commit to the 1% with a true luxury oriented line that may include a social media portal to let those folks show off their Leica bling images.
In the mean time produce a second line of no nonsense professional oriented products more in line with the legacy of Leica optics.
Pros don't care about red dots, sapphire glass, and, celebrity endorsements that inflate the cost of doing business.
Maybe even bring back the Leitz name for this second line.
Out to Lunch
Ventor
I suppose it all boils down to one question: what is the customer base of Leica cameras and lenses and what are they prepared to pay for. I suppose the findings are going to be scary to any CEO. The ''Mechanical Precision'' marker is outdated and stale. Most of Leica aficionados are tired of the specialty cameras. Popular brands such as Fuji are moving in to steal the Leica thunder.
kxl
Social Documentary
From a B-school perspective:
1. It's all about branding, right? So what exactly is the Leica brand?
2. Who is the customer for that brand?
3. What is the desired customer experience?
4. What products deliver and propagate that desired customer experience?
5. Define the 7 p's of Marketing (there only used to be 4 p's when I was in B-school
) for those products.
6. Develop a strategic product roadmap.
7. Execute against that product roadmap.
1. It's all about branding, right? So what exactly is the Leica brand?
2. Who is the customer for that brand?
3. What is the desired customer experience?
4. What products deliver and propagate that desired customer experience?
5. Define the 7 p's of Marketing (there only used to be 4 p's when I was in B-school
) for those products.6. Develop a strategic product roadmap.
7. Execute against that product roadmap.
rfaspen
[insert pithy phrase here]
Oh, I think f16sunshine and Peter both have it right. I've long wished Leica would go back to what it was in the 50's through 80's? Target the market that desires excellent gear oriented toward making images with the best tools possible. Lately, Leica lenses have been better at doing this than the bodies. Still, if the M line was actually marketed (and I do dare say priced) toward serious *photographers*, maybe it could retain the reputation, and persistence I hope for.
Interesting idea: a luxury line and a photographers line of products. Worth mentioning to the new management.
Interesting idea: a luxury line and a photographers line of products. Worth mentioning to the new management.
kxl
Social Documentary
While I do not disagree, creating a new pro line requires enough differentiation from Canikon to wean away pro shooters, and implementing a production infrastructure for the new products. I doubt that they would build from scratch, so in a build v. buy decision, they would have to buy another company that already has the production infrastructure. Again, I do not disgaree, but if it were me, I'd probably keep Leica a niche brand with niche products.
Kwesi
Well-known
I wouldn't change a thing about the Leica M.
Its all about the "experience" - Market the living daylights out of "the experience". not from a historical perspective but as an antidote to the present day "me too" cacophony of present day cameras.
Apple did this brilliantly with the "Think Different" campaign
Regarding the rest of the line, change strategy as needed.
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Sell it to Fuji and let them transform it into a business with a focus on photography and service to photographers!
Sony is doing quite well with its A7 models. And has one of the better low end APSC cameras out there (a6000). If they get out of the camera game, they still can do something else. Different than Leica's situation. Leica camera without unique and luxurious cameras won't do so well. Especially since it cannot compete on price.
Huss
Veteran
The Fuji Instax series cameras outsell all of Fuji's other digital products combined.
Leica should introduce a high end instant camera taking the instax film. Call it the Leicaroid. Or Leicalax..
Oh, and introduce a high quality dedicated film scanner to go alongside Leica's real cameras.
Leica should introduce a high end instant camera taking the instax film. Call it the Leicaroid. Or Leicalax..
Oh, and introduce a high quality dedicated film scanner to go alongside Leica's real cameras.
Pete B
Well-known
Overhaul quality control. Iron out all problems. Customers want service. They've got the products, but if they're unreliable or there are delays in rectifying problems, customers may look elsewhere. To stay number one, act like you're number two.
Pete
Pete
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I would seek out some unknown artist who secretely has been a great ambassidor for Leica and reward and recognize his service to the Leica brand. I think everyone roots for the underdog and the unsung hero and everyone except the celeberties are kinda tired about see the same guys and girls winning over and over again.
How about recognizing the guy who eats nut butter sandwitches so he can shoot a Leica.
How about the guy on RFF who posted about the rumored Monochrom as being a good idea when others called it "stupid."
How about the guy who now owns a black R8, a black SL2-MOT, a Wetzlar M6, a black paint MP with 0.85 VF'er, a Canadian MD-2, and a Monochrom even though he is an unknown but serious photographer who works a day job he hates?
How about the guy who has moderated the NYC Meet-Up for the past 6 years and who even started an anual Camera Beauty Contest.
I know that Leica already kinda made the Monochrom especially for me, but how about making it official with a "Calzone" version of the Monochrom with a 0.85 finder sold with a LeicaVit with an extra heavy brass barreled lens set of a 28 Cron and 50 Lux ASPH featuring evil scalloped hoods.
Where is the love? I hope Leica does not forget the struggling artist and does somethimng to support him. Anyways this is like my version of the documentry film "Twenty Feet From Stardom" about the unsung heros that do really matter. BTW I don't have a publicist like many of the celebrities.
Cal
How about recognizing the guy who eats nut butter sandwitches so he can shoot a Leica.
How about the guy on RFF who posted about the rumored Monochrom as being a good idea when others called it "stupid."
How about the guy who now owns a black R8, a black SL2-MOT, a Wetzlar M6, a black paint MP with 0.85 VF'er, a Canadian MD-2, and a Monochrom even though he is an unknown but serious photographer who works a day job he hates?
How about the guy who has moderated the NYC Meet-Up for the past 6 years and who even started an anual Camera Beauty Contest.
I know that Leica already kinda made the Monochrom especially for me, but how about making it official with a "Calzone" version of the Monochrom with a 0.85 finder sold with a LeicaVit with an extra heavy brass barreled lens set of a 28 Cron and 50 Lux ASPH featuring evil scalloped hoods.
Where is the love? I hope Leica does not forget the struggling artist and does somethimng to support him. Anyways this is like my version of the documentry film "Twenty Feet From Stardom" about the unsung heros that do really matter. BTW I don't have a publicist like many of the celebrities.
Cal
airfrogusmc
Veteran
Separate yourself from the herd. Make a rangefinder that you can't get anywhere else but Leica and make it for photographers that are fed up with camera's that push the photographer farther from the process. There are plenty of those kind of DSLRs and mirror-less options already out there. The first MM is a great example of how to do digital rangefinders right.
pete hogan
Well-known
^^Cal, your level of enthusiasm is what they had better develop over in the QC dept.
Kill the M and concentrate on lenses for other camera makers, including AF models.
phofseth
Established
Maintain optical and mechanical excellence and keep designing compact, expensive optics leading in the world-championship races.
For the camera bodies, buy in low-noise- good colour filter- high resolution sensors, make certain that the software is perfectly matched to the filters and make the cameras tolerate being dropped and rained on. Make a model that can go on for years and do save tooling costs.
Then, target retrophiliacs with cash to spare. Shrink the fat M9 etc. down to IIIc size, cut manufacturing costs drastically by making the VF electronic with suitable manual focus aids, and a minimum of dials. No menu, except for setting up on your own computer. Keep a token screen for brief checks on results, but store RAWfiles and leave all processing to the user.
The real pictorialists may come on board, and some funds have to be spent on the flavour-of-the-month photographers, even if their work is rubbish, but do keep the propaganda machine well fed. Facts to the knowledgeable, drivel to the more easily impressed. Maybe PR-cost can be cut by astute blogging instead of large print spreads. Also in-house ideas plus social science advice may work instead of ignorant and expensive copywrites.
Sooner or later the fashion victims will catch on. They will have to face a waiting list like everyone else, but can pay a suitable muliple of 1000 Euros to have theirs personalized.
No easy task to run the worlds first 35mm ("double frame") film company if they wish to serve their investors while also providing useful services to people who actually need simple but excellent tools.
p.
For the camera bodies, buy in low-noise- good colour filter- high resolution sensors, make certain that the software is perfectly matched to the filters and make the cameras tolerate being dropped and rained on. Make a model that can go on for years and do save tooling costs.
Then, target retrophiliacs with cash to spare. Shrink the fat M9 etc. down to IIIc size, cut manufacturing costs drastically by making the VF electronic with suitable manual focus aids, and a minimum of dials. No menu, except for setting up on your own computer. Keep a token screen for brief checks on results, but store RAWfiles and leave all processing to the user.
The real pictorialists may come on board, and some funds have to be spent on the flavour-of-the-month photographers, even if their work is rubbish, but do keep the propaganda machine well fed. Facts to the knowledgeable, drivel to the more easily impressed. Maybe PR-cost can be cut by astute blogging instead of large print spreads. Also in-house ideas plus social science advice may work instead of ignorant and expensive copywrites.
Sooner or later the fashion victims will catch on. They will have to face a waiting list like everyone else, but can pay a suitable muliple of 1000 Euros to have theirs personalized.
No easy task to run the worlds first 35mm ("double frame") film company if they wish to serve their investors while also providing useful services to people who actually need simple but excellent tools.
p.