Jessops close to administration?

[paul13walnut5]

http://metro.co.uk/2013/01/09/jessops-close-to-administration-3345054/

http://news.sky.com/story/1035613/jessops-set-to-go-into-administration

[insanitybeard]

Just saw a story on Yahoo saying they had gone into admin..... they've been under a cloud for a while now, there were tales that our Exeter store was going to close a year back or so. I bought my 7D and a couple lenses from them a few years back but must admit that thesedays I buy more online. Still, will be one less bricks and mortar store for camera kit in this country if they do go..... I even did work experience in my local Jessops years ago when I was still at school! 

[GuyF]

I'm surprised they lasted this long. You knew things were looking bad years ago when the share price fell to 2p(!) and they were removed from the stock exchange. It's easy to speculate but I think they simply over-reached themselves by opening so many branches.

[old_york]

Pro / serious Pro-sumer / P&S users......will hardly notice the passing of Jessops. It is easy to buy gear from Amazon/Calumet/Ebay/DigitalRev/ARGOS!!!/tesco!?!/ etc. etc. when you have researched and know what you want, or just "want a camera with lots of megapickles!"

It's people in the middle ground I feel sorry for, - folks who want advice on the high-street, who with the passing of Jessops (and Jacobs last year) won't really have a dedicated high street camera/video shop.

That said.....I was in one of their stores a few days ago, and to be honest the sales guy's "advice" (I was just having a browse and seeing if there were any accessories at a sensible price in their sale), ranged from a confused: "erm, uhhuh, I'm not sure about that; the guy who normally looks after the Canon stuff isn't here today," to just plain wrong. Horribly inaccurately WRONG info about the bodies and lenses I'd asked about.

It's almost a shame, but it's kind of inevitable. (Though it may mean breathing space and a new lease of life for specialist local retailers - we can but hope).

[AdamJ]

BBC News summed it up quite well - the iphone generation aren't buying compact cameras, while buyers of higher-end gear are increasingly shopping online where there is a wider range. I tried to get some stuff from my local Jessops not so long ago but they just didn't stock what I wanted.

I'd like to think the disappearance of Jessops will help the independent specialists but if it does, I suspect it will be a blip in an otherwise downward trajectory for them too.

[James Billett]

I'm only 23 and I wasn't around 20 years when people tell me Jessops for more for the professional photographer as well as enthusiasts. Currently it is easy to tell from looking in their shops their market is now the enthusiast. Their sales assistants are of a similar breed to those found in large technology stores such as PC World, Comet and now in administration Curries and Dixons.

The same process has happened to the outdoor leisure shops - their main focus is the middle section of the market - it is more profitable to sell 500x £250 cameras a year than 50x £2000 products.

I must say London Camera Exchange is very different and a much better place to buy as even their sales assistants have a genuine interest in photography.

I think also the presence of online shops drive the higher margins found in places like Jessops to pay for unit rent and staff salaries which in turn puts off professional photographers due to markup on products. It's a shame but something that is only going to continue into the future.

I'm now told that jessops are looking into home printing solutions - canvas etc a way to keep turning profit.

[bornshooter]

I just bought my 1 dx from them last month they were the cheapest in the uk at that time,i could have got it cheaper from overseas but was not comfortable spending that money anywhere apart from a reputable canon uk stockist.Shame they are in administration.

[Kernuak]

I'm only 23 and I wasn't around 20 years when people tell me Jessops for more for the professional photographer as well as enthusiasts. Currently it is easy to tell from looking in their shops their market is now the enthusiast. Their sales assistants are of a similar breed to those found in large technology stores such as PC World, Comet and now in administration Curries and Dixons.

Just to clarify, Currys and Dixons are part of the same retail group as PC World, it was Comet that went into administration, then met its demise.
As for advice in Jessops, it is very hit and miss. You can get some good advice in some shops, but not all of the time and not in all shops. I once found myself advising the sales assistant to help her with her college course and future career choice.

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Prior to the advent of online buying, a buyer had the option of buying locally, or calling a mail order outfit, usually one who advertised on photography magazines, and many of them were awful.  I did discover B&H that way back in the 1980's and have bought from since.  I also discovered a couple that only got one order!
 
Although we are a relatively small town, our local Camera store branched out into high end Audio Video and into online sales, and even opened a second store after 100 years in business.  Even so, their stores do not generally keep the high end 1 series bodies or the D4 in stock, so I have to order  from the warehouse if I want to see it.  (I can pick it up, its only a short distance from the store)  They do have a reasonable assortment of tripods, heads, and other accessories, but nothing close to what can be ordered online.
 
This is a typical example of adapt or die, stores that did not take internet retailing seriously and do what it took to stay in business are paying the price.

[itsnotmeyouknow]

I'm only 23 and I wasn't around 20 years when people tell me Jessops for more for the professional photographer as well as enthusiasts. Currently it is easy to tell from looking in their shops their market is now the enthusiast. Their sales assistants are of a similar breed to those found in large technology stores such as PC World, Comet and now in administration Curries and Dixons.

The same process has happened to the outdoor leisure shops - their main focus is the middle section of the market - it is more profitable to sell 500x £250 cameras a year than 50x £2000 products.

I must say London Camera Exchange is very different and a much better place to buy as even their sales assistants have a genuine interest in photography.

I think also the presence of online shops drive the higher margins found in places like Jessops to pay for unit rent and staff salaries which in turn puts off professional photographers due to markup on products. It's a shame but something that is only going to continue into the future.

I'm now told that jessops are looking into home printing solutions - canvas etc a way to keep turning profit.

Not only do online stores not have to pay store rent, many of them like Amazon fiddle their books so they don't pay UK tax. 

[glongstaff]

Firstly let me make this remark...'its a shame that so many people may be losing their jobs'....

Secondly, it is no wonder that places like Jessops have gone into admin....due to lack of good service in some of their shops, lack of knowledge by the staff. Boltons store went from a reasonably sized store where people could move about and they had quite a lot of different stock on shelving to a dingey little store tucked away where there was 1 or 2 ppl available at all times, if there were loads of ppl in the shop you were falling over each other.

Lastly, the price of goods being sold.....(of course they have had to mark up to take account of floor space, staff etc)...but the pricing has always been a downfall when you get equipment by shopping around or going to other 'dedicated' camera shops.....

Jessops in my mind was just like another Wildings.....jack of all trades and master of none

[Haydn1971]

Very sad news for all the staff affected.  But as said above, I suspect 100's of independent retailers are breathing a sigh of relief about the big player being removed from the markets.

Sadly, Jessops fell in a difficult place, they generally didn't sell the higher end kit, so you either had to buy online or search out an independent nearby...   They couldn't really make much on their bread and butter sales either, with most people happy to search out the cheapest deal online.  The sad part of this is that the middle market buyers will now struggle to find their next purchase and have a play with the physical camera/lens/tripod/bag before purchase. 

The independents whilst having to be competitive, can afford to be less competitive, as higher end buyers have a greater degree of loyalty, they like the confidence of walking out of the shop with something they have handled and know works, spend on the higher margin miscellaneous items like filters, bags and gadgets, a few extra quid on these doesn't really matter if you want it for that weekend.

[keithcooper]

It's a sad day, but not unexpected.

Times change...  We used to have two big photography companies here (both Jessops and Jacobs were founded here in Leicester, UK)

When I moved into my house in Leicester, in 1987, Jessops had a simply vast store just round the corner (Hinckley Rd for those that know it). It had darkroom and studio supplies, ran training courses and a vast range of cameras covering all formats. Lots of staff expertise too...

In 2004, the day before I headed off to the US for a month, I decided I wanted a decent longer lens for my 1Ds - I just went in and bought a 70-200 2.8L IS  - good price and from a store a few hundred yards from home...

When that store closed a few years ago, several of the buildings had already been sold off and it was showing distinct signs of the business slowing down.

Last night I was in part of the building again - it's a fish and chip shop...

[zim]

Not only do online stores not have to pay store rent, many of them like Amazon fiddle their books so they don't pay UK tax.

Amazon (and the rest) are not at the ‘fiddle’. They are operating perfectly legally. It is the asinine tax laws and trade agreements engineered by successive governments that allow tax evasion to exist in this country. The government could do something about it if they wished. They do not, can’t imagine why eh.

[expatinasia]

Firstly let me make this remark...'its a shame that so many people may be losing their jobs'....

Yes, totally agree.

I read a comment somewhere else from someone who claimed to be an ex-employee and what s/he said is quite poignant, "it is one less place that customers can go to see, touch and play with a camera before they go and purchase it online".

I wonder how many of us do this, with so many different items, not just camera equipment. I do not buy my camera stuff online, unless it is something simple like CF cards. Anything costly is purchased in store.