andybarton Posted March 1, 2017 Share #1 Posted March 1, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/mar/01/boots-to-close-majority-of-photo-labs-with-up-to-400-jobs-at-risk But, Timpsons seem to be about to open some additional locations. Mixed messages here... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 1, 2017 Posted March 1, 2017 Hi andybarton, Take a look here Boots to close 2/3 of its in-store photo processing locations. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wattsy Posted March 1, 2017 Share #2 Posted March 1, 2017 To be honest, I'd rather assumed that Boots no longer processed film (at least not routinely with a 1 hour service) and that perception might be a large part of their problem. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_livsey Posted March 2, 2017 Share #3 Posted March 2, 2017 The last time I priced D&P (for a test roll) there I turned and ran from their emporium. Timpsons owns Max Spielman, mainly NW (200) and bought Snappy Snaps (120) in the South a few years back and are buying Johnson's cleaners, not hard to see who has the enterprise and go. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted March 2, 2017 Share #4 Posted March 2, 2017 This is sad news. The Boots near me has a 1 hour mini lab which I use from time to time. I find them OK (I had one film scratched by them some years ago) and it's at odds with the general increase in film use. As above, they don't really promote the service however and that could be part of the problem (although it generally seems busy when I've visited). I suspect it's a remote bean counters decision who probably knows nothing about the photo market. I might contact Boots about it myself. I didn't know that Timpsons owns Snappy Snaps - they are my preferred choice although the Boots lab is open late on Thursdays so it's been convenient for me. I have never had any problems with Quality from Snappy Snaps and it's encouraging that Timpsons are expanding that side of the business. Frankly if the demise of Boots service boosts Snappy Snaps I see that as a good thing! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted March 3, 2017 Share #5 Posted March 3, 2017 (edited) Well, I wrote to Boots about my views on their strategy but received the typical corporate response that's obvious it will be filed in the bin. I felt moved to post a new article on my blog and I will now avoid Boots in future when I need C41 processing and give my business to Snappy Snaps, who I feel safer using anyway. https://jamesearleyphotoblog.wordpress.com/2017/03/03/boots-to-close-mini-labs-but-film-isnt-dead/ Edited March 3, 2017 by earleygallery Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanG Posted March 4, 2017 Share #6 Posted March 4, 2017 Well earleygallery your entire post is dependent on this, "I suspect Boots have a bunch of bean counters who had to deliver some cost cutting measures and job cuts." So you assume they can't assess the profit and loss of their own operation? I presume you do not work as an executive at Boots. But somehow you know it can be profitable for them and have more knowledge about their business than they have. Without access to their financials, my assumption is that if film processing was the most profitable use of the space, resources, and personnel, they would not be closing the labs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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