need advice from leica shop owners

[leica888]

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am planning to put up used old collectible camera shop.Own numerous leicas myself and i was thinking of using this longtime hobby of mine into a retirement endeavour where I can enjoy paying the rent at the same time.I have researched and continue to research on all models.There is nothing of sort in my country that specializes in leica alone...since I do my own developing and all, am also pondering on putting up a custom lab for black and white prints for afficianados and artist needs....

 

can you advice me what are things I need to to be aware and mindful of etc

thanks

[andit]

Hi there Leica888,

 

Welcome to the forum. I'm in pretty much the same situation as you are at the moment (our mining industries have closed down due to the financial crises with extremely low commodity prices and no demand - I work, or at least used to work, in the mining industry...). We have no shops here in Namibia that carry Leica, in fact there is only one shop here that carries some of the prosumer ranges of Canon/Nikon/Sony etc. If you want something a bit better it has to be imported from South Africa and you end up waiting 2 to 3 weeks.

 

I have also been contemplating opening a specialist store (with emphasis on Leica) to carry more up market photo equipment, combining this with used equipment and offering quality film development. I don't know how things are in the Philippines, but here this market is very small and one would have problems trying to make a living out of this.

 

The one thing that I would suggest is that if you do go ahead with this venture, you need to sell your equipment worldwide via the internet - such as the US and European companies do. The other thing that may be a possible market is transferring digital images to slide film - there are a few companies that do this in the US. Another thing would be to offer scanning services to you customers - prints/slides/negatives to digital.

 

Good Luck and let us know how things are going.

 

Andreas

[NZDavid]

Sorry, don't understand "putting up"...do you mean "setting up"? In which case, it's a tough business, limited market, website also vital, offering quality service important. You need a business plan and to talk to an accountant and business coach.

[leica888]

great suggestion,from digital to slide conversion..for archival purposes film is still the best...that was in my plan also from film to digital services...and of course the custom lab where there are almost none here; they have all but closed down as the digital printing are now in demand.Its not the same where you take a picture from your leica m3 and digitizing the image and printing it .Processing it and enlarging the classic way is still the best....

[alun]

I'd echo what one or two others have said. If you're intending to do anything other than sell 'stock' that you have (your own collection of cameras etc) then a business plan is vital. If you're resistant to having to write a business plan then at the very least do some basic sums. Work out what you feel this venture will need to earn for you. Investigate the website development and maintenance costs (probably minimal if you intend to do it yourself but more costly if you need professional design and hosting and secure payment facilities).

 

Work out whether you need to invest in additional stock, equipment etc to get some idea of your initial set-up costs.

 

Even just given these broad parameters that would enable you to make a realistic assessment about whether the kind of sales/levels of earnings are likely to be possible.

 

If you have a free business support scheme/s in your locality, be sure to use it. A good business advisor should be able to help guide you through what is needed for initial feasibility research and basic business planning.

 

Bear in mind of course that all of your projections will probably be over-optimistic ones, certainly in the present economic climate, so be ultra-cautious.

 

If I was in your place I would certainly consider an online enterprise if it required nil or minimal initial investment. If it required significant investment my working assumption is that the present economic climate would probably make it non-viable.

 

There's a big difference between earning a bit of extra money from what is essentially an extension of your hobby (in many respects the internet is *the* place to do just that) and developing and setting up a new venture which "will pay the rent".

 

I hope this helps.

[leica888]

Your advise is good.I will sit down with a friend who is good with numbers to try to work out a business plan. It will be a very simple one since I am looking a this more as a hobby that will also, hopefully, pay for itself.

 

Part of the plan is to ask phtographers to consign the cameras they want to unload for a minimal commission.Some kind of a small gallery for cameras and photography. I have an existing studio that I use for creating.

 

What do you mean by "a free business support scheme?"

 

Yes, I will take note of your advise and be ultra-cautious in my projections. Infact, I feel that this little shop will be some kind of answer for the prevailing econimic crisis as people will have a venue where they can unload and convert their valuable cameras into cash. While others who are starting or want to upgrade, have something more affordable than buying anything new in the market.Though leica is not exactly cheap.

 

The online idea is interesting to pursue further. I could operate around Asia. Where do you think can I refurbish my stock the best should the point of depletion arrive and restocking becomes necessary?

 

I was also hoping that such endeavours will open other unexpected doors for if one enjoys what one is doing, surely that will be amount to something.We just love leicas and the spirit and value of these lovely cameras