Amazon Is Crushing Main Street and Threatening the Vitality of Our Communities

[tabbycat31]

46. I think smartphones put the camera shop out of business

Many adapted when they transitioned from film to digital. But they probably lost $$$. I used to work for a drugstore and our one hour photo was so backed up you were lucky to get it that day (even after adding a 2nd machine). The photo guy was processing film all day long from the time he clocked in to the time he clocked out (and it was not just event season like holidays or proms). Now most of those photos are digital and people might get a handful of prints made, but not every shot they take.

Some business have adapted by selling digital technology (cameras, memory cards, etc) and others have not.

But I think what's killing camera shops (that have adapted) is smartphones. Mine has a 13MP camera on it (not the latest model) and it pretty good for my everyday photography needs and I have the ability to send the photo right then and there (or upload it to social media). I don't need to carry a camera around to take casual snapshots, I just use my phone.

I think to survive, camera shops need to discover the niche market of good cameras and more professional equipment as well as other electronics.