Jessop Of Leicester 1935 – 2013 21 January, 2013 9:00 AM ⋅ 0 Comments ⋅ James Peart
Jessop Of LeicesterIt all began in 1935, when Frank Jessop opened his photography store in Leicester.
Ever since, Jessops have concentrated on delivering exceptional service and knowledge to our customers and growing into the country’s foremost photographic retailer…
Extract From The Jessop’s Website (About Us Section)
A story of a man who turned his passion for photography into a successful business. And they all lived happily ever after?
Sadly, Frank Jessop died aged 96 on Christmas Eve in 2001. And at that time, he would have died safe in the knowledge that his business had grown into the UK’s foremost photographic retailer. Or so he was led to believe.
During the 1960′s, this classic model of a father and son business strived to sell photographic equipment at competitive prices. Son Alan, retired from the business in 1996, and in the following years, millions of pounds changed hands in take-overs, and buy out deals during this uncertain and turbulent time. Fast forward to January 11th, 2013, and Jessops have ceased trading. With a loss of 1,370 jobs. More job losses at head office will follow.
How does a story tracking the rise and fall of a UK business fit in with the day to day running of Red Coat Studio? I am the artist, and my skill is with the brush, but I have a passion for photography. I actually bought my first digital camera from the Tamworth branch of Jessops in 2008. At Red Coat Studio, we run a simple business, that employs two people. We are the epitome of a classic family business. I honestly hope that we never become some huge corporate business, with board room struggles, business take overs and deals worth £116m. I wonder if Frank Jessop wanted his business to grow this way? I wonder if he wished that it continued to remain a family driven affair?
Imagine how the world of business must have been different back in 1935. Maybe Jessops couldn’t effectively evolve as a business, during their transition to a world of online business, and maybe a company whose foundations were built on selling affordable photography equipment got priced out of the market by a new form of business model?
Tamara and I rely heavily on online sales, and building an online presence, and it is important to keep ahead of the game. Well honestly, we aren’t pioneers, so realistically, being a part of the game is our goal!
It is with sadness that I write this post, as I fear, that there is no place in this modern world of big business for specialty shops. And with the demise of Jessops, there is now one less choice for the consumer.
Jessops 1935 – 2013
But before we all get depressed, let me inject some optimism into this story. There is room for the family business. There is room for the independent artist. Tamara and I strive to support people who share our passion. If people want generic prints hanging in their homes, then go and buy high street store prints. But the best way to stand out, to be alternative and to be individual, is to go out there, and support the artistic vision of an independent artist. That way, we all get great art, make great art, and keep family businesses thriving!
James Jefferson Peart http://redcoatstudio.co.uk/jessop-of-leicester-1935-2013/
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Date: 2013-10-06 05:07 pm (UTC)21 January, 2013 9:00 AM ⋅ 0 Comments ⋅ James Peart
Jessop Of LeicesterIt all began in 1935, when Frank Jessop opened his photography store in Leicester.
Ever since, Jessops have concentrated on delivering exceptional service and knowledge to our customers and growing into the country’s foremost photographic retailer…
Extract From The Jessop’s Website
(About Us Section)
A story of a man who turned his passion for photography into a successful business.
And they all lived happily ever after?
Sadly, Frank Jessop died aged 96 on Christmas Eve in 2001. And at that time, he would have died safe in the knowledge that his business had grown into the UK’s foremost photographic retailer.
Or so he was led to believe.
During the 1960′s, this classic model of a father and son business strived to sell photographic equipment at competitive prices. Son Alan, retired from the business in 1996, and in the following years, millions of pounds changed hands in take-overs, and buy out deals during this uncertain and turbulent time. Fast forward to January 11th, 2013, and Jessops have ceased trading. With a loss of 1,370 jobs. More job losses at head office will follow.
How does a story tracking the rise and fall of a UK business fit in with the day to day running of Red Coat Studio? I am the artist, and my skill is with the brush, but I have a passion for photography. I actually bought my first digital camera from the Tamworth branch of Jessops in 2008.
At Red Coat Studio, we run a simple business, that employs two people. We are the epitome of a classic family business. I honestly hope that we never become some huge corporate business, with board room struggles, business take overs and deals worth £116m. I wonder if Frank Jessop wanted his business to grow this way? I wonder if he wished that it continued to remain a family driven affair?
Imagine how the world of business must have been different back in 1935. Maybe Jessops couldn’t effectively evolve as a business, during their transition to a world of online business, and maybe a company whose foundations were built on selling affordable photography equipment got priced out of the market by a new form of business model?
Tamara and I rely heavily on online sales, and building an online presence, and it is important to keep ahead of the game. Well honestly, we aren’t pioneers, so realistically, being a part of the game is our goal!
It is with sadness that I write this post, as I fear, that there is no place in this modern world of big business for specialty shops. And with the demise of Jessops, there is now one less choice for the consumer.
Jessops
1935 – 2013
But before we all get depressed, let me inject some optimism into this story. There is room for the family business. There is room for the independent artist. Tamara and I strive to support people who share our passion. If people want generic prints hanging in their homes, then go and buy high street store prints. But the best way to stand out, to be alternative and to be individual, is to go out there, and support the artistic vision of an independent artist. That way, we all get great art, make great art, and keep family businesses thriving!
James Jefferson Peart
http://redcoatstudio.co.uk/jessop-of-leicester-1935-2013/