Is it camera phones, is it the wonder web, what has caused the death of the high street camera shop?
We learn today that Jessops has thrown in the towel and is in administration. The death of camera shops is a great loss to everyone interested in photography because where do you go now for personal advice and to get the chance to handle a camera you want to buy. I believe the fit of a camera to an individual is very important, I know that I cannot use small compact cameras because of the sausages on the ends of my hands which other people call fingers, that is important when buying a camera. I also know that I will never buy the Canon EOS 1D mk 3 because it is so heavy, how do I know, well because I had the chance to handle one in a camera shop. The internet has brought savings to our equipment buying but it has not brought a better service. Here in Oxford we used to have 5 camera shops, mostly staffed by knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff who wanted to help you buy the right camera for you, now we have none. The best Morris Photographic has moved to a small town about 20 miles away, to an industrial estate, still they exist, here is their web address in case you want to find them in the wilds of Oxfordshire
This article int The Telegraph tells the tale of Jessops demise, if you prefer the BBC go here
Like this:
Like Loading...
In defence of the relocation of Morris Photographic to Chippington Norton, if the greedy universities hadn’t increased the rents on the building they where in to sums just not sustainable by the small business, they might have considered staying in Oxford. Moving to where they are was logical and actually enables them to continue trading as they aways have, as a hands-on concern. Yes, they’re further away, but it’s better than their throwing in the towel.
I am sure landlords rents had something to do with their decision to leave Oxford but the general decline in high street shopping for high value items like cameras must have also had a big part to play. It is a choice we all make, do we buy online or buy in a shop.
Very sad news. I remember Jessops in the early days with its wonderful flagship store in Nottingham. I would recommend T4 in Witney (and Newbury and Swindon for that matter) who are hugely knowledgable and endlessly helpful.
You are correct T4 in Witney is worth a visit for a traditional camera shop and long may it be so but in Oxford?