dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

We got this email this morning. I have to say that these people were (are) extremely knowledgeable and the store will be missed. The store is/was a local favorite because of the knowledge and caring of the owner and his couple of employees. In this case, as in a few of the other "mom & pop" or locally owned and operated stores, the problem isn't and wasn't as much the competition of B&H, Adorama or any of the "big boys", but was more a case of not having any children, relatives, etc. that would want to take over the store and run it successfully. Often, as we discussed in another thread on closing stores, the children and family members (that in past years would have inherited and run the stores) have gotten their interest shifted to other things. Their degrees and interest are in engineering, teaching, investing and other positions, not related to the day to day humdrum of managing and running a small store. This store was a fairly successful store on a busy highway with decent access and a competent staff. However, as often happens, the kids and family members don't always have an interest in mom or dads job, as they have moved on and have lives of their own.









It is with a heavy heart that we report to you, our dear friends and customers, of the sudden death of Gregg Hickman. Gregg was the senior partner of Lake Shore Camera Exchange, Inc.

Lake Shore Camera is now CLOSING.
We will be open on a limited basis for the rest of the week.

All of our inventory has been sold to a fellow camera store operator. Therefore we no longer will have equipment or accessories available for sale.

If you have a repair in progress, photo lab items, or video service items rest assured we will be here to handle those items until December 23rd.
We will also be taking Passport an Visa photos.
Take your photo now while you can!!

Our hours until that time will be Monday - Friday 10am to 4pm.


After the first of the year Tom Bailey will be offering photo lab services from his home. He may be contacted at TomsPhotoService@mail.com

The nearest camera store to most of our customers is:

Pasco Camera Exchange
5405 Main St.
New Port Richey, FL 34652
727-844-0904
Jim and his wife Annette will take very good care of you


The nearest Promaster camera store is:

Johnson PhotoImaging
6709 State Road 70 East
Bradenton, FL 34203

941-896-9921






Lake Shore Camera
Exchange, Inc.
36637 US Highway 19 North
Palm Harbor, FL 34684
727-938-6594

Monday - Friday 10 am - 4 pm

www.LakeShoreCamera.com





Note: I have posted the email that I received this morning from the store.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

I'm sorry to hear that Dave. I've been to Lake Shore Camera though I shop at Pasco Camera Exchange more than I did at Lake Shore. It's always sad to hear of a real camera store closing.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

I agree. While I do most of my purchasing at Adorama, B&H, Cameta, and KEH, I do try to frequent the locals to purchase filters, some lenses, occasional printing etc. While my business certainly wouldn't be enough to keep them in business, I greatly dislike the lack of knowledge, snootiness, etc. of some of the "Best Buy" workers. The ones at US19 and Gulf to Bay are ignorant in photography (and computer) knowledge and basically are place holders in a position where they have no knowledge of what they are selling. If they've got it and I need it fast and can't get it from Lake Shore (now closed), Walmart (who has people that are at least honest about admitting that they don't know), Target (see Walmart comments about knowledge) as there doesn't seem to be anyone else until Bradenton or Palm Harbor. I'm not sure what if anything is in Tampa and will have to look there. Either that or drive to Orlando.

Satman Loc: Indy

A small store less than 25 employees is like a bicycle it will quit going when the owner quits pedaling, most small store is ran as a hobby.

Why they don't survive is because they do not ship their products, instead try to be personal, when we purchase someplace else it is for monatary reasons.

Both stores has their advantages, B&H no sales tax, number one reason for me..

B&H or the local store will not exchange your camera 6 months later for a new one like Costco, it is hard to compete in this world.

A successful small store will need to ship,sell, offer classes, to succeed.

We have an excellent local store in Indy, 90% of their employees are enthusiastic, and it is appreciated. I wish them much success, as they expand their 50 year plus business.

JohnMD Loc: Colorado

Unfortunately, camera stores have become the free showroom for online retailers.

Don't be fooled . . . this is exactly why this small camera store has closed it's doors.

I feel sad for their employees who will now be out of work as the camera sales industry as it has been known for the past 80 years is on it's final leg.

Most of them will probably have to start a new career as trying to find another job in camera sales will be tough, if not impossible.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Actually, this store had "3" employees that were also part owners. One, the one that passed away was the "primary" owner. The second one also worked the camera side as did the person that passed away. The 3rd primarily did processing, Lightroom, Photoshop, custom printing etc. That person is now doing that work from their home and the email I got and posted earlier has their email address for further info. As I understand it, the second person retired. All of the inventory was sold to another local camera store but they were not identified (which I thought was interesting). However the email asked customers to deal with either a camera store in New Port Richey (a couple of miles north of this store) or with a store in Tampa (about 10 miles southeast). I don't know why he / they didn't mention the location of the store that purchased their inventory (which was also "supposedly" local.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Actually the reason the camera store in question closed was because the owner died unexpectedly and his wife was not up to carrying on. Not for the silly reason you dreamed up in your imagination.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

David
According to the owner of Pasco Camera Exchange the equipment was sold to a store in Alabama.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Thanks, the email was a little ambiguous and I didn't know. I did know that they were "recommending" the two stores I mentioned. I thought it was a little strange if they weren't recommending the store that purchased their inventory, but that makes perfect sense then. I probably wouldn't want to drive to Alabama to buy something. lol.

And your remark to the other one about the "dreamed up" issues is absolutely correct. Everyone that sees a store closing automatically assumes that it is some nefarious "big store" collusion to cause small stores to go away. Sometimes, (probably more often than not in the photo business) it is just a case of the other people in the family either don't want to carry on the business or don't have the knowledge or expertise to do it. Photography (both selling/supporting and performing) is a learned and practiced trade. Many families that have a father or other family member that is a professional photographer, camera store owner, photo processor or any of the other related professions, possibly doesn't have a trained relative or other trained person to take over and run the business. Most of the "kids" went to college or went out on their own and have developed their own professions and don't want to go deal with "dad or mom's" work. And people that don't have any "skin" in the job don't handle the position as well as someone who built the store or company from a back bedroom in the house to a thriving business. I've seen many small business that grew enough to get some investor's attention and they took over and made what was originally a very personal and thriving business into an uncaring corporate conglomerate. Many business fail (both small and large) because management just doesn't care. It has nothing to do with competition (big or small) and everything to do with individual greed and bad management.

In this case it was just that the wife and kids (if any) just didn't want do deal with it going forward.

JohnMD Loc: Colorado

Yeah . . . right . . .

I am in the business so I understand exactly!