thepic Posted November 6, 2005 Report Share Posted November 6, 2005 I have only been registered with "Minilab Help" for over a month, but in that time I have had chance to read and occasionlly add to the forums. There seems to be alot of doom and gloom out there, and rightly so-falling profit margins, big industry names going to the wall, and the continued craze of the multiples looking for ever increasing market share by slashing prices to almost break even point! So what can we do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilT Posted November 6, 2005 Report Share Posted November 6, 2005 This has been tried a few times that I know, off, but has never really worked out. The idea and concept of the idea is great, but doing it is another story. minilabhelp.com now has close to 400 registered users, some are companies, other non UK, but I would say that we have at least 150 UK independents registered here. Just the members here could be a starting point for such a project, but getting commitment, is another story. Great post and idea thepic, and a good one for discussion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepic Posted November 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2005 Commitment is always an issue; but if all the griping about falling profit etc is true, then what have owners got to lose. All important is infastructure; I already have in place a dedicated accounts/admin office, cuurently utilised by our pharmacies. Believe me, I am committed to getting something like this off the ground. Please forward your constructive comments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johncarroll Posted November 7, 2005 Report Share Posted November 7, 2005 The problem with independents is they are truly independent thinkers ;D I was the worst of the bunch. I started my company "Keaton Kolor" in 1969 and have ignored a lot of good advise about joining one of the buying groups. It finally became apparant to me that all of the big stores were going to run us out of business if drastic action were not taken so I started slashing expenses. The more I cut the harder it became to find something else to cut. Finally I reached the point where joining a buying group was about the only thing left that might help. I swallowed my independent pride and joined IPI. After becoming a member and studying the deals closely we discovered it wasn't going to cost us anything to belong and we were going to enjoy a modest savings. A few months later it was time to pay our insurance. I had tried for years to get a better deal without success. I did search a search on IPI forum for insurance and two weeks later I had a much better insurance program for a lot less money. When I went to the first IPI meeting in San Diego I had my biggest surprise. Sitting at a table with 6 to 8 people like the ones on this forum is the ultimate experience. Monitoring and being active on forums is very rewarding. Sitting at the same table is 100 time better. I couldn't believe how much I learned in a week. Ok, for all of you guys that are only interested in the bottom line. I have saved enough to pay the fees to join and to pay my fees for the next five years. We have only been members for 7 months. IPI is now an international organization and I would like to invite everyone of you to join. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy69y Posted March 3, 2006 Report Share Posted March 3, 2006 I think now would be a great time to act on something like this, anyway a not so quiet thought but i have almost finished my kiosk project, i'm now gathering a team to build a lab... private project and will keep those interested informed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilT Posted March 3, 2006 Report Share Posted March 3, 2006 To set up a buying group, even with a force like this forum would be tricky. If we all wanted to use the same paper/chemistry now that would be a very diffrent story Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Thornton Posted March 5, 2006 Report Share Posted March 5, 2006 Neil Why don't you start a new thread with a survey as to how many would be free to use any paper/chemistry combination? Many of us are no longer branded and would not mind as long as there was a good continuity of supply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy69y Posted March 5, 2006 Report Share Posted March 5, 2006 I agree, this gives us a chance to hold the monopoly and if any problems arise there are many helpers and a bigger joint voice? (thumbsup) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilT Posted March 5, 2006 Report Share Posted March 5, 2006 will do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdphoto Posted March 5, 2006 Report Share Posted March 5, 2006 sorry to say that all indepemds. are the the same us us all and like to pick what we do when we do, the paper choice will be a problem and so will the chemicals. sorry all but we are all individuals and thats a fact Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilT Posted March 5, 2006 Report Share Posted March 5, 2006 correct :0 but with now over 500 members here, lets say 300 are in the UK, well if 50 are useing the same paper/chem's etc, well think about it, that would = a 50 branch set up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philspectrum Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 I am all in favour of anything that helps us indi's stay in business. Is a buying group the answer ? could a simple alternative be for minilabhelp to negotiate a small additional discount with 1 of the wholesalers ? Sure this could be difficult, but in the UK there are maybe 3 key suppliers to minilabs, with perhaps a third of us sourcing from each. If 1 of these national suppliers had the vision to offer minilabhelp members special terms for whatever ? Yup - I know that margins are supposedly very keen at present, but if kodak can afford to give price cuts at times like these, maybe things are not as tough as we are led to believe. Only a thought ! Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilT Posted March 28, 2006 Report Share Posted March 28, 2006 well, a lot depends on how open we are we are all looking for the best deals, and when we get "offered" a special, that is when the rules change Over for more discussion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photographis Posted March 28, 2006 Report Share Posted March 28, 2006 Having been in the retail industry for a fair amount of my working life , and only very recently joined you guys in the photofinishing market, I am amazed at how much of a closed shop this is. This is not an insult to members of this forum, whom have been quite open and honest with me, but rather an observation on the attitude of the wholesalers whom serve the industry. In any other retail trade wholesalers are falling over each other to get your business. We have been chasing one wholesaler for nearly three months now, our business credentials are impeccable, the nearest rival lab is over 15 miles away (apart from Tesco), so there is no conflict. I can see that for 'us' the trade is changing , and some are finding times difficult, which should make wholesalers glad that someone new is foolish enough to join the fray, and wellcome them with open arms. The attitude mystifies me. Either they are trading or they are not. We at present use Fuji (crystal archive) paper and chemistry , personaly I find the colour a little saturated, but the customers seem to like it. I would be quite happy to follow the lead of more experianced lab owners in a buying syndicate, feeling secure in the knowledge that they would not only be motivated by the bottom line, but that the continued satisfaction of their customers (in quality) would be equally important. Independance is of great importance to us, variety being the spice of life, surely to maintain that independance, we can join together ? Count me in , Neil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilT Posted March 29, 2006 Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 Thank you for the message... as always, it is nice to hear comments. I have a lot going on here, in my own life at the moment, but come May, I will be kicking in many things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posh Boy Posted March 29, 2006 Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 I know that margins are supposedly very keen at present, but if kodak can afford to give price cuts at times like these, maybe things are not as tough as we are led to believe. Kodak giving price cuts and being able to afford them are two very different things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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