where do the shops get it from?

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lawless23456

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lawrence
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hi all

just wondering where do photography shops/websites get their stock from e.g. cameras, lens, memory cards, bags etc etc i dont know if anyone on here owns their own shop/online shop if they do could you tell me where you get your stock from


thanks
lawless
 
lawless23456 said:
hi all

just wondering where do photography shops/websites get their stock from e.g. cameras, lens, memory cards, bags etc etc i dont know if anyone on here owns their own shop/online shop if they do could you tell me where you get your stock from


thanks
lawless
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Having previously worked in retail for nearly four years, I worked with guitars and amps, Fender, Gibson, Marshall, Orange, Boogie etc - even though the stock is different -
I'd imagine the stock path goes something like this:

Manafacturer = (Shakes and Bakes)
Distributor = (Ships to shops)
Retailer = (Sells to Public)

Returns would most likely be sent direct to a local manafacturer site.

With Gibson Guitars we had a distributor called Rosetti, Rosetti have been distributing Gibson stock since the dawn of time I think, Rosetti also distribute B.C Rich, Rickenbacker, and the new fangled Adam Black guitars, Adam Black guitars are most likely built in China with all the rest of the cheap and cheerful stuff, but as they are distributed by the same Company (Rosetti), retailers throw Adam Blacks in the same boat as Gibson and even sometimes advertise them as 'made in the same factory as Gibson' which would not be the truth, they are merely distributed by the same company.

Anyway, food for thought, All the best
 
There is at least one forum member here who runs a photography business! Search for "Lenses For Hire" and see what comes up :)
 
lawless23456 said:
hi all

just wondering where do photography shops/websites get their stock from e.g. cameras, lens, memory cards, bags etc etc i dont know if anyone on here owns their own shop/online shop if they do could you tell me where you get your stock from


thanks
lawless
Click to expand...


:lol::lol::lol: Yeah, sure. That would be sound business sense - tell everyone where you get their stock from!

I know someone (in a different field) who arranged a bus trip for his customers to a fair where he purchased a lot of his stock.:cuckoo: The result was that customers who didn't abandon him to shop elsewhere wanted big discounts - he didn't make that mistake again :bonk::bonk:
 
Flash In The Pan said:
:lol::lol::lol: Yeah, sure. That would be sound business sense - tell everyone where you get their stock from!

I know someone (in a different field) who arranged a bus trip for his customers to a fair where he purchased a lot of his stock.:cuckoo: The result was that customers who didn't abandon him to shop elsewhere wanted big discounts - he didn't make that mistake again :bonk::bonk:
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I would hazard a guess, that Jessops, Warehouse, Park Camera's, etc would all get their UK stock and supplies from the same distributor. Legal and legimate traders/retailers will pretty much operate within the same channels.
It would be no secret.
It's only when you are taking the 'grey imports', 'refurbed' or Non UK origin stock into account, as I will assume the distribution would be unregulated and more varied.
 
A lot of stuff comes from here but don't expect them to sell you anything directly, or send you a price list :nono:
 
Flash In The Pan said:
A lot of stuff comes from here but don't expect them to sell you anything directly, or send you a price list :nono:
Click to expand...

It's because they are a distributor mate, distributors are the 'middle men' companies in between manafacturers and retailers.
Notice that they deal in many seperate manafacturers products and not just one, it's all part of the economy like. :naughty:
I expect that Canon, Nikon and other big corporations have their own distribution.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
A lot of stuff comes from here but don't expect them to sell you anything directly, or send you a price list :nono:
Click to expand...

No but take a look at their "Where to buy" page, and you can get a cracking list of online retailers to bookmark :thumbs: Cheers!
 
I have been a middle man in the food trade for 20 years. Some sources we use we try to either keep quiet or contractually arrange that they cannot supply others in our region. Other sources will not have anything to do with restrictions that stop them opening another account - if they have a product you want you accept that.

Some companies want you to do more than just sell their product. they want you to promote, support their range in preference to all other - through thick & thin - it is these relationships which generally form a backbone to any sales operation.

Some of the big boys (e.g. Unilver which owns many, many brands but one of the biggest for me is Knorr) prefer independants as we will support their brand whereas the nationals (Brakes, 3663) will punt their alternatives.

OK, wrong industry but the scenarios will be similar. It can be difficult to break in but once you have a supportive customer base and a growing business more suppliers will take notice of you.

My last piece of advice is to treat a supplier like a customer as they are half of the transaction you will profit from. Be hard but fair if they let you down and you will gain respect and a list of people who want you to represent them.

:thumbs:
 
lawless23456 said:
hi all

just wondering where do photography shops/websites get their stock from e.g. cameras, lens, memory cards, bags etc etc i dont know if anyone on here owns their own shop/online shop if they do could you tell me where you get your stock from ?
lawless
Click to expand...

I admire your cheek
Presumably you've got a 'plan'
Or is it just 'curiousity'.....
 
Talking about setting up your own studio, did you use any books to "teach" you what you need ... or is it out of experience? If books, would you be kind enough to tell which ones you liked most. Thanks.
 
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