[Leica] Fuji is sticking it out

[don.dory at gmail.com (Don Dory)]

Frank,
If your production facilities are amortised and your research costs are
close to zero, then continued production of a product can be extremely
profitable.  I suspect that film will be produced for quite a long time;
decades perhaps.  B&W film will be produces for a longer period of time as
it is a much simpler product.  This is not just wishful thinking, look at
production numbers for single use cameras, this area is still
growing/stable.  What will happen is that those products that sell widely
will be available which is not necessarily a film that you or I would care
to use.

One thing that is happening is that merchants are making sure that supply is
just under demand which is why so many stores only have a couple of rolls.
As an example, I try to support my local stores.  I have known the
purchasing agent at a local store for fifteen years; he refuses to order two
bricks of Fuji Neopan 400 for me unless I pay for it up front.  He doesn't
have this problem for Tri-X.  Peter is just making a reasonable business
decision to limit his risk.

Don
don.dory@gmail.com


On 1/20/06, Frank Filippone <red735i@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> This is American speak, not Japanese speak.  The difference?  It was
> composed (not translated) in the US by an American... which is NOT where
> Fuji makes decisions....they are made in Japan, by Japanese.
>
> I have worked for a lot of Japanese companies, and this smacks of some
> American hot shot shooting off his mouth so that THE COMPANY's local US
> operations can placate the local US market, while Japan can do whatever
> they
> want.  A terrific tactic, and something the Japanese Companies are pretty
> good at.  BTW, the US guy usually has committed hari kari by his acts.  He
> will get a "promotion" to some job which he will have forever....   after
> all, he did the dirty work: Loyalty is rewarded by Public humiliation
> followed by loyalty from the company.  He is always an American, never
> Japanese.
>
> Be careful what you read......and make decision for yourself based upon
> your
> own intelligence.  Not PR hype.
>
> My cut: Film will be with us for our generation ( over 50's group) but
> probably not easily available over that same time period.  Buy film, buy a
> freezer, buy chemistry, buy paper, and be protected from the swarms of
> digititis.  However, the yellow box, the green box, and probably a few
> other
> colors of boxes that we are all familiar with will go away.  We will see
> new
> boxes from Eastern Europe, and Asia ( Referring to not Japan).  We will
> see
> new companies do well in a small but not competitive market.  The big guys
> are all planning their exit strategy.  WE must be flexible and learn new
> materials.
>
> Frank Filippone
> red735i@earthlink.net
>
> >
> >    Silver halide photography, which is fundamental to photography, has
> >    advantages over digital in such areas as power of expression, long
> >    term storage capability, reasonable prices, easy handling and a
> highly
> >    established and convenient photo development and print
> infrastructure.
> >
> >    We intend to continue our silver halide photography business and to
> >    further cultivate the culture of photography, and in so doing,
> >    continue to support our customers and retailers and all those who
> >    enjoy photography.
>
>
>
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