Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/01/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]OK, here is the Cliff Notes version: The first part explains the history of the company in the past few years, leading up to the near-bankruptcy in 2004. It cites an unnamed Leica marketing guy as saying that they believed that the market would settle into 70-30 digital/analogue or perhaps 80/20, allowing Leica to continue focusing on the analogue cameras. Instead, the analogue market collapsed much sooner than predicted, hence the "deep shit". It then goes on to talk about Leica's failed partnership with Fuji and the current, much more successful one with Panasonic. The C and D- Lux cameras are still selling well. It also describes the launch of the M8 in the fall of 2006, the initial problems etc.--all well known stuff here. It praises the management for acting quickly to address the problems. The new management had to act quickly to stabilize the company, including large layoffs. The next stage is to launch new products that build on Leica's core competence (i.e. optical design), thus the new line of lower-priced lenses. The third stage is the most challenging one: to launch new digital products, including an M9 with full-frame sensor, an R10 with "oversized" sensor and a smaller digital M (no mention of sensor here, perhaps it is a CL-like camera built around the current M8 sensor?--just Nathan's speculation). Given the short product cycles, it is imperative for Leica to launch something major at this year's Photokina. Financially, the company is now stable, with growing sales and a modest profit. They have re-hired about 150 people and have started construction of the new Wetzlar facility. But the company is not out of the woods by any means. The challenge remains how to generate enough cash to fund development of the new products that the company needs to survive. It ends by saying that it helps Leica to have a private owner who does not panic at each quarter's numbers and who has a vision--but even a visionary wants to make money in the end. Nathan On 24-jan-2008, at 6:19, Frank Filippone wrote: > Ok, I'll bite... what does it say? > > I can use the Cliff Notes abbreviated edition.....if someone will > help out > here...... > > Frank Filippone > red735i@earthlink.net > > > -----Original Message----- > From: lug-bounces+red735i=earthlink.net@leica-users.org > [mailto:lug-bounces+red735i=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On > Behalf Of A. > Lal > Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 8:52 PM > To: Leica Users Group > Subject: [Leica] Leica Plans > > Posted on the LRF, first posted on the LEG: > > http://www.welt.de/welt_print/article1418788/Drei-Stufen- > Plan_fuer_Leica.htm > l > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > Nathan Wajsman nathan@nathanfoto.com General photography: http://www.nathanfoto.com http://www.greatpix.eu http://www.frozenlight.eu Picture-A-Week: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog