Entrepreneur takes slice of Calumet Photographic
Image courtesy of Calumet Photographic.
Calumet is planning an expansion of its retail footprint after it changed ownership. BJP's Olivier Laurent speaks to CEO Joe Clark
Author: Olivier Laurent
Calumet Photographic Group, which has 29 stores in Europe and the US, and is worth $200m, has changed ownership, after British-born entrepreneur Colin Halpern acquired the business from Rubicon Partners.
"Colin is a keen photographer and has had a long-term interest in the affairs of Calumet," says Joe Clark, who will remain CEO of Calumet. Halpern is behind the "dramatic growth" of Domino's Pizza in the UK, which is now one of Goldman Sachs' top picks, claims Clark.
Rubicon Partners, a London based investment partnership, acquired Calumet 11 years ago, helping the retailer grow into "a multi-channel digital products retailer, and Bowens into a multi-national manufacturer."
Now, as part of HS Real, a holding company based in the US and managed by Halpern, Calumet will continue to grow its retail footprint, Clark tells BJP. "We'll be opening two news stores in Germany this year, and are about to open another one in Boston, Massachusetts."
The retailer also plans on capitalising on its online investment, as well as growing its inventory and range of products to cater to the needs of an expanding audience of advanced amateur photographers. "We've seen a dramatic shift in the profile of our customers over the past five years," says Clark. "Of course, we have no ambition to leave our professional customers behind. But, with few of them around, for our business to be sustainable, we need a mix in the profile of our customers, so we need to expand our base of advanced photographers."
Visit www.calumetphoto.co.uk.
Comments
Sounds interesting; Domino's did really well during the recession when it opened loads of franchises across the UK and exceeded targets.
It'd be good to see more Calumets around as the Soho one's got some helpful bits of kit in.
I just hope they don't get rid of the film in stores; it's always great to be able to pop in and pick some up if you've run out, and they're pretty good on the film pricing too.
I was stunned that the company closed down its successful Nottingham branch at the end of last year, but it was clear that something like this was in the air.
Hopefully the new owner will reverse some of the policy decisions of late and that once again Nottingham will be the hub of the East Midlands operation for Calumet covering as it did the East of The UK from North Yorkshire to the borders of London and the South East.
Having to go to Birmingham (57 miles away) to find my local professional photographic dealer is a client benefit I don't need. Lord knows where the poor buggers who used to shop in Nottingham and who live much further east are going - on-line no doubt - and no brand loyalty on the Internet - there the price rules...
Congratulations ! for being the new force, and extending the Dominos' magic at Calumet.
I have a request - ( and I know it should get many followers) Can you also get the great 'Balcar' brand of lights under your ownership and revive to it's past glory ? Balcar - who invented the umbrella, and has many real innovations to it's credit.
Congratulations again ! and my best wishes !
It's a good job Pete Jenkins doesn't live in the north east, our nearest pro dealer (Calumet) is either Edinburgh - 120+ miles away, or Manchester - about the same. How we would love to be just 57 miles away! We used to have a rep who covered our area but he was made redundant a few years ago and never replaced, perhaps it's time to look at servicing the great number of professionals and other photographers who live in this "barren" outcrop of the British Isles but who's money is as good as everyone else's!
Has there been a putsch at Calumet that has gone unreported? Up until summer 2010 the CEO of Calumet was David Drew and Joe Clark was let go in 2009 as part of a European restructuring.
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