An Open Letter to Kodak

Like many, I am sad to see Kodak file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. For me, this has extra resonance as I worked for Kodak between 1999 - 2006 and have a great deal of respect and affection for the company and the time I spent there. 


It is clear that their failure to successfully transition to a digital company is the cause for their current predicament. Despite inventing the technology for digital cameras, Kodak focused on sustaining their highly profitable film business for far too long and did not focus on developing a viable digital business.


You only have to see the numerous articles in the media to see the fondness and nostalgia that many people have for Kodak. So there is plenty of brand equity that can be used to develop a lean but profitable business. 


So, here are some thoughts about how Kodak could survive in the future. These ideas would fundamentally change Kodak's business model but could at least keep the brand alive. 


1) Focus on film. 


Think of all the iconic photos taken with Kodak film.


It may be niche but if you look around there is plenty of nostalgia for analogue photography. Think of the surge in popularity of Lomography, Instagram and Polaroid film via The Impossible Project. Moreover film is profitable.


2) Re-introduce Kodachrome. 


People mourned the demise of this legendary film. The famous Afghan Girl photo by Steve McCurry was taken with Kodachrome. Think of the positive statement of intent that would be made as part of a relaunch of the Kodak brand.


3) Go retro


Fuji have successfully developed high quality retro cameras such as the X100 and there is lots of excitement around the soon to be launched XPro 1. Olympus are about to launch an updated OM digital camera. 


Kodak has the iconic Box Brownie and the Instamatic. How about relaunching those with a modern twist?


4) Create a retail experience


There are vey few camera shops that offer an engaging customer experience. 


There is an opportunity to develop a new type of photo shop that is an exciting place to go to meet the demands and excitement people have around all aspects of photography. 


It could sell camera gear, film, niche products (like instant cameras, classic film cameras, pinhole cameras), a wide selection of photo books and offer inspirational photo walks or classes. Kodak, with the affection that it has with the public is well placed to reposition itself and offer this.




So, just a few thoughts. I might even consider giving up self employment and return to commuting up the M4 if they had the vision to implement some of these ideas.... but perhaps not.

Why has Wikipedia blacked out today?

For very good reason. 


It is in protest against proposed legislation in the US to stop online piracy of media content. While stopping piracy is a laudable aim, the way that the bill proposes to enforce the legislation would "set a frightening precedent of internet censorship" according to Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia.


The issue is that not only individuals could be jailed, but any website facilitating piracy could be shut down too. 


As it says in the Wikipedia article:

The proposed legislation seeks to take down sites entirely, because courts and others simply don't have time to worry about the nuances of copyright law and free expression. That is what is troubling. When the remedies are bludgeons, when entire sites are taken down, when everyone assumes that all content is infringing because some is, we lose something important. 

We lose the nuances of copyright about which our community cares, we lose our values based on protecting free speech, we lose what we represent. The Internet cannot turn into a world where free expression is ignored to accomodate overly simple solutions that gratify powerful rightowners who spend lots of money to promote the regulation of expression. 

There are better ways, like the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, to find the right approach to legitimate copyright enforcement without trampling on free expression. SOPA and PIPA don't represent these values, and for that reason we ask you to oppose these bills.

The changes in our shopping habits

Tesco are experiencing a decline in sales after an uninterrupted period of growth spanning decades. 


Is this merely a reflection of the tough economic climate, or is it saying something more about the underlying trends in our shopping habits?


A fascinating article in todays Guardian suggests that we are indeed changing our shopping habits meaning that the big weekly shop and the continued expansion of massive hypermarkets may be coming to an end. 


Our food shopping habits are becoming more fragmented:


1) More people carefully research for the lowest price and are prepared to go from one supermarket to another for the cheapest item


2) More people shop daily from convenience stores


3) More people shop online (online shopping is +16% year on year - it is now worth £68.2bn)


4) More people "click and collect." This accounted for over 10.4% of shopping in the third quarter of 2011 (up from 7.4% in the previous quarter).


Our consumer behaviour is changing and the impact on the supermarkets and our local high streets will lead to a much altered retail landscape in the next few years.


How shops can ride this change remains to be seen. 


Here is a link to the full article.

Meeting Place Communications Team Photos

I was asked to take photos of the Meeting Place Communications team at their recent New Year Kick Off Event at the Bath Priory. 


Rather than taking posed mugshots of unwilling subjects, we opted to take more relaxed photos of people chatting around the table. 

I'm quite pleased with the results. You can see some more photos from the meeting here.

New EU regulations on Cookies

No, not those delicious biscuits, but cookies used for websites.


Definition of a cookie


For those who don't know what a cookie is, it is something that is on most websites that you visit and they are used to gather information about your visit.


This clearly has privacy implications which is why the EU are regulating their use.


However, cookies can be extremely helpful if you are, for example, visiting an online shop and you want them to remember your delivery details. It saves you time filling in the same data over and over again.


Cookies are also used by Google Analytics to track visitor behaviour so that website performance can be monitored and improved.


What do website owners need to do about this EU regulation?


This is still open to clarification, but the EU have now published guidelines which are expertly summarised by Paul Boag in this article. He has also provided a link to the full guidelines.


He advises you, or your web designer (could be me!), to find out what cookies are being used on your website.

All the websites I design have Google Analytics which do store cookies. It looks as though you might not need to ask for people to positively accept this via a potentially annoying pop up, but you may need to advise your visitors that the website does indeed have these cookies.


I will keep an eye out for any further clarifications and post them on this blog.

Albums of the Year 2011

Here is the list that many of you may have been waiting for ... my favourite albums of the year:

1) Build a Rocket Boys by Elbow

2) The English Riviera by Metronomy

3) Skying by The Horrors

4) The King of Limbs by Radiohead

5) Let England Shake by P J Harvey

6) Euphoric /// Heartrbreak by Glasvegas

7) The Cold Still by Boxer Rebellion

8) Destroyed by Moby

9) Smother by Wild Beasts

10) A Different Kind of Fix by Bombay Bicycle Club

Wishing you a happy 2012!