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April 30, 2008 10:05:59
Posted By Primary Foto Source
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Primary Colour Lab Limited History
Primary Colour Lab was incorporated May 1,1978, as a partnership. The business was located at 22 S. Cumberland St( upstairs).
Equipment to outfit the lab consisted of a film processor and a photographic paper printer, and a paper processor and print cutter. The lab was automated, but labour intensive. The thought, with the two new entrepreneurs was, now that we have the equipment, people would flock to our doors. Nothing could be further from the truth!
Finances were very tight, as they established themselves in the community, so John Nistico went to work at another job to supplement the income of the both owners. The partners took turns working outside the business. After 2 years the partnership ended, leaving John Nistico as the sole owner.
The business moved to the ground location at 22 S. Cumberland. This proved to be a great decision as business continually grew after that, due to higher exposure at street level. A photo studio was added to the new location. John was busy trying to grow the photographic studio by attending conventions, entering competitions, and reading all he could on photography and the business of photography. He was never seen without a camera around his neck.
Primary was the first lab to offer 4 x 6 sized prints in Thunder Bay when 3.5x 5 was the standard at the time, They offered slide processing, black and white processing and enlargements up to 16 x 20 all produced on-site. Dry mounting and spray coating prints were also offered as on-site services. This shortened turnaround times for professional photographers and businesses alike. Up to this time all those services were sent out of town.
John’s wife Donna-Rae took care of the photofinishing lab. She was the lab manager, printer and quality control technician. Donna-Rae strengthened the business significantly as she had a great deal of experience previously working for other local photo labs. Her colour sense, speed and efficiency maximized the profitability of the company.
Primary grew an extensive dealer network in Thunder Bay and out of town, reaching places such as Nipigon, Red Rock, Marathon, Manitouwadge and Terrace Bay. Orders from those places were bused into the lab. The network in town consisted of drug stores and corner stores. In the busy times the store employed a driver for several hours every day to pickup and deliver work.
John and Donna-Rae had two daughters Janine and Corin. With both John and Donna-Rae being heavily involved in the business, it was a struggle at times to balance both business and family life. Strong family support from both of their parents helped them through. ”Our children spent a lot of hours at Primary Colour Lab, not because they wanted to be to be there. They helped to clean the shop and became the ever-popular subjects for their dad in the studio,” says Donna-Rae.
John was actively involved in the BIA Downtown Heart of the Harbour, and was chairman for two three year term. John also was a member of the Thunder Bay Parking Authority for many years.
John enjoys teaching photography and formed a group from one of his classes called The Circles of Confusion. This club lasted for 15 years and ended when digital photography started to dominate the industry.
In the mid 90’s technology was starting to change with the first digital cameras coming out. This was the start of the digital revolution. The Digital camera quality was not great for making prints and most people thought it was a passing fad. The only thing digital cameras were good for in the 90’s was for the internet. The internet kept the technology alive, and improving.
The first digital single lens reflex camera was introduced at 6 mega pixels. This was the exact quality of a 35 mm piece of film. The industry then changed dramatically and fast!
In 2003, Primary made the move to 701 Memorial Ave. Along with this move they introduced digital technology. The move represented the change in the industry and solidified the companies’ strength in the community. The more central location and ease of parking helped bring in new clients and the first year was a record sales year for the store. Film was still the dominant method of capturing images, so film sales and processing made up a large part of their sales.
Several years prior to these changes, Primary Colour Lab Limited joined a large buying group called Fotosource Canada. They now operate as Primary foto source. The buying group allows them to compete on price with the chains and box stores.
In 2003 digital cameras outsold film cameras in North America. The effect this had on Primary was dramatic and painful. For eight months, the consumer was gathering digital images without processing them into prints. Clients weren’t buying film, or photo albums. The digital camera allowed them to enjoy the captured image immediately after taking it. There was no urgent need for photographs. Those who wanted prints of their images were confused as to how to go about it. The industry was not ready for the change.
The key to Primarys’ success was to keep up with the rapidly changing digital technology, along with communicating to and educating their customers on the many changes. They offered classes on how to use your digital camera and taught the students how to print their images. These classes continue to evolve and as the demand for education changes with their clients, Primary changes their classes. They offer camera classes for every make of camera that they sell and they offer free digital kiosk classes for those that are afraid of the technology but are eager to learn.
Today you can come into their store and see a modern camera store, photo lab and photographic studio that are on the leading edge of photographic technology. Many of the services they offer are of the traditional nature, but they offer many things that people don’t expect from a photography store. Here are some examples:
Art cards, hardcover photo books, folded greeting cards, colour photo copies, calendars, enlargements up to 44 inches wide by 100 feet, collages, digital frames, photographic classes, diva parties for children, canvas prints, fine art paper prints, expert restoration and retouching, slide shows on DVD, copy work, transfer of slides to DVD, Banners and point of sale signs, dry mounting and laminating.
A full digital professional photographic studio with two full time photographers is onsite in the back of the store.
We have had many employees over the years. Several professional photographers still working in our community started their career with Primary. Those that have stayed with us have adapted to the change in photography. Our employees have become more than just staff members to us… they have become valued resources in creative thinking.
Primary Foto Source is hosting a number of customer appreciation days in the month of May as well as a three day anniversary sale to commemorate the event. Visit them on-line at www.primary.fotosource.com.
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All blog contents are provided by website administrator. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective holders.
Copyright © 2008. Doteasy Technology Inc. All Rights Reserved. Blog software owned and powered by Doteasy Web Hosting.