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Gloucestershire Business News

EXCLUSIVE: Camera experts zoom in to a bigger store

Buoyed by rising customer footfall – and not least a nostalgic demand for vintage trends in photography – London Camera Exchange's (LCE) Gloucester outlet is on the move.

The business, currently located at 12, Southgate Street will be upping sticks from its current location at 12 Soughgate Street. But it's not going far.

Nigel Bee, LCE Gloucester Manager, told Punchline-Gloucester.com: "After 42 years of working here, it will be a change of habit for me! We opened in 1973 at the current address and are moving just three doors up to the former David Christopher jewellers, which was a Patisserie Valerie, which was again in turn a Millets.

"It doesn't sound like a major change, but the premises are considerably better and bigger," he added. 

In total, the store has three full time and one part-time staff and LCE employees enjoy the benefit of working in an employee-owned company, similar to the structure of John Lewis Partnership.

A spokesman for LCE's head office in Guildord confirmed that the former jewellers store, which recently closed, had been spotted as a prime opportunity for expansion, while the move comes in the wake of a decision last year for LCE to pull out of Cheltenham's Promenade.

The leased unit is reported to be some three times more spacious than LCE's current premises in the city, and Mr Bee added that there were clear plans for how LCE might exploit the new opportunity.

He added: "What sells well for us currently is digital mirrorless technology, as well as optics and binoculars. We also found that with Jessop's exit from the city centre recently – and given the noticeable demand – there is good scope for in-store photofinishing. 

"We will have two kiosks for this service, which can allow people to walk in and instantly print from their mobile, as well as create printed work on mugs and jigsaws, etc."

However, Mr Bee said that the most interesting new trend was a resurgence in demand for film.

He added: "We are seeing sales of Kodak and Ilford stock steadily rising to meet demand from young photographers who want that retro experience. You can draw a clear parallel with vinyl – film is coming back!"

● All going well, the new store, which is currently being refitted, will be operational from August 12.

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