One of Canada's best known camera chains is going out of business. Black's Photography was in business for 75 years but all its mall stores will close in a couple of months. Blacks is following such former US giants as Ritz and Wolf Camera or Calumet Photo into oblivion.
It was a perfect storm of disruptive technologies that did Black's in.
- Digital photography decimated their one hour photofinishing and film sales.
- Smartphone cameras destroyed the point and shoot camera business that often led consumers to buy more sophisticated cameras.
- Camera sales themselves are increasingly becoming an online business and the majors like Henry's, B&H or even Costco are getting the lion's share of it.
It's too bad, as Black's was one of the best when it came to photofinishing. I guess it's not just watch retail that has been disrupted by changes in technology.