Sears & Walmart Portrait Studio closed down

Not sure if this has been posted here. While I am not a fan of these sort of portraiture (although we have shots done with them as kids!), I do feel sad for the many many workers there. It came so sudden.

http://www.imaging-resource.com …photo-studios-close-doors

Saw that on the news last night. Truthfully, I was a little surprised that they lasted this long.

I'm waiting for the liquidation sale. . . . . . .

Scatterbrained wrote in post #15797395
I'm waiting for the liquidation sale. . . . . . .

Hmmm... I know one of the local Wal-Mart managers. Maybe I should touch base with him.

Just a matter of time until Olan Mills closes out of Kmart Stores. Now if we can get rid of Lifetouch we will be ok.

Just went by my Wal Mart and the kids photo shop was closed as well.

I remember having my pic taken there when I was young.

According to a couple of postings that I have read their operations in Canada will continue for the time being. This appears to be nothing more than a bankruptcy based on poor management. Just because this company has closed down the operations doesn't mean that they will not lease that space to someone else to provide the same services. I can see how retailers like these types of operations. There is little risk to the retailer, they get rental revenue from the space and most importantly it gets people into the retailers store where they hope they will spend money on things other than photography services.

Yeah I always assumed the stores were doing portraits as a "loss leader," sort of like the way grocery stores sell 2% milk. I was surprised to learn there was a subcontractor involved who was actually trying to make a profit at those prices.

Friends of mine who work in Sears' corporate office say they left all the equipment in the studios and they're trying to figure out what to do with it.

I just went into my Wal-Mart (it had been a while)... the photo studio is gone and already replaced by an Aunt Annies. Didn't see the guy I know to ask about the equipment.

Shooting wrote in post #15797725
Just a matter of time until Olan Mills closes out of Kmart Stores. Now if we can get rid of Lifetouch we will be ok.

I used to work for a local studio that was owned by lifetouch and down the street from the Headquarters... They're getting bigger and expanding around my area. They currently own pretty much every major portrait studio in the twin cities save for the privately owned small operations. I don't see Lifetouch going away anytime soon. It's a employee owned company.

I'm still watching the financial news for word of a liquidation. . . . . . .

Scatterbrained wrote in post #15803799
I'm still watching the financial news for word of a liquidation. . . . . . .

In normal bankruptcies this can take some time. It certainly wouldn't happen this fast. The appointed receiver has to do a full inventory and then find the best way of liquidating them. Having seen what some of them were using for gear I wouldn't be interested in any of it.

ssim wrote in post #15804803
In normal bankruptcies this can take some time. It certainly wouldn't happen this fast. The appointed receiver has to do a full inventory and then find the best way of liquidating them. Having seen what some of them were using for gear I wouldn't be interested in any of it.

Their initial issues started in November....but I know it takes a while. The announcement usually comes a while before though.......will they liquidate, or find a buyer?
I don't think the cameras would be of interest to anyone, but the one near me uses autopoles with camera extension (and a box that locks the camera from being touched by the operator ) and they have ceiling tracks for lights as well as wall mount background poles that could be useful.

it also affected the Kiddie Kandids that were in Babies R Us