Major layoffs at PocketWizard following poor sales

LPA Design, the manufacturers of PocketWizard radio triggers, have made a number staff redundant following “below forecast” worldwide sales.
In an e-mail to distributors, CEO Tim Neiley announced that the Vermont-based company was bringing its international sales and marketing in-house, terminating an 18-year relationship with consultancy firm Inovanti. However Mr Neiley stressed there would be “very little impact” on dealer relationships.
He has blamed the poor sales on slow economic recoveries across the world, changing customer behaviour and increased competition. “LPA has reduced staff at the company as well,” added Mr Neiley, “and will be focusing its resources primarily on engineering development.”


Rumour has it that as many as 20 or more employees have been made redundant over the course of two rounds of layoffs, out of a total workforce of fewer than 50 people. Job losses have reached even senior management with vice-president (sales and marketing) David Schmidt gone after five years with the company. The former VP is now a “freelance photographer” and has been writing recommendations for other staff.
Nobody has publicly announced being laid off but portfolios and LinkedIn profiles are being discreetly updated, with technical support specialists, the marketing coordinator, production/repair manager, designers, engineers and logistics staff all ending employment in January and February 2014. Calls to PocketWizard customer service went unanswered last week

http://www.lightingrum​ours.com …layoffs-5468#.UwPyeYUo5hE

Most likely due to the Chinese competition..
Same thing could happen to quantum flash.

Gmp wrote in post #16700186
Most likely due to the Chinese competition..
Same thing could happen to quantum flash.

Godox has to be putting the pinch on their profits. Quantum will either change or go under too.

I've owned and used both PW ControlTL and Quantum QFlash.

Given the current capabilities of the Yongnou RF-622 and Godox products, as well as the Yongnou YN-E3 both companies are way behind the technology curve.

It would be nice to support US companies, but its more important to support innovative companies that deliver capabilities that make it easier for a working photographer to get the shots for which the client will pay.

I honestly like the PW triggers I have BUT, the only reason I use them is because I can trigger flashes with my Sekonic meter. I think they need to rethink how much they charge because there are other triggers MUCH cheaper that work just as well

The in-flash trigger module sounds like a great convenience. In reality a second trigger in hand to fire the lights isn't that big a deal and it means I have a backup should something happen to the other trigger.

Bottom line, like a lot of other companies, they have failed to keep up with progress in their industry.

ducatiwv wrote in post #16700589
I honestly like the PW triggers I have BUT, the only reason I use them is because I can trigger flashes with my Sekonic meter. I think they need to rethink how much they charge because there are other triggers MUCH cheaper that work just as well

The forthcoming YN-622C-TX which provides a self-contained controller for the 622Cs also has a PC-sync input, which is probably for just that purpose. Controller expected to be $US60; the remots are arounf $US40.

dmward wrote in post #16700611
The in-flash trigger module sounds like a great convenience. In reality a second trigger in hand to fire the lights isn't that big a deal and it means I have a backup should something happen to the other trigger.

Bottom line, like a lot of other companies, they have failed to keep up with progress in their industry.

I just pop the button on top of the Phottix trigger already mounted to the camera since it's already in hand most of the time.

Agreed though. A lot of companies are providing the same or more functionality with range pretty much being PW's only trump card...and few photographers find themselves needing it.

I'd hardly call Chinese companies 'innovative'. Knock-offs, junk-churning, screw-quality, yes. Innovative, hardly.

But, as Mr David Hobby said, 'screw innovation, gimme cheap'. Well, may they be rewarded with cheapskate clients.

Alveric wrote in post #16700675
I'd hardly call Chinese companies 'innovative'. Knock-offs, junk-churning, screw-quality, yes. Innovative, hardly.

But, as Mr David Hobby said, 'screw innovation, gimme cheap'. Well, may they be rewarded with cheapskate clients.

Depends what Chinese company you're looking at. They're not all the unreliable junk a la Poverty Wizards.

Technically my Phottix aren't Chinese if you're basing it on headquarters rather than manufacture location (the company is based in Hong Kong) but they blow away what are supposed to be a superior brand of triggers I have...Elinchrom. I'm not so sure the PWs are made in the USA anyway (never owned any, never looked at any up close).

Not surprising. Their major FAIL started with Mini TT1/TT5. By far the most expensive triggers and the most disappointing at the same time. But I don't get why they never cannibalize themselves and go back to the drawing board. Instead, they gave me a stupid sock or a big bulky shield.

Sorry to say, PW had their Kodak moment.

This has been forthcoming for ages. Releasing the Flex system too early dented the otherwise sterling reputation for reliability. With an incredibly high system entry price (as David Hobby said, '...you'd better be sat down for this'), free market economics did the rest (well, when they were not trying to ban Phottix from producing the trigger that they should have been making themselves in the first place).

Surprised that they have lasted as long as they have, tbh.

Alveric wrote in post #16700675
I'd hardly call Chinese companies 'innovative'. Knock-offs, junk-churning, screw-quality, yes. Innovative, hardly.

But, as Mr David Hobby said, 'screw innovation, gimme cheap'. Well, may they be rewarded with cheapskate clients.

I think you and Mr Hobby are simply wrong, imho. Many said the same thing about cars in the 1970s. Far East/Japanese sh!te, give me my British Leyland Ambassador any day!

Not innovative? The PW main line of triggers is simply appalling design: all require piddling little, unreliable PC/phono cables (and flashguns that support them or piddling little, unreliable hotshoe adapters if they don't), which the triggers then dangles off. PC cables deserve to burn in hell.

I suspect Canon picking up their own built in radio has got people shy with buying PW stuff as well. Canon users are upgrading to or thinking about it whilst Nikon users are likely thinking "Oh Canon did it so soon Nikon well".

Price has also been a factor - PW should have done a cheap line of their own franchise; no thrills just simple radio remote that pops the flash and maybe has a few channels and nothing more. Wouldn't harm their serious sales and would get people on the system. Having high prices for a trigger is always a detriment (its why people get 3rd party remote releases and extension tubes instead of Canon's own brand).

Love, love, love my Yongnuo 622's solid performers..

CliveyBoy wrote in post #16700648
The forthcoming YN-622C-TX which provides a self-contained controller for the 622Cs also has a PC-sync input, which is probably for just that purpose. Controller expected to be $US60; the remots are arounf $US40.

Awesome, I actually have 4 Yn 622s that I use frequently, so I ll def be interested in the Tx