Executive Summary

Table of Contents

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The UK consumer photographic market was valued at an estimated £1.84bn in 1998, an increase of 12.5 percent on the previous year. Sales have improved in recent years, following a period of decline during the recession in the early 1990s, and growth has been driven primarily by an increase in sales of films and film processing. Film sales accounted for 52.5 percent of sales in this latter market, and film processing for the remaining 47.5 percent.
Increases in tourism, higher levels of personal disposable income, and increased targeting by suppliers of specific consumer sectors have all helped to drive sales. For example, equipment manufacturers have developed `fun' and disposable cameras to reach consumers who would not normally take photographs on a regular basis. Technological improvements have also boosted sales, although the effects of many of these developments have still to translate to increased sales in the marketplace. These technological developments include the launch of the Advanced Photo System (APS) in 1996, and the more recent development of filmless digital cameras which can be linked to personal computers (PCs).
The most popular cameras are compact cameras, although sales of disposables are increasing. Sales of medium-format cameras, the more expensive options, are made primarily to serious amateurs and professionals.
In terms of numbers, the UK photographic industry is dominated by importers and distributors, dealers, and photofinishers. There is a limited number of equipment manufacturers based in the UK, and the UK is a net importer of equipment and films. Many of the importers and distributors are subsidiaries of the large global photographic companies which dominate the market. In the retail sector, specialist camera outlets are still important, although large retailers such as Boots, Dixons, and Argos take a significant share of sales. A feature of the last few years has been the growth in specialist photo-processing outlets, which also sell film and photographic accessories. The leading companies are Bowie-Castlebank Ltd, operating the Klik Photopoint and Foto Processing outlets, and Minit Holdings UK PLC, with the SupaSnaps and Minit outlets. The spread of minilabs, offering relatively low-cost photo-processing, has also brought more retail outlets into the photo-processing market.
With a healthy economy forecast for the medium term, and increases in tourism expected, sales in the photographic sector should remain healthy. Key Note is forecasting sales of £2bn in 1999 and £2.37bn by 2003. Cameras, however, remain only occasional purchases for most consumers and growth in the market will continue to be driven by film and film-processing sales.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary

Market Definition

INTRODUCTION

MARKET SECTORS

MARKET POSITION

MARKET TRENDS

Table 1: Total UK Consumer Expenditure, Expenditure on Leisure and Photographic Sales by Value at Current Prices (£m), 1994-1998

Table 2: Average UK Weekly Household Expenditure on Photographic Goods and Accessories (£ per week), 1994/1995-1997/1998

Table 3: UK Camera Sales by Sector by Value ( percent), 1998

Table 4: Selected Cameras and Camcorders by Price in UK Retail Outlets (£), Summer 1999

Table 5: Overseas Visits to the UK by Number and Expenditure (000 and £m), 1995-1998

Market Size

THE TOTAL MARKET

BY MARKET SECTOR

FOREIGN TRADE

Table 6: UK Consumer Expenditure on Photographic Equipment, Films and Film Processing at Current Prices (£m), 1994-1998

Table 7: UK Consumer Expenditure on Photographic EquipmentÅ at Current Prices (£m), 1994-1998

Table 8: UK Retail Sales of Camcorders by Value at Current Prices (£m), 1994-1998

Table 9: Trade Deliveries of Camcorders to UK Distributors by Volume (000), 1994-1998

Table 10: UK Consumer Expenditure on Photographic Film and Film-Processing at Current Prices (£m), 1994-1998

Table 11: Imports and Exports of Photographic Cameras and Accessories by Value (£m), 1998

Table 12: UK Imports and Exports of Photographic Film by Value (£m), 1998

Industry Background

RECENT HISTORY

INDUSTRY CONCENTRATION

DISTRIBUTION

TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

Table 13: The UK Photographic Industry by Sector by Number of Companies, 1998

Table 14: The UK Photographic Industry by Sector by Sales (£m), 1998

Table 15: UK Photographic Film Sales and Film Processing by Type of Retailer ( percent), 1999

Competitor Analysis

THE MARKETPLACE

LEADING PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS

LEADING CAMCORDER SUPPLIERS

LEADING RETAILERS

ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION

Table 16: Selected Leading UK Suppliers of Photographic Equipment by Turnover (£m), Year Ending 1997/1998/1999

Table 17: Selected UK Photographic Equipment and Film-Processing Retailers by Turnover (£m), 1998

Table 18: Main Media Advertising Expenditure on Cameras, Films and Accessories by Leading Brands (£000), Years to June 1998 and 1999

Table 19: Main Media Advertising Expenditure on Selected Camera Brands (£000), Year to June 1999

Table 20: Main Media Advertising by Photographic Retailers and Film-Processing Services (£000), Years to June 1998 and 1999

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT)

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

Buying Behaviour

OWNERSHIP

INSTAMATIC AND INSTANT PICTURE CAMERAS

COMPACT AND ADVANCED PHOTO SYSTEM CAMERAS

CAMCORDERS AND VIDEO CAMERAS

Table 21: Penetration of Selected Cameras and Camcorders ( percent of adults), 1998

Table 22: Penetration and Profile of Instamatic and Instant Picture Cameras by Age, Social Grade and Region ( percent of adults), 1998

Table 23: Penetration and Profile of Compact Cameras and Advanced Photo System Cameras ( percent of adults), 1998

Table 24: Penetration and Profile of Camcorders and Video Cameras ( percent of adults), 1998

Outside Suppliers to the Industry

INTRODUCTION

PHOTOGRAPHIC CHEMICALS

PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPERS

Current Issues

DIGITAL CAMERAS

PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM

PHOTO BOOTHS

CAMERA PRICES

INTERNET SHOPPING

Forecasts

FORECASTS 1999 TO 2003

FACTORS AFFECTING THE MARKET

Table 25: Forecast UK Consumer Expenditure on Photographic EquipmentÅ, Films and Film Processing (£m), 1999-2003

Table 26: Forecast UK Consumer Expenditure on Photographic EquipmentÅ (£m), 1999-2003

Table 27: Forecast UK Consumer Expenditure on Photographic Films and Film Processing (£m), 1999-2003

Company Profiles

INTRODUCTION

DEFINITIONS

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Sources

ASSOCIATIONS

PERIODICALS

DIRECTORIES

GENERAL SOURCES

HOPPENSTEDT BONNIER INFORMATION SOURCES

GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS

OTHER SOURCES

Text © 1999 Key Note

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Last updated by Jacob van Eldik 22th January 2000