|
Friday, May 16, 2003
The blogosphere needs more real reporting. Anil Dash found an interesting sign a bit back; a photo store was deriding digital cameras. Anil saw this as flying in the face of progress, and the free markets seem to have proved him right, as the store is now apparently closed. But all that's left is conjecture -- what were these people really thinking? Why did they really close? Simply walking in the store and asking a couple of questions would've gotten an answer. Only the second image gave clues about the business: the name "Clicks". Turns out there's only one business listed with that name in Manhattan: Clicks One Hour Photo, located at 49 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010, with the phone number (212)645-1971. I called, but it only keeps ringing.
The store is listed by Pratt as being a "CGIM Resource," offering "Oversize Fiery Cannon Bubble Jet, color copies, one hour b-w developing and printing, photostats."
For whatever reason, Lexis-Nexis isn't loading, but I bet there's a lot more information there -- maybe even a way to contact the owner.
Here's what the New York Department of State has.
It appears I'm looking for Cliff Strome, and this might be him. Let's see.
Calling...
Yep, it's him. He says he had signs not only saying that digital cameras can cause blindness, but a bunch that said they can cause stroke, sterility, and other things.
Does he think digital cameras are putting traditional camera stores out of business?
"No, I don't think that they are, I know that they are."
He says Clicks is, "A very, very interesting story, I think it needs to be told." It's a business that was around for 17 years, once employed 28 people." He says, "We were the most innovative and popular and largest store for many many years."
So why did he have to close?
"As a result of 3 thigns digital photography, scaffold," and a Small Business Administration loan that he had had approved but couldn't receive because of technicalities he told me but asked me not to print.
As far as the scaffolding, he said he got the Daily News to do a story on it, called "Scaffolds Are a Blight on Businesses, Too" He "enumerated all kinds of possible remedies on how that as a necessity when construction occurs can be guided in a fair & reasonable manner." The scaffolding was assembled, he said, "without one minute's notice, and was "unreasonably low". He said "the work the building wanted to get done was to replace windows, but because it's a landmark on a landmark block, landmark preservation will" make many demands for additional repairs. The paperwork for this "takes a tremendous amount of time," and in the meantime it "kills businesses." He says buildings "should get all permits done in advance," that "people have lost their jobs...i have lost a business that I spent a life building."
About DP, he said, "I knew that if DP took over, I would not get the money to do a refinancing and get the equipment" he needed to remain competitive. It's a business that used to do 10 thousand rolls/month. He says, "We had digital imaging and we grew, took over 3rd floor and 9th floor," which are still in business as separate companies. The anti-DP signs were, "silly signs, just out of desperation, looking for attention." He added, "People would come in," asking of the signs "is it true." He'd explain, "it's sort of just my silliness" About his business, he says, "We used to do some very creative windows." He had a friend who was, "a foam contractor who used to do window displays." One said had huge slippers and the words "there's no place like clicks." Another was an 8-foot hand with light switch, "our color will turn you on"..."cab drivers used to pull up every month just to see the windows". The diversity in his company made it a "virtual UN". They'd have "a lobster party in the summer, halloween parties," and more throughout the year. One year, his employees bought him gold Rolex, by saving $10/week, 22 employees saved ang got him an $11K watch. Clicks for a time was 24/7, "the only one in the city."
Have to run...more to come...
Steven I. Weiss 5:26:00 PM
|