olan mills goes bust

[tonymidd]

All 9 midlands branches of olan mills have ceased trading. US owned they were still taking orders and money yesterday!! They specialised in family portraits.
http://www.olanmills.co.uk/

[karl-tkd]

It's disgusting to keep taking orders, surely their website can be closed down??

All 9 midlands branches of olan mills have ceased trading. US owned they were still taking orders and money yesterday!! They specialised in family portraits.
http://www.olanmills.co.uk/

[lostmysnorkel]

Ta fot the heads up Tony!

We have/had an Olan Mills in our local Debenhams - I'll go and have a look what's happening tomorrow.

[Keitht]

Looks like another bunch of people will be *****d for their Christmas presents :hissyfit:

[LTJ]

I have had a few phone calls from people wanting portraits again. Even to the night before they were still taking orders and payments -isnt that terrible! I also feel so sorry for the employees too - apparently they are not being paid for the last month and just before Xmas! Really awful behaviour!

[Bindii]

You wonder how some people can sleep at night don't you?

Bastards!

[Dotty.c]

isnt it about time the banks had the power to inform some one when a company looks like it's about to go under...

[Keitht]

Only a couple of months ago Olan Mills were advertising for staff.

[GlenJDiamond]

I feel sorry for all of their customers. It's going to be difficult for them to find a high-street outlet with a studio large enough for the baby and family portraits. Those togs who have the necessary equipment and, more importantly, the backdrops and props will be difficult to find and may not have the locality of a high-street position. Those that do will undoubtably be more expensive to cover their shop rent and rates and beauticians. I know there has been some bitching about the technical abilities of the Olan Mills Photographic staff, but they did provide a valuable family orientated service. They will be missed.

[kelvinmyles]

I agree with Glen even though they were my main competition in Bedford.

I heard about it early Thursday morning and managed to get some editorial in the local Sunday paper offering free sessions to anybody that had paid for and not had their session - obviously I'm not giving free photos - and the response has been amazing. Since Sunday afternoon I've taken 26 bookings as a direct result of the OM closure and have managed to make a few people feel better that their Christmas presents are not totally wasted.

As they say every cloud has a silver lining - perhaps the other pros on the forum could consider doing the same?

[StagePhotography.co.uk]

Hmmm there's going to be a load of "tog" out there
trying to get into the wedding market now....

[Dotty.c]

not all bad, friends had some pictures taken in bristol, the staff finished the job and all they paid for was materials 20x15 £25, btw the staff where not getting paid, they did it out of a sense of duty

[Keitht]

Olan Mills style was dated and that, along with people buying one copy of an image and copying it at home, is probably what did for them in the end. I suspect it was actually the limited sales that were the killer blow as many people do still want the 'traditional' family portrait, not the high key work that seems to be the current fashion.
I've seen a number of different companies advertising in shopping centres with the 'new style' stuff, and although it is certainly technically competent it leaves me completely cold.

[tonymidd]

not all bad, friends had some pictures taken in bristol, the staff finished the job and all they paid for was materials 20x15 £25, btw the staff where not getting paid, they did it out of a sense of dutyI

Having been thru a liquidation I hope those staff had the recievers permission otherwise they have technically stolen the materials from the reciever which means your friends have recieved stolen goods, if the £25 went to the reciever they may get away with it...If the staff have done a lot of these I do hope they have that permission.
From my experience recievers have to be bastards.

[Annie_W]

Can confirm in the Bristol area,OM staff worked voluntarily to see that customers got their prints in time for Christmas.
Annie

[JBMUK]

Just noticed this thread as not been on in a few week as still trying to get better.

What a nightmare, ive been through this so I know its going to be difficult and I too feel sorry for the staff if they didnt get paid..

with any luck the benefit will be to the togs who competed with olan...