Another Venture Store Closes

I wouldn't be overly fussed, personally - I'm not a big fan of Venture. They lure customers in with the promise of "free" (or very cheap) studio sessions through vouchers, then try and charge absurdly high prices for the photos - coupled with hard selling tactics at the "viewings".

From when I've seen a session, the photographer didn't even need to look through the lens - get a white background, a couple of lights, set the shutter to 1/250 and aperture to f/11, then get the kids to play around in front of you and keep pushing the cable release.

Most people would be far better off to find a local, quality photographer and visit them instead. The only thing, as far as I'm concerned, that Venture have going for them is that they've kept the idea of studio photography in the high street. I certainly wouldn't ever use them for anything myself.
 
It doesn't shock me to be honest, used to walk past it 2-3 times a day and I don't think I ever saw a customer in there. Had posters advertising for sales roles for months.
 
so thats four that closed? 30+ have closed in last 4 years. If My math is right. Thats nearly half the franchise gone pear shaped.

Photo Plod? Does that mean you look through the viewfinder all the time?? Most togs I know size up and shoot over the camera. (In studio)

I only look through to size up then I shoot over the camera. You loose attention from subject and miss so much if you shoot looking through the camera all the time.
 
I went to venture to have a photo shoot with my then girlfriend (her idea not mine) and actually thought the whole experience was pants! The photographer knew 3 setups with the equipment, the viewing was more like a visit with a religious cult in the pressure tactics, and the finished print was well over priced for what it was.
 
I've been invited to a Venture party later this month. Thinking it might be safer if I don't attend or else I might be tempted to start asking about their pricing! :naughty:
 
Personally I think it's a combination of things, the recession, the over pricing, the look is now starting to get dated. A lot of people just go to say "we had a Venture picture" knowing that meant they had lot's of money to waste. But even the rich get tight in a recession.
 
They are still out in shopping centres around here though - or at least the local franchisee is.

For all of you talking about "good photos" though, you should know well enough that its very subjective and that the only person they need to please is the one with the cheque book.

Personally, I'd say that having received 800 quid for 3 prints that their photography is very good indeed - thats far more than I've ever got for three prints.

Sustainable business model? Probably not, but probably no more than any of those other similar things - there are several new hair franchises springing up and also at least two based on those fish that eat the gunk from your feet.
 
Daryl said:
so thats four that closed? 30+ have closed in last 4 years. If My math is right. Thats nearly half the franchise gone pear shaped.

Photo Plod? Does that mean you look through the viewfinder all the time?? Most togs I know size up and shoot over the camera. (In studio)

I only look through to size up then I shoot over the camera. You loose attention from subject and miss so much if you shoot looking through the camera all the time.
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No - but that wasn't my point. With such a generic setup, some Venture franchises are operating more like a McDonald's, where the "photographer" doesn't actually need to know the first thing about photography. It's a factory product, dishonestly sold (e.g. through the non-disclosure of prices in advance), and the consumer is then ripped off. For the prices that Venture actually charge, they should be offering a far more skilled and bespoke service.

I could probably train my dog to keep his paw on my cable release; I couldn't teach him to actually consider the effects of lighting and actually deliver a tailored, creative studio setup.
 
The wife and I got a Venture gift for Xmas (sigh!!!!)
I'm not one for being railroaded so it will be on my terms what we spend and that will likely be £0.00p.
It will be the freebie print and nothing else no matter how hard they push the hard sale!
 
stupar said:
It will be the freebie print and nothing else no matter how hard they push the hard sale!
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They'll push!

Visited the friends who are having the 'Venture party' today and they said they were called a total of 7 times since Christmas about hosting a party, which was slightly fewer than the 9 calls they received after their photo shoot about buying some images (including them offering IFC! :eek:)
 
Original Poster said:
I can't say I'm too bothered in total honesty.

Give it another 24 months and the franchise may well be no longer in existence.
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Their supposed impending demise has countlessly been talked about for years - and it has never happened.

I hope they stay around because they are good for business. I've lost count the amount of times I've had their clients coming through my door saying something on the lines of: 'We had a great time with them, but we won't be going back because of their prices'.
 
Gorbsteruk said:
I would like to know there prices now as i had mine done in 2005, I think the free photo was a 7x5 and the price to buy an extra 7x5 photo was £75 each
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I have a copy of their price list but I think it's a couple of years old. If anyone wants a copy PM me your email address
 
Yup .... my neice went to the local Venture studio with her son last year i think .. ordered 5 A3 sized photos on laminate board .... looked quite good TBH ... but cost £925 ! :eek:

doesnt bother me their going bust .... i usually end up buying some of their studio kit from the various auctions that sell the stuff off ... lol
 
I know they are expensive and you either love or hate their pictures(or at least think they are a little dated today).

But I am saddened to hear so many people saying they are not bothered with these individual franchisees going bust.

Ever thought what it may be like going bust? The impact on your life, your family?
Your pride down the pan, your employees without a job, your name being sh-ite!

This day and age anyone can go bust. Whatever your business model don't get too complacent. Look at the big businesses like banks, insurance companies etc who have either had to merge with another, or seek goverment bail outs, and have made loads of employees redundant. No job is for life anymore.

The photography industry is over-saturated. More and more people are taking it up as a hobby in this digital world and hence more and more want to earn a few bucks from their photography...but willing to take less than established pros.
Let's just spare a thought for those who have gone bust and wish them some good fortune for the future.
 
The whole Venture set up is great, Loved it. In 2003 I looked at their franchise.

Photo-Plod (another with no real name) I know what your point was. but they train a few and others when applying for tog jobs have to have the paper work. All the ads I've have asked for it. It's not monkey see monkey do!!

When you have a chain of 60+ studios you would know there has tobe a set format and structure. The brand and product has tobe the same up one and the other end of the Country.

Brian and Nick flogged it to Kodak and it seems to have gone downhill from there on.

Its a great brand but unfortunately way too pricey for the everyday guy in the street. On the same coin look at Olan mills? Cheap as chips... Far too cheap that went bust too. Middle ground ladies and gents, middle ground.

when you have a chain you can't always do 'Bespoke' you have a lab, a framing dept. The work has to to fit all the studios and have a set plan.

customers who go are going to their brand.

I must admit I love the way the studios look as opposed the high street corner tog with gold frames in the window and a tiny studio with no door just a curtain to pull across. and there are many of those!
 
Volusian said:
Yup .... my neice went to the local Venture studio with her son last year i think .. ordered 5 A3 sized photos on laminate board .... looked quite good TBH ... but cost £925 ! :eek:

doesnt bother me their going bust .... i usually end up buying some of their studio kit from the various auctions that sell the stuff off ... lol
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A grand for 5 pictures :eek:
 
Volusian said:
Yup .... my neice went to the local Venture studio with her son last year i think .. ordered 5 A3 sized photos on laminate board .... looked quite good TBH ... but cost £925 ! :eek:

doesnt bother me their going bust .... i usually end up buying some of their studio kit from the various auctions that sell the stuff off ... lol
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Without wanting to start a stampede...where are these auctions?
 
Makes me laugh really, half the time people on here spend pages and pages banging on about how people shouldn't sell stuff cheap and how damaging it is to us all and then you all start on how a high street store is charging a reasonable sum for a packaged product and how this is wrong also...
 
markrichardson said:
Without wanting to start a stampede...where are these auctions?
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the one i occasionally use is approx 137.25 miles South from where you are .. ;)

However just let me say one thing about some of the cameras ive seen from venture studios at these auctions ... they usually have bits missing - battery doors removed and battery packs and cables hard wired inside and the wires then gaffer taped to the body etc ..etc .. and they were just the good ones !
 
Volusian said:
the one i occasionally use is approx 137.25 miles South from where you are .. ;)

However just let me say one thing about some of the cameras ive seen from venture studios at these auctions ... they usually have bits missing - battery doors removed and battery packs and cables hard wired inside and the wires then gaffer taped to the body etc ..etc .. and they were just the good ones !
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Sounds promising! :thumbsdown:
 
Photo Plod said:
It's a factory product, dishonestly sold (e.g. through the non-disclosure of prices in advance), and the consumer is then ripped off.
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Are you saying then, as an officer of the law, that Venture are acting illegally in the way that they do business?
 
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