Kodak’s Problem Child

Kenny Suleimanagich on Kodak:

According to his numbers, a roll of film that cost one dollar to produce was marked up 700 percent, which allowed the company to generate its enormous profits. This drove the company’s growth, he argued, but eventually it turned into a trap when managers, addicted to the revenue, ignored clear signs that the market was shifting to digital and the end of the old way was in sight.

The rise and fall of Kodak fascinates me. This great article goes into how Kodak were there, right on the cusp of digital imaging years ahead of anyone. They had a 4 megapixel camera sensor in the late 1980s!

Sadly, their executives ignored the future and chased short-term profits. By the time they got into the consumer space for digital imaging, it was too late.

I worked at Dick Smith during my university days, and we sold quite a few different Kodak cameras. They were the ‘cheap’ option, and were pimped extensively in the sales catalogues.

Most people would come in, take a look at the Kodak, and then ultimately settle for a slightly more expensive—but much nicer—Canon, Fuji or Sony camera.