10 February 2006
Kodak is set to change the way it does business with its UK prolab customers. Following months of negotiations it has agreed a brand new UK distribution partnership with Photologic - the Dublin-based distributor.
Photologic, a privately-owned company with subsidiaries and associates in the US France and Belgium, will service the UK prolab business from its Elstree, North London logistics centre - and under the deal will sell Kodak products exclusively. The new agreement comes into force on February 6th.
Photologic Business Development Director Steve Firman said: "This is great news for UK Prolabs who will now benefit from a fusion of skills and know-how of two major players. In effect we are creating a new local focus for the global Kodak brand - and this decision to move from direct service to a distributor model will have real advantages for labs."
He added: "Photologic has worked with Kodak in the professional and health imaging markets for over a decade and from the outset of this new deal our aim has been to ensure the transition from direct service to an indirect channel model will be absolutely seamless from the customers' perspective."
Former Kodak National Account Manager Calum Thomson has been appointed Photologic UK Sales Manager.
He said: "The UK Prolab market is evolving relentlessly. This new distribution partnership will establish a new dynamic for progressive labs nationwide.
Customers will see only positive changes in the new set-up. Credit terms and discount structures will remain as they are now and we will be striving to improve existing delivery logistics and service levels.
Photologic staff will be trained by Kodak product experts and award-winning technical support will still be just a phone call away.
In future labs will simply order their Kodak products direct from Photologic via a new Freephone number - and Mike Dolling, Kodak' s long-serving Prolab Business Manager remains in place to support this new business operation."