Photokina 2012: Jacobs closure costs Sigma £1m a year

Sigma Imaging UK general manager Graham Armitage revealed the extent of lost trade during comments on the impact of the UK’s ongoing recession on lens sales.

Lamenting the loss of Jacobs, a 19-store business which shut down in the summer after 73 years, Armitage told Amateur Photographer (AP): ‘Jacobs was our third largest customer.

‘That’s £1m a year disappeared and, probably more importantly, 19 good shops with 19 sets of knowledgeable staff… adding value to the product and servicing your [AP] readers.’

Armitage pointed out that Jacobs’ disappearance followed the demise of independent UK camera chain Wildings Photographic Ltd last year, and Photo Optix which called in administrators in 2008.

‘It’s amazing how many retailers we are losing on the high street.

‘This is not temporary, they are not coming back,’ he warned.

Graham Armitage was speaking to AP at photokina 2012 in Cologne, Germany.