Few industries have undergone the dramatic changes that the photo industry has in the last 20 years. Digital technology has not only changed the way consumers capture and share their memories, it has changed the face of photo retail as well.
Ever shortening product cycles, greater need for consumer education, and the battle to replace lost 35mm revenues are just a few of the problems photo dealers have battled during this tumultuous period.
Opening their doors for business at the dawn of these changes has given WYNIT a front row seat for the digital revolution. Since its inception 20 years ago, the company has grown steadily through, as they tell us, a proactive commitment to capitalize on growth markets as part of the company’s overall business strategy. In the initial years, those markets included digital photography, printers and computer accessories. Most recently, the dynamic popularity of global positioning products (better known as GPS), high-end presentation and paper products and digital memory (among many others) have been major contributors to their rapid expansion.
By it’s own estimates, the company delivers millions of dollars of products from over a hundred top manufacturers to thousands of retailers across the country every day. More than 300 full-time employees contribute to the continuing growth in what has become diverse marketplace.
“We nailed business growth to the wall last year,” says an exuberant company President and CEO Geoffrey Lewis, “mainly because of this business philosophy—and we intend to keep our sights set high as we move forward.”
Due to this continued sales growth, employment has expanded in all areas of the company, including sales, product management, distribution and various support groups located in the company’s headquarters in North Syracuse. In addition, it has distribution facilities in Albany, NY; Fresno, CA and Memphis, TN to help it serve all areas of the country.
Lewis noted, “Our ability to offer resellers many popular brand name products and unique, value-added services will continue to maintain our growth pattern for the foreseeable future.” The company remains excited about that future as they continue to strengthen their key distributor alliances with world renowned companies like Canon, Epson, Fujifim, Garmin, Ilford, Kodak, Lexar, Magellan, Motorola, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Rimage, SanDisk, Samsung Electronics, Smartparts, TomTom, Wacomm, Western Digital, Zebra and others.
Pete Richichi, executive vice president, at WYNIT cites the company’s consultative approach as a key to their success. “We work directly with the major manufacturers of computer peripherals and digital imaging equipment, including digital memory and cameras, film, scanners, monitors, printers, outdoor navigation electronics, video editing hardware and software and accessories. This enables us to provide retailers with immediate access to the widest range of products at the most competitive prices and allows us to be a strategic partner to our suppliers and a valued supplier to our customers. In short, it allows us to deliver.”
WYNIT points to the their combination of category experience, personal service, technological expertise, flexible credit plans and top brand-name product availability as a key differentiator in this market. Richichi explains that the benefits of this strategy are clear to WYNIT’s customers. “This enables us to provide our customers with early notice of price moves, new product introductions and obsolescence to assure the right products and price points every time,” Richichi added.
Certainly, times have changed since 1987 when WYNIT first opened its doors but one element remains constant according to Ricichi. “WYNIT’s 20th anniversary reveals a degree of market strength and expertise that is only achievable over time. We are proud of our stability and the value we bring to the distribution channel,” he concluded.
