Ritz Camera & Image Retools Imaging E-Commerce

Ritz Camera & Image Retools Imaging E-Commerce

1124

The re-introduced Ritz Camera & Image recently announced the reinvention of its e-commerce division, RitzPix.com.

In an effort to increase their online presence, the company has brought in online imaging pioneer, Peter Tahmin, to lead the way. Tahmin is the new VP at RitzPix, charged with increasing RitzPix.com's visibility in the imaging e-commerce space through building –strategic partnerships with retail sites, service providers, mobile networks and social media applications.

We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Tahmin and check on how he is planning to make all this happen for the imaging retail pioneer.

PB&ML: Can you tell us more about RtizPix.com's Access Photo tool? For imaging retailers, a way to grab hold of all those images sitting on social networks sites seems long overdue.

Tahmin: Imaging has developed in new and exciting ways that we in the industry and also consumers could never have imagined a few years ago. Consumers are capturing digital still and video images on DSLRs, point-and-shoot compact digital cameras, cell phones, smartphones and PDAs. Who would have guessed a few years ago that Facebook would be the world's largest imaging site?

Over 20 billion photos have been uploaded so far and that number is growing geometrically every day. The goal of Access Photo is to allow consumers to access their images wherever they might have uploaded them, on Facebook, Picasa, soon from Flickr and pull them into their RitzPix.com account for storing, sharing, displaying and to order any of our imaging products.

PB&ML: We have heard a bit about RitzPix.com's mobile initiatives, can you tell us a bit more about what the future holds here?

Tahmin: We recently announced the release of two mobile applications, one for the iPhone and one for Android-enabled devices. The new free applications give users the ability to upload pictures and view photo albums directly on their RitzPix.com online photo account from their mobile device. Once images have been added, consumers can log-in to their account where they can share, save and display prints and other imaging products through their local Ritz Camera and Image store in just one hour.

PB&ML: Another area that is exploding with consumers is video and RitzPix.com has launched a Video Gallery section online. Tell us about this?

Tahmin: RitzPix.com has partnered with Digital Post Interactive to bring video to RitzPix.com. Through our partnership, consumers will be able to not only upload their digital images but also their digital video files as well. Our video gallery will eliminate the need for consumers to have to sort their digital life by still and video images, and gives them one convenient location for everything.

In addition to storing, consumers will be able to access video editing tools and share videos via video e-cards. We are excited about giving our consumers the ability to organize their digital life, from stills to videos on RitzPix.com.

PB&ML: Image storage and organization are big issues for most consumers as they are starting to bury themselves under video and still image files. How can imaging retailers help and potentially profit from this issue?

Tahmin: We think RitzPix.com's Access Photo is a great way to start. Images are everywhere these days on consumer's devices and on the Web. They are on –Facebook, cell phones, hard drives, flash drives, compact flash cards, and online image sites like Picasa and Flickr. Access Photo gives the consumer the ability to pool all of their images into one convenient location on RitzPix com.

PB&ML: Awareness about many of the new imaging services and products is an issue today. Too many consumers still don't realize all the amazing things they can do with their pictures. What can the industry do to correct this?

Tahmin: One of the things that sets us apart from our online competitors is that we offer consumers the convenience of ordering exciting imaging products online, with the luxury of being able to pick up almost any product at their local store within the hour. We are constantly introducing exciting new products and continue to explore other potentially beneficial products in an effort to introduce creative ways for customers to display, share and save their memories.

Recently we launched Metallic and Deep Flat Matte Print surfaces, a 4×4 PocketPix Photo Book, which has been a huge hit with our consumers, and a premium custom cover Layflat photo book which has raised the bar for photo books. We will also have some pretty fascinating new products launching in the months to come, but unfortunately because of proprietary information I can't talk about those now.

By Michael McEnaney

NO COMMENTS