Comments on: Please DO NOT have fun in our store!

By: Mark Libell

Mark Libell — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:41:40 +0000

It is a dilema. It is virtually impossible today to stop people with camera phones from taking pictures in a store and the examples you give for why we should allow it are compelling.

However there are many reasons why retailers have policys for banning photography or video in their stores. One big one would be the media. A retailer is not going to allow a local news crew to take photo’s or videos in their store without permission. The media is not above sensationalizing a story that could hurt a retailer just to drive their ratings.

Thats just one reason, I could list many more. Its a valid policy and even though technology has changed I doubt most retailers will change that policy.

By: Ben Smith

Ben Smith — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:35:20 +0000

Thankfully camera phones in general, and the iphone in particular make it easy to take the needed shots in store.

Much better than the old days of feeling like a criminal with my point & shoot, looking both directions down the aisle before I take a shot.

By: Al

Al — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:27:40 +0000

Whilst I agree about the fun aspect, I worked in a Fashion store (high end) for 14 years. I agree with the “Apple argument”, however, I honestly cannot count the amount of times I caught buyers/rival companies photographing our products just to manufacture/copy them for their own labels. Some were really blatent about it, some were going to extremes of concealing cameras and distracting the staff or taking items to the changing rooms to do it. The buying teams for these trips work to a budget- it is much cheaper to photograph product/details then copy them that way.
The long term result is lost sales.
For example if a UK company wants to open a store abroad, trading on their unique attention to detail or brand identity, then find another company doing EXACTLY the same thing…. that would surely affect sales, wouldn’t it?
Further to that, if the photographer is taking photos just for the reasons you stated, the best course would be to ask the store manager first- just common courtesy. For the record, a fun and professional service would ALWAYS keep me coming back. Nobody really likes being told what to do! Anyways, great article, thanks.

By: Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor

Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:11:33 +0000

Fun post Jason! I saw this a lot when I was working in retail in the 80′s with stores in the Santa Monica Place mall, where the Japanese tour busses stopped each day by the droves, put up signs in their stores in both English and Japanese not to take pictures. I saw it a couple weeks ago at the Holister in SOHO when the only comment made to me while I was there, “Sir, no pictures allowed.” Its fairly funny in hindsight.