Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/11/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Geoff, No, that is not what I meant, please read what is written, not what you want to read. The oligarchs and most of the Leica market today are clueless about what a Leica is capable of. There is no issue in my mind, as one who has made a living analyzing companies, that we (the serious amateur and professional photographers) are not their target market. Not by a long shot. At present, it is the rich Russian and Chinese, though this is a moving target, as it must be to succeed. There is a reason why new models are always available in these markets before the USA and Europe. There is also no doubt where all these special editions that they come out with sell the most. Do you know where the M9 was most heavily advertized? Not in any camera magazine, but GQ, Esquire and magazines in that category, right next to Armani, Rolex and Montblanc - all aspirational brands. I think that their marketing focus and strategy is perfect - the nouveau riche of the Third World, and the aspirational yuppie of the developed world - they would not be able to survive otherwise. There are, what 50 M9 cameras that were bought new by members of the list? Or 100? You know, maybe, where 500 bodies are (friends of friends of friends, etc.). Where do you think the other 29000+ bodies sold? Fuji, to me have been very smart. They have noticed that there is a big market that just says "Hey, look at that cool looking camera" and buys the product - and are trying to muscle in into Leica's design oriented market, with a cheaper product. Luckily for me, they put in autofocus, and I purchased it. If Leica had done that earlier,or Nikon as was being rumored at one point of time, I would have bought their offering, with new lenses to boot. This is a bit of equipment I was looking for, and that is all there is to it. Doubtless others will look at Fuji's success and try the same, it is the way of the commercial world. Cheers Jayanand On Sat, Dec 1, 2012 at 10:48 AM, Geoff Hopkinson <hopsternew at gmail.com>wrote: > Jayanand, people that chose to buy Leica are clueless!!?? > I dispute your 'simple fact' that none of us are their target market > either. > Where is this analysis about oligarchs that keep the company in the black? > > Those are silly characterisations, generalisations or recycled internet > chatter absent supporting facts. > Never mind, another cycle of threads has begun. Have at it again.. > > Cheers, > Geoff > http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman > > > > On 1 December 2012 12:10, Jayanand Govindaraj <jayanand at gmail.com> > wrote: > > > Phil, Douglas, > > As someone with over 35 years experience of analyzing company behaviour, > I > > would say that none of us represent the market that Leica are targeting > > nowadays. Simple fact. I am not saying what they are doing is wrong, in > > fact I think their focus is absolutely right. Do you think they can > survive > > on what we all collectively buy new every year? No, it is the oligarchs > > that keep the company in the black - be grateful for the clueless. In > that > > sort of luxury market, unfortunately, the end sale prices are directly > > related to what the market will bear, and not to the costs involved. With > > their finite resources, I doubt that they can handle the costs of R&D and > > marketing in too many different niches. > > Cheers > > Jayanand > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >