Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/04/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The obvious question (or at least obvious to me): why doesn't Cosima purchase Leica? Mr. K obviously has an incredible flair for classic RF cameras and accessories--if any manufacturer understands the mindset of making this type of equipment, it's Cosima. Jim Shulman Bryn Mawr, PA -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+jshul=comcast.net@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+jshul=comcast.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Stephen Gandy Sent: Monday, April 25, 2005 11:26 AM To: Cvug@cameraquest.org; rflist@cameraquest.org; luc@cameraquest.org; lug@leica-users.org Subject: [Leica] Leica Article in LA Times There is a small Leica article in the LA times today, April 25, 2005 www.latimes.com you have to register to see the article, a seldom used address from hotmail or yahoo might be a good idea to avoid spam the article talks about a stock split, and hard financial times as Leica adjusts to the digital marketplace. According to the article, Hermes is advocating a spin off of Leica's "digital partnership with Panasonic of Japan" (a bad idea in my opinion). I believe Leica's real troubled started when the Leitz family sold Leica decades ago, giving control of the company to bean counters who never completely understood Leica's products or Leica's devoted customers. Unfortunately the bean counters only excel at beating their chests proclaiming how great the product is (they would do the same MBA standard rhetoric if the same execs were running, say a fashion scarf company). The problem for decades is fundamentally that the Leica Board of Directors simply does not know what products to bring out, what product improvements need to be made, or what products to stop production on to cut losses, simply because the Board is not comprised of Leica photographers. Worse, the Board does not see its own shortcoming because of overwhelming pride. I believe Leica can be not only fixed, but brought into continued profitability. But that won't happen until professional Leica photographers are making the product line and marketing decisions, not bean counters. Stephen Gandy _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information