2005 Digital Minilab Supplier Roundtable

It's still very evident that digital is changing the way consumers continue to view/process their images. As digital processing becomes more accessible, photofinishers look to a variety of new products and services they can offer their customers to grow their businesses. Although sales of photo kiosks

and digital minilabs were down slightly in 2004, the number of people printing at retail is up, driving further growth in retail digital print volumes. 2004 represented a gap year in terms of equipment sales, as the market absorbed the heavy installations in 2003 when major chain photofinishers sought to equip all their stores with digital labs and photo kiosks. Nevertheless, growth is up again in 2005, as many of the mid- and low-volume retailers that were not quite ready to invest in new hardware during 2004 are now coming on board.

According to InfoTrends/CAP Ventures' new forecast report, sales of photo kiosks are projected to grow by 9% in 2005. Some retailers are beginning to outfit their stores with more than one kiosk to avoid lines and long waits for customers. Meanwhile, digital minilab sales are also expected to demonstrate growth over the five-year forecast period, fueled by replacement sales, decreased prices, and new innovations.