Picture this — longtime Bellingham company finding customers in traditional hobby
Customer loyalty has kept Quicksilver Photo Lab around for more than 30 years, and that loyalty appears to be fueling its current growth spurt.
Quicksilver recently expanded its space at 1417 Cornwall Ave., taking over the front part of the building that was formerly home to Single Dollar Solutions. It was only a little over a year ago the business moved from its longtime spot in the basement of Trek Bicycle store at 100 E. Chestnut St.
In its move to Cornwall, Quicksilver operated out of the alley. Some customers were were a bit hesitant about going into the store through the alley because traffic is sometimes fast, owner Cate Reed said in an interview.
When the front of the building became available, Reed decided to go for it even though the timing was a little ahead of her business plan. The original space also was a bit cramped, and customers were asking about a front door entrance.
The store is now approximately 4,000 square feet, allowing Quicksilver some growing room for its many different services. Along with film development and photo restoration work, it also does fine art reproduction, produces large prints and sells camera equipment.
With the prevalence of phones that can take digital photos, one might think film development would go extinct. It’s actually a growing segment at Quicksilver, averaging approximately 100 rolls per week. Reed said they’ve seen a younger crowd, who appreciates the process of film development. Customers appreciate film pictures as a different style compared to digital pictures.
Another product experiencing a resurgence is single-use cameras, Reed said. People will use them in places where they don’t want to risk ruining a more expensive camera or phone, such as scuba diving or music concerts.
The extra space also has allowed the company to build studio and dark room areas. Quicksilver is working with the organization Positive Negative to organize dark room workshops, which should happen in early 2020, Reed said.
The customer response to the changes has been great, Reed said. She took over ownership of the business a little more than year ago after founder Jeff Daffron retired. Reed had previously worked at Quicksilver for seven years before purchasing the business.
“Quicksilver is all about the community,” Reed said.
In a previous article Reed noted that Daffron was good at adapting to the changes in the industry by listening to the community, something she has attempted to continue.
Store hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and closed Sunday. Further details about the company can be found on its website.
