Focused on Film
If you’re a hobbyist, amateur or professional photographer in South Bend or the surrounding areas, you’ve likely perused the aisles at Gene’s Camera. A mainstay since 1939, the local camera shop started as Picture Equipment Company. The popular store was later renamed to include Gene’s name and, after several iterations, is now Gene’s Camera. Fast-forward to today, and new owners Jon Gilchrist and Melaney Miller are continuing to make Gene’s Camera the go-to option for photography and printing in northern Indiana.
A photographer, enthusiast and artist, Gilchrist was a familiar face at Gene’s Camera. Most days, he could be found roaming the shelves or dropping off film for developing. As a frequent visitor, his employment seemed inevitable, and one day it simply became a reality. He was often called in to answer some of the more technical questions due to his product knowledge and expertise.
Even more naturally, he was the logical choice to take over when it was time for new ownership. After 43 years running Gene’s Camera, Barbara and Jack St. Pierre tapped Gilchrist to acquire their beloved store. His answer? No. But after a little soul-searching, Gilchrist found it was an offer he simply couldn’t refuse.
“We are professional and life partners, and taking ownership of Gene’s Camera has been a dream fulfilled. It took us a long time to figure out this was the perfect fit for us, but once we did, it seemed like it was always inevitable,” says Miller, vice president and co-owner.
The new owners recently celebrated their one-year anniversary and are incredibly proud of the upgrades they’ve accomplished in a single year.
Notable updates include a new point-of-sale system to better track inventory and speed up customer fulfillment, customer service and sales training for all employees, free photo walks, photography classes, and a refreshed logo to mark the positive changes.
“We really want to build a community. It’s important to us that we are trusted to have everything a photographer might need in a pinch. And we want to be the go-to experts for any and every question. That’s why every member of our sales staff is involved with photography, whether as a hobbyist, amateur or professional,” Miller says.
Gilchrist and Miller hope to make even more positive changes as they head into year two. They’re hoping to reduce in-store wait times, improve order notifications, and find even more ways to engage photographers through photo contests and a customer gallery.
Miller also wants customers to know about improved product options, including better lighting and memory selections, as well as a partnership with a service for digitizing old movies and images. The service transfers movie reels and cleans old film to remove scratches, dirt and imperfections using a wet-gate process.
“We’re a full-service camera store. If you’ve ever taken or loved a picture or video, we have something for you. And we’re now proud to be a destination location. As the only camera store within 68 miles, we’re honored to be a resource for the community and beyond,” Miller says.
Gene’s Camera also offers full-service printing and a robust online store. Visit genescamera.com for more information.
