Hewlett-Packard has sold its Snapfish online photo services business back to long-established US-based private company, District Photo.
HP purchased Snapfish from District Photo in 2005, which in turn had purchased it from the founders in 2001. District Photo continued to handle Snapfish orders in the US after the sale.
District Photo, established back in 1949, describes itself as ‘one of the largest direct-to-consumer custom product and photo fulfillment operations in the world.’ It numbers among its clients Costco and Walmart. District Photo has three photo printing facilities in the US and one in Devon, England. The new owner has undertaken to continue to use HP equipment following the completion of the acquisition, scheduled for October. District Photo has more HP Indigo printers than any other facility in the world, according to its website.
No financial details of the (re-)purchase have been revealed. HP acquired Snapfish for US$300 million and proceeded to develop it into the largest online photo services business in the world – while outsourcing actual order fulfillment for customers to third parties using its Indigo digital press printers. It operates in 12 countries including Australia and New Zealand. It offers free online photo sharing, photo storage and management, free editing tools and software, online print ordering and more than 70 personalised photo products. In Australia, wholesale fulfillment operation Photo Create has handled orders for Snapfish.
US reports indicate that HP has been trying to sell Snapfish for some time, as it no longer fits with its strategic direction. HP is gearing up to be split into two entities later this year, separating its PC and printer businesses from its corporate hardware and services operations.
HP has been moving away from the photographic industry at a rapid rate. After abandoning its customers in the minilab sector with the closure of its short-lived Retail Publishing Solutions business unit, it will cease supply of consummables and maintenance for that equipment from April 30.
Who own Snapfish in Australia today?
I have used them for a couple of jobs in the past. Very good results. Just what I wanted.
However I have used them twice in recent times. The first was a disaster. The most recent must have been a 2 for 1 – 2 full page photos of my rental Mustang on Route 66 in 20 pages. They also changed the page order. (no complaint about the printing)
It takes time to prepare the order and then they get it wrong.
How about the camera shops sending work to “Snapfish Building” in Glen Innes or is it in Melbourne.
When the albums etc are returned direct to customer addresses most would not complain.
Not a good service.
Just had a look at large portraits from PMA USA when Indigo was introduced to the photo market. They are still the same high quality