Kodak-Fujufilm
Jennifer Beckner
Strayer University
Assignment 1: Kodak and Fujifilm
BUS 302 Management Concepts
Dr. Gary HanneyJuly 27, 2014
Kodak and Fujifilm
Kodak and Fujifilm are both extremely well recognized names in the photographic film industry. These two companies became two of the bestselling brands in history. Both companies had innovative products throughout their history that created a competitive advantage. Both companies prided themselves on creating value oriented products. While Fujifilm is still a global leader today in more than just the photographic film industry, the once great Eastman Kodak Company is struggling to remain a viable business, and has almost completely fallen by the wayside.
The Eastman Kodak Company was the brainchild of George Eastman. George Eastman was a bank clerk, and in 1878, he was one of the first to demonstrate the great convenience of gelatin dry plates over the cumbersome and messy wet plate photography prevalent in his day. Dry plates could be developed at the photographer’s convenience; while wet plates had to be coated, exposed at once, and developed while still wet. Within two years, Eastman developed an emulsion-coating machine that allowed him to begin commercial production of the dry plates. His humble side business was located in Rochester, New York in a rented loft. In January of 1881, Eastman partnered with family friend Henry A. Strong to form the Eastman Dry Plate Company, and in just nine short months, Eastman quit his day job, to focus his time and efforts into their company. 1884 was a year of change for Eastman and Strong. The company went from a partnership, to a $200,000 corporation with 14 shareowners. The company also rebranded themselves as the Eastman Dry Plate and Film Company. [Kodak 2014]
By 1885, the first transparent photographic “film” was introduced into the market, and a year later, the Eastman Dry Plate and Film Company became one of the first American businesses who had a full time
Strayer University
Assignment 1: Kodak and Fujifilm
BUS 302 Management Concepts
Dr. Gary HanneyJuly 27, 2014
Kodak and Fujifilm
Kodak and Fujifilm are both extremely well recognized names in the photographic film industry. These two companies became two of the bestselling brands in history. Both companies had innovative products throughout their history that created a competitive advantage. Both companies prided themselves on creating value oriented products. While Fujifilm is still a global leader today in more than just the photographic film industry, the once great Eastman Kodak Company is struggling to remain a viable business, and has almost completely fallen by the wayside.
The Eastman Kodak Company was the brainchild of George Eastman. George Eastman was a bank clerk, and in 1878, he was one of the first to demonstrate the great convenience of gelatin dry plates over the cumbersome and messy wet plate photography prevalent in his day. Dry plates could be developed at the photographer’s convenience; while wet plates had to be coated, exposed at once, and developed while still wet. Within two years, Eastman developed an emulsion-coating machine that allowed him to begin commercial production of the dry plates. His humble side business was located in Rochester, New York in a rented loft. In January of 1881, Eastman partnered with family friend Henry A. Strong to form the Eastman Dry Plate Company, and in just nine short months, Eastman quit his day job, to focus his time and efforts into their company. 1884 was a year of change for Eastman and Strong. The company went from a partnership, to a $200,000 corporation with 14 shareowners. The company also rebranded themselves as the Eastman Dry Plate and Film Company. [Kodak 2014]
By 1885, the first transparent photographic “film” was introduced into the market, and a year later, the Eastman Dry Plate and Film Company became one of the first American businesses who had a full time
References: Pension Funding: Kodak to Pay Retired Workers in Film | TIME.com. (2013, April 30). Retrieved July 27, 2014, from http://business.time.com/2013/04/30/kodak-to-pay-retired-workers-in-film-and-other-adventures-in-creative-pension-funding/ Sustainability Report | Fujifilm Global. (n.d.). Retrieved July 27, 2014, from http://www.fujifilm.com/sustainability/report/