Does the camera rental industry really make money?

Recently, Lumoid, an American e-commerce startup that provides camera and technical equipment rental services, declared bankruptcy. Less than half a year ago, Lumoid also signed a cooperation agreement with the well-known retailer Best Buy. Their original online photo service has been sought after by many netizens. Users who buy electronic products on this website can use an electronic product first by paying the deposit of 10 yuan, and then decide whether to buy it after trial, which greatly facilitates the hidden dangers of online shopping for users.

It is reported that in 20 13, Lumoid graduated from the YCombinator incubator program, and the founder of the company, AarthiRamamurthy, led the team to raise nearly six million dollars, and then registered the domain name. However, in the past few years, despite the establishment of a cooperative relationship with the well-known retailer Best Buy, it is still unable to raise the required funds. So in the past four months, the company has been selling assets and intellectual property rights to help the team tide over the difficulties. However, the situation continues to deteriorate. As a last resort, founder Ramamurthy decided to dissolve the company.

After seeing this news, Image Jun made a corresponding market research and found that compared with the current situation of foreign equipment rental market, the domestic equipment rental market can be described as leading the way. This has something to do with the development of the times, but in their interviews, you may find some answers about where equipment leasing will eventually go.

Damao image equipment-Damao

As a sideline, one day a year ago, photographer Big Cat started his own equipment rental career. He often travels abroad and has a thorough understanding of the current domestic leasing economy. These insights also made him particularly clear about his future direction.

Arrangement of interview overview

Editor: I read the news the other day that the development of foreign leasing market is not very optimistic. What's the status quo here?

Big cat: There are quite a lot of people renting, and the income is better than expected. The market environment is different, right? People in China can gradually accept the lease and enjoy it. The most active market for enjoying the economy is China.

Editor: At present, the equipment in your store is owned. Did you buy it personally? Or custody?

Big cat: 90% of our current equipment is our own equipment. At present, many friends have begun to rent their idle equipment to us, and the income is very good.

Editor: What would you do if the camera broke down or was artificially damaged during the user's use?

Big cat: There are standards and proportions for compensation. If there are details such as bumps, falls and water ingress, we will ask the customer for compensation. If it is damaged, we will send it back to the manufacturer, and the price compensated by the customer is the price set by the manufacturer.

Editor: The current rental market has not been fully integrated. How are you going now?

Big Cat: Integrating the market needs funds. We are currently looking for investment and raising funds ourselves.

Editor: What are your plans for the future?

Big Cat: Our plan for 20 18 is to vigorously develop equipment leasing and promote it with all efforts, so that more photographers can take out their idle equipment, enjoy leasing and create value for idle equipment.

Lantuo camera lease-Xiao p

As a veteran who has been in the business for 6 years, when it comes to equipment leasing, many people in the industry will immediately think of Xiao P. As the first industry leader to get angel round investment and open branches in many places, Xiao P admits that he has got rid of the stage of worrying about funds, but there are still many plans to be realized in the future.

Arrangement of interview overview

Editor: What is the current income?

Xiao P: I just made 20 17 rental big data recently. By the end of 20 17 12 3 1, the number of lease orders in the whole year had increased by over 200% year-on-year, and the number of management equipment had increased by over 10 times. It is not difficult to find that more and more consumers are paying attention to the rental market, and at the same time, more and more photographers have entered a new era of enjoying life.

Editor: What is the average odd number of daily transactions in a year?

Small P: On average, it is about 120.

Editor: What percentage of cameras do you have at present?

Little P: Half in custody and half in full possession.

Editor: Will the focus shift to the direction of hosting in the future?

Xiao P: We will vigorously develop the custody business in the future. I think this is the future and direction. I can buy my favorite equipment, put it in the storage room, and bring it back when necessary. According to statistics, the entrusted equipment contributed 45% of our income from June 5,438+10. At this rate, February may exceed 50%, which is a historic moment!

Editor: At present, the domestic camera rental market is not hot enough. What are your plans for the future?

Xiao P: Camera rental will definitely be very popular in the future. Our goal is to be one of the two solutions that people usually think of when they need a camera: buying or renting. Cameras are actually particularly suitable for renting products.

Editor: Then how do you coordinate the relationship with the manufacturers?

Xiao P: Now we are also considering promoting this concept with manufacturers. At present, Hasselblad and Ashley have formally cooperated in leasing. In fact, leasing is a benign operation for the overall photography market. For example, Hasselblad has leased customers and can guide purchases in the future. If you buy it, the rent can be twice the purchase amount.

Small P: Increasing brand exposure, increasing traffic, increasing user experience and promoting purchase can be said to be mutually beneficial.

* * * Enjoy-it has spread to all aspects of our lives, and the photography industry is no exception. In our view, the enjoyment of equipment is only a prelude to the economic enjoyment of the photography industry. Maybe one day, when you are not inspired to shoot, you can go into the store and buy the shooting ideas of photographers such as Man Chen, Mark Lyu3 bu4 and Bresson ~

* * * Enjoy the future, let's wait and see!