Photographers' loss
It is a sad day for professional photographers and the novice photographer to have the Rauch family close one of the most reputable full-service camera stores in the country. No matter where I was located, all I had to do was call Lowell Rauch and I knew my professional equipment needs would be net with honesty, integrity and professionalism. Every employee who worked for the store was aboveboard when it came to dealing with the customer.
Yes, it is a sad day for the photography industry and the public.
Jonathan Kammen
Fayetteville
Comments (4)
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Everyone has expressed sorrow about losing such a wonderful company as Carolina Camera but everyone is keeping mum about the reasons Mr. Rauch stated for closing. I refer to all the information he gave us about the breaks big businesses get from the federal government that the small business doesn't. All these perks make it impossible for the small businessman(woman)to be competitive in todays market. Unless you are a minority (and women are no longer considered a minority in business) you are starting at a major disadvantage. The name of the game is gobble, gobble, gobble. Poof, there goes most small businesses.
I agree with a previous post, people never learn.
Posted on February 28, 2005 3:26 PM
It's important to note in light of the previous post that Carolina Camera was a Jewish business. In part, the clanish support of the local, minority Jewish community allowed it to prosper. Also, some of its policies such as "absolutely no cash refunds" perhaps contributed to a local reputation that was less stellar than the previous posts suggest, and to its downfall. Furthermore, we know other established photo businesses have survived, those that have changed with the times. Additionally, we shouldn't have too much sympathy for the store's closing. I would imagine that the Rauch family is sitting pretty now with the real estate they were able to amass on the cash flow of the camera business and particularly on the backs of their low-wage employees---As the dollars continue to flow into the Rauch real estate coffers, I wonder where the camera shop employees are today?
Posted on May 11, 2005 9:00 AM
Carolina Camera was a terrible business! I'm happy to see them go, they deserved it!
Posted on June 1, 2005 12:22 PM
Yep. The Carolina Camera owners were terrible, unless it was something that helped them make a buck. Lowell was insane; ask anyone who worked for him. Always yelling and cursing at employees; embarrassing them in front of customers. The no refund policy was a way for them to take your money and run. Lillian was probably the brains behind the business; Lowell was dumb as a rock. Al was a charmer, but really mean to his employees. Look where the employees ended up after many, many years of service to the multi-million-dollar company--you can find that info by looking at the defunct Carolina Canera website!
Posted on December 28, 2007 9:32 AM