Calumet Photographic Announces New International Web Platform At CalumetPhoto.com

CHICAGO, Sept. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Calumet Photographic, Inc., a global leader in professional photographic equipment, announces the launch of its enhanced online marketplace, CalumetPhoto.com, a state-of-the-art website designed to interact seamlessly between Calumet's 31 stores in the U.S. and Europe and its professional call center. Company officials expect to create a unique and all-inclusive online shopping experience for customers around the world. The announcement comes on the eve of Calumet's 75th anniversary servicing the professional photography community.

Calumet's new website will focus on improving the following capabilities:            

• Improved product search capabilities
• Thousands of new product listings
• Side-by-side product comparisons
• Product reviews
• Tips and suggestions from our experts
• Interactive platform that improves customer service communications
• A wish list that can be shared with friends
• Special pricing available online for students, military and first responders
• Significant online promotions

"Since the 1930s, the Calumet name has embodied the highest levels of service and the greatest quality photography equipment," says Christof Bergmann, managing director of Calumet Europe and CEO of the Calumet Group.  "We made it a priority to evolve our e-commerce platform, and this latest iteration of our site provides the most robust and informed shopping experience our customers have ever encountered with us."

According to Brian Carroll, president and CEO of Calumet U.S., the upgraded website also features interactive capabilities that engages Calumet's customers and better addresses their ever-changing needs as photographic technology continues to develop. 

"Overall, the new platform strengthens our contact with all photographers," says Carroll. "It will broaden our capabilities and services to our customers throughout the U.S. and Europe."

According to MarketLine, the global photographic-products market has been accelerating since 2010 and is expected to grow to over $65 billion by 2015.  The professional photography industry is expected to grow by 13 percent through 2020, and photographic schools are optimistic about career niches such as food photography, portrait photography and online media.  Furthermore, it is expected that the growth of smartphone photography will expand significantly the base of customers looking to step up to higher levels of photography.

Calumet's website upgrades grew from the cross-continental efforts by Calumet's global web and marketing teams and Intershop Communications AG, an innovative e-commerce developer with a successful 20-year history in both markets.

Calumet Photographic, Inc. has been serving photographers since 1939. Only Calumet serves the needs of photographers with an interactive website, professional call center, worldwide retail and rental centers. There are 31 retail centers in the Calumet group serving the United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

SOURCE Calumet Photographic, Inc.