Ritz Camera
 |
|
| Subsidiary of C&A Marketing | |
| Industry | Photographic products and services |
| Founded | 1918 |
| Defunct | 2012 |
| Headquarters | 2 Bergen Turnpike Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660 United States |
|
Key people
|
Harry Klein (President) Chaim Pikarski (Vice President) |
| Website | www.ritzcamera.com |
Ritz Camera & Image is a photographic retail and photofinishing specialty store, headquartered in Edison, New Jersey. The company owns and operates a chain of six locations throughout the United States under the names Wolf Camera, Inkley’s and Ritz Camera. In 2012, Ritz Camera was acquired by C&A Marketing.
The family-owned company (Ritz Camera Centers, Inc., predecessor in interest to Ritz Camera & Image, LLC) was founded as a portrait studio in 1918 by Benjamin A. Ritz, in the Ritz Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Whether the occasion was a wedding, graduation, or confirmation, the tradition in Atlantic City in the early 20th century was to have it captured with a B. A. Ritz portrait. In 1936, Benjamin and his brother Edward opened the first Ritz film-processing lab in Washington, D.C. Ritz Camera was headed by Edward's son, David Ritz.
Ritz Camera was the first chain photo-finishers to offer 4×6 prints from 35mm film, as well as free bordered prints, as standard. Ritz Camera is also the first national chain to offer 4.5×6, commonly known as 6D, prints. Unlike the traditional 4×6 prints used for film, Ritz's 6D prints reflect the different aspect ratio of 4:3 digital images. Ritz stores stocked 6D sized frames and albums.
In July 2003 Ritz Camera introduced Ritzpix.com, which also offers customers online ordering and in-store pickup within an hour. Ritzpix.com is currently powered by Lucidiom. In 2010, customers had an option on ritzpix.com to have an online order delivered next day to their home at no extra charge.
In May 2006 Ritz Camera announced a partnership with YesVideo to start offering same day DVD Transfers in all stores nationwide. These stores can transfer VHS, SVHS, MiniDv, Digital 8, and digital media to DVDs in about the time any particular tape takes to play.
In 2007 and early 2008, Ritz began installing Oki and Xerox equipment in their locations to enable the production of hard-back photo books, photo calendars, and custom greeting cards by customers via in-store kiosks or through RitzPix.com for in-store pick up. Ritz and Motophoto are the only two national retailers to offer these services in a one-hour lab.
Beginning in 2008, Ritz began installing lamination/mounting machines in many of their stores to offer foamcore mounting and laminating up to 24×36 inch prints in store.
In February 2010, Ritz started offering Metallic Printing up to 30×40 size on Kodak Professional Endura Metallic Paper and Deep Matte Prints on Fujifilm Paper.
...
Wikipedia