News & Events

 

Kodak was founded in 1888 by George Eastman with the primary focus on photographic film products.  They were the dominate photography company in the 1970’s with over 90% market share.  However, with the birth of digital film their market share began erode and in 2o12 Kodak announced that it would focus solely on corporate digital imaging market.   They entered chapter 11 bankruptcy, sold many of their patents which raised over $525 million, and recently received approval to borrow up to $844 million to fund the rest of its Chapter 11 reorganization.

These figures, says Chris Payne, Kodak director and vice president of commercial marketing, show Kodak going back into the black with a positive  Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $167 million at some point in 2013. By 2017, the company has told the SEC, EBITDA will be $494 million, having improved by more than $800 million since the measurement began climbing out of negative territory in 2011.

The strongest growth, according to Payne, should come from Commercial Imaging’s (CI) digital printing and enterprise portfolio segment, which includes production presses, functional printing solutions, and packaging.

 

 

A much newer and smaller company AlphaGraphics has spent 2013 growing from a positive to position to an even stronger one.  AlphaGraphics was founded in 1970 and has grown to an over $8 million a year company with franchises throughout the US and internationally.  Founded entrepreneur Rodger Ford the company now operates as part of British print and electronic media firm G. A. Pindar & Son.

During fiscal year 2013 ending June 30, 2013, it signed an unprecedented 41 franchise agreements. This unit growth is more than double its fiscal year 2012 signings. AlphaGraphics attributes these strong results to the successful implementation of its business strategy to evolve from a printer to a trusted, marketing communications franchise serving small businesses.