Jessops
A specialist camera-shop name known to generations of photographers.
The story of Jessops
Jessops began as a photography business in Leicester in 1935. It developed into a national retailer selling cameras, lenses, film, printing services and photographic accessories.
The original retail company entered administration in 2013. The name was subsequently acquired and relaunched, so the closure date marks the original chain rather than the permanent end of the brand.
Historical business dossier
Founders and origins
Frank Jessop founded a photographic retail business in Leicester in 1935. It developed from a specialist camera shop into a nationwide retailer of cameras, lenses and photo services.
Ownership through the years
After several ownership and financing changes, the previous retail company entered administration in January 2013. Entrepreneur Peter Jones acquired the Jessops brand and certain assets and relaunched the chain through new companies.
Decline and administration
Digital disruption, pressure on camera sales and high street retail costs contributed to repeated financial stress. It is important to distinguish the 2013 administration from later restructurings of successor companies.
Financial performance and scale
A historical financial summary reports revenue of approximately £236.8m for 2011; confirm the accounting entity and audited filing before using this as a headline metric.
Who owns the brand today?
Jessops-branded retail has continued under businesses associated with Peter Jones. The exact registered proprietor for each trademark should be checked.
Research sources
Branding through the years
Historical images and clearly identified reconstructions.
Jessops camera shop in Manchester, January 2013
Archival photograph of the brand at this point in its history.
Image: David Dixon · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Original source ↗Historical image archive
Image: David Dixon · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Original source ↗
Brand timeline
Jessops photography business founded
Original company enters administration and brand is relaunched
Community memories
Personal recollections from visitors. These are not independently verified historical facts.
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