Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Wojcik.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My husband Mike and his brother started Spartan Photo Center in 1985. They started out as rental darkrooms and grew into film processing and the selling of camera equipment. Mike’s parents then joined the business around 1988. Eventually Mike’s brother went on to pursue photography and their parents retired. I left my wedding photography business to join Mike in keeping Spartan Photo Center growing and adapting to the times and technology. Together we have several websites devoted to tripod parts and quick releases. Our lab services are online and draw business from all over the country because we still process film and also print from any size negative or slide.
In 2014, we moved into a 6,000 square foot building in order to expand our photolab and increase the size of the showroom. We still are a small business – an honest Mom and Pop store. With our combined knowledge of new and old we now service a wide variety of customers who are looking for the newest technology but still want to keep with the roots of traditional photography.
Has it been a smooth road?
With the collapse of Kodak and the almost instantaneous take-over of our industry by technology and the internet – no it has not been a smooth road. The giants of the internet that have billions of dollars and can advertise anywhere and sell for any price have killed not only our industry but many more local shops. Unfortunately people pick up a camera and trade knowledge of photography for knowledge of software. We struggle every day with keeping ourselves competitive. The thing that keeps us going is the love for photography and preserving memories because we do see the infinite importance of future generations seeing images from our time. Everyday a photo that is over 100 years old comes through our lab. Families can look and see their history. They don’t need power or a device – they just simply look at a photograph. The digital photos produced today that are never printed or printed to be preserved, will be forgotten on a computer and eventually tossed as technology changes so rapidly.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Spartan Photo Center – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We are the last full service camera store in the state of South Carolina. Spartan Photo Center is known for our ability to keep one foot in the past and one in the future. Most everything we do, we do in store. We convert VHS and other media to digital/DVD. We digitize slides and negatives – but the most important is that we print from them.
We make enlargements, reduce photos for lockets, stretch canvas, and make gift items such as mugs and metals. Here we breathe life back into damaged photos – restore color, increase contrast or simple make copies. One of the things we are most happy about is still processing c-41 and black and white films. With Polaroid’s comeback brought to us by Impossible, we see a new generation experience the fun and art that is instant photography.
Keeping up with your quick release on your tripod may be a problem for you, but we stock as many different brands and model years that we can get or have made. Selling cameras and teaching classes has always been a part of who we are.
What sets us apart now is the ability to help guide people through the maze of new technology and still get what they want. There is still something to be said for actually talking to a real person, and we are here for that.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
We love Atlanta life – we hate the traffic!!!
Contact Info:
- Address: 108 Garner Road
Spartanburg, SC 29303 - Website: spartanphotocenter.com
- Phone: 864-583-6835
- Email: photoorders@spartanphotocenter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spartanphotocenter/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spartanphotocenter/
Image Credit:
Spartan Photo Center
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