WASHINGTON — Ritz & Wolf
Camera & Image is offering photography
and videography services in
four major markets.
The specialty imaging chain recently
launched the “On Location” program
in Minneapolis and Salt Lake
City, added the service in Dallas and
Denver, and plans to roll the program
out nationwide next spring.
Services initially include business
and family portraiture and sporting
events, shot on location by Ritz &
Wolf photographers.
“This really is an exciting time for
the Ritz & Wolf brand as we continue
to grow our company in ways that
we never imagined or, in this case,
haven’t utilized in decades,” said
president Stephen LaMastra, in a
reference to the company’s roots as a
portrait studio. “We have some of
the most highly trained photographers,
all of [whom] are certified, to
offer our customers affordable, professional
photography and videography,
delivered to their doorstep.”
On Location services include business
imaging, from single headshots
to staff portraits; family, pet and high
school senior portraits; and sports
and game photography, with additional
categories to follow. The company
said its staff is experienced in
a wide range of specialties including
commercial, fashion, sports, wildlife,
landscape, portrait and even wire service
photography.
The 90-year-old chain has been
adding services and diversifying its
assortment since re-emerging from
bankruptcy one year ago. While
d-SLR remains its core hardware category,
the company has expanded its
CE assortment to include camcorders,
netbooks, flat-panel TVs and,
under a partnership with Verizon
Wireless, cell and smartphones, although
its greatest growth is in photo
albums, calendars, greeting cards,
prints and enlargements.
Ritz operates about 300 stores
in 36 states, as well as an e-commerce
site at RitzPix.com. The privately-
held business was founded by
Benjamin Cohen in 1918 as an
Atlantic City, N.J., portrait studio.
His grandson, current chairman/
CEO David Ritz, led the 2001 acquisition
of cousin Chuck Wolf ’s Wolf
Camera chain, which raised the store
count to over 800 locations in more
than 40 states.
Ritz bought back the business in
a bankruptcy sale last year, and has
since restructured operations and reopened
shuttered stores.
