News

Drug chain adds KODAK photo kiosks

September 14, 2011

Eastman Kodak Company today announced that Seattle-based Bartell Drugs has replaced its remaining fleet of in-store photo processing lab systems with KODAK Adaptive Picture Exchange. According to a company press release, the recently completed chain-wide upgrade converts the Bartell Drugs fleet of photo processing lab systems from silver halide "wet lab" technology to APEX thermal dry labs.

A drugstore chain serving the Seattle metro area, Bartell Drugs has built a reputation for innovation in its photo centers, based on Kodak retail photo kiosk and lab systems. The APEX fleet also allows Bartell Drugs to implement Kodak's Net-to-Retail solution to drive in-store printing from customers that prefer to create and order products from home via the Web. Bartell Drugs was among the first U.S. chain drug retailers to deploy the KODAK Social Connectivity Module, which allows customers to access their photos directly from the kiosk from online sharing sites such as Facebook, the KODAK Gallery, and Google Picasa Web Albums to create and print premium photo products such as duplex photo books, calendars, KODAK Personal Greeting Cards and KODAK Picture Movie DVDs.

"Meeting customer demand for new and exciting photo products, while achieving more speed and efficiency in the fulfillment process is a strategic business initiative for Bartell Drugs. Kodak has helped us every step of the way," Ron Miller, senior vice president of merchandising, Bartell Drugs, said in the release. "Our new APEX fleet not only opens the door to a broader and more profitable in-store product portfolio, it provides the pathway for Bartell Drugs stores to become Web-based photo fulfillment centers."

Since it was introduced in 2009, APEX has become a leading thermal dry lab photo processing platform for retailers worldwide. APEX enables retailers to accept, manage and produce premium product orders, including photo books, collages, posters, single-sided and duplex greeting cards and calendars.

"In addition to enabling us to offer new photo products and services, the fact that APEX is more energy efficient and operates with much lower overhead makes it a tremendous asset in our photo centers," Miller said.

Read more about photo kiosks.