Olan Mills goes bankrupt
Just heard a disturbing piece of news, which was confirmed by the Olan Mills website yesterday: Olan Mills has gone into administration, effective immediately.
According to my source, the UK chain has tried to sell its business for a while, unsuccessfully. The staff have been told they will not be paid for this month, and the area managers have been told to lock up the stores and go home. There have been reports of some store employees taking equipment home (cameras, computers, studio lights, etc), holding it as ‘hostage’ against unpaid wages.
Can anyone shed any light on if this affects the US company as well? It’d be rather surprising to see one of the most famous portrait studio chains go tits-up…
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When I posted this blog story the first time around, there was no news about this on Google News or anywhere else, but the UK website posted the following:
Olan Mills Holdings Ltd / Olan Mills Ltd (both in administration) (“the Companies”)
Richard Philpott and Myles Halley both of KPMG LLP were appointed in the High Court as Joint Administrators to the Companies on Thursday 14 December 2006.
Following an initial review of the business and its finances, the administrators regret to inform you that the Companies are unfortunately no longer able to continue trading. All stores have now closed and we are unable to fulfil any outstanding orders or appointments.
The administrators are also unable to make any refunds of monies paid. If you are owed money by either of the companies you will need to register your claim by writing to the administrators at 2 Cornwall Street, Birmingham, B3 2DL giving details of the amount you have paid.
At this stage we do not anticipate that any funds will be available to enable a distribution to unsecured creditors.
It is obviously a worrying situation, because Olan Mills was a major employer in the photography sector in the UK. It is possible to argue that the quality or type of work they were delivering was a bit on the ‘conveyor-belt’ side, but ultimately, this item of news about people and their jobs…
So, what do you guys think that the closure of Olan Mills is going to mean for photographers? Will there suddenly be a lot of portrait photographers looking for jobs — which is bad for the industry as a whole, because employers can get away with paying even less to their photographers? Will this closure be the forewarning of the closure of other large chains? What can we, as photographers, do to help each other?
Sadly, I don’t have any of the answers - several of my close friends were affected by the closure, and they are facing a particularly depressing Christmas this year, with no money and no jobs to go to in the new year. My condolences to all who are affected, and the warmest wishes of a healthy rebound in 2007. Just don’t give up hope.
Finally - what do you make of all this? The comments that have been coming in have been insightful and heartfelt so far, but I’d love to hear from more of you.
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This entry is © Haje Jan Kamps / Photocritic.org, and was posted on Friday, December 15th, 2006. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
#1 - December 16th, 2006 at 01:44
not a single person was told about it happening… no warning, no pay for xmas, no nothing… olan mills has ruined christmas for a lot of people. Not only the employees but the customers who have basically had their money stolen from them for christmas presents etc.
#2 - December 16th, 2006 at 15:20
Oh they tried till the end I’m sure! I remember when they pulled out of Canada, I miss them so. They always hired me when I needed a job and let me quit when I had a good gig only to come back when my cards were maxed again. I feel for the folks who lost their jobs but take what you learned there and go for your own business. Every sitting I have in my studio reminds me of my Olan Mills days and I’d give anything for a good Portrait Consultant to sell my photos!
Photogs, be glad of your traditional posing training it is a dying art. Go to Zuga.net and continue your training, look for Monte Zuker and learn from a master.
All the best to my Olan Mills friends past and present!
Cheers,
Ingelbert
#3 - December 17th, 2006 at 14:17
We didnt mind the low pay, the long hours and the minimum amount of time given for diffecult photo shoots but I have worked there for nearly a year and the gift of unemployment with no notice and no pay for Christmas wasnt exactly on my list.
However, my real sympathy goes out to all those lovely customers who dragged all the grandchildren together for a christmas picture for Grandma or such like, and were given absolutely bugger all but an empty bank account. The Company KNEW it had gone down the crapper at 4.30, yet continued to trade until 7.30….sound fair?
#4 - December 17th, 2006 at 14:57
My grandsons were having their photos taken on thursday afternoon. We got the news first thing Friday morning from one of their employees.
#5 - December 17th, 2006 at 16:41
I work for Olan Mills for just short of 6 years. Never in all that time reveived a present or a card from the company at christmas. They certaily made up for it his year
#6 - December 17th, 2006 at 17:01
i think this is disgusting on olan mills behalf as my nan was currently working for the company in the walsall store in the west midlands and she is very upset to find out that after a total of 16 years working with olan mills it was literally thrown back in her face. and to find that they will not get their final pay this close to christmas is disgraceful i also think that it is horryfying to know that they are reported to have known about the company failing for up to 6 weeks’ and so surely they could have had the decency to notify their hard working employees so they may have had a little longer to find re- employment rather than stretching it out this close to christmas. i hope the owners in charge are proud to know they have ruined many peoples christmas due to their insensitivity
#7 - December 17th, 2006 at 17:59
Well, Thankyou to the top dogs at om for this most delightful xmas pressie. My nieces, sisters brothers and the rest of my friends and family who will be going without gifts this year all send their thanks too. and thankyou so so very much for the lack of goose or turkey i’ll be feeding them when they all visit me!! Just beans on toast this year im afraid
#8 - December 17th, 2006 at 18:06
Im not surprised they were in debt, after working for olan mills for almost 2 years it became apparent that studio staff (the real hardworkers of the company) were treated like crap and not paid enough for what we had to do while at the other end of the spectrum they were all sitting pretty with their company cars, mobiles and laptops not to mention the meetings located in expensive hotels where apparently …”everyone slept with everyone”.
The final kick in the teeth came when my wages were taken out of my account a day after a had been paid…this is definetly corruption at it worse.
#9 - December 17th, 2006 at 20:06
I was shocked to hear they went out and legally stole customer money without a care. Killed off staff wages for another bite of the customer cherry. As a customer who has lost £200, with no pictures all goodwill has gone. My view is professionally the company failed in its duty of service to everybody. the USA body is still running, the UK is probably dead for good. If anybody gets anything back all the best I am not surprised staff took what they could after such treatment.
#10 - December 17th, 2006 at 20:22
I worked for the company for 7 years and count them as some of the best years of my life. Olan Mills was a way of life and my colleagues were more like family…in fact I saw more of them than my family sometimes.The way the company chose to inform us..ie: a 5min recorded telephone call was scandalous.
Someone somewhere chose to keep us all in the dark and I suspect that it may well turn out that the reason was because there was something to hide. I don’t know but the reality is that 1000 workers are out of a job with no money….
Weekly paid people did receive a weeks wage on Fri 15th but the company bank (HSBC I think) has recalled that money back out of peoples accounts using a Direct Debit…I am not sure of all the details except that I did have a wage on Friday but now it will be taken back out on Monday and there seems no way to stop it. I do feel sorry for all those that have lost pictures and money and I hope that when the dust settles down all the pictures in the stores will be released to their owners….
#11 - December 17th, 2006 at 23:55
I for one ran a profitable olan mills store for 9 years and was totally shocked to hear the new on thursday eve.
I would like to assure any customers that we as staff had no clue as to wat was coming on thurs night, until they started to send tsa staff home then i knew something bad was afoot.
I apologise deeply to all customers that have lost orders and monies to olanmills and hope that they can make the best of a very bad situation.
I have lost a months pay expences and commission which was very hard earned with a mortgage due out next week and no xmas present for my younger daughter purchased as yet :(
Hope the new year brings better fortune to all concerned cos overall this has been a really crap year for me x
#12 - December 18th, 2006 at 00:15
Well the phrase we tried comes to mind. Find the treatment of staff in all this absolutely ridiculous. Unfortunately it seems that certain customers, who i admit have ever right to complain do not seem to be looking at the bigger picture. I along with a handleful of other staff in the lincoln studio went back on friday morning after the news and took to our phones and called as many people as we could who had appointments with the studio to warn them against making wasted journies.
We managed between us to cancel the majority or leave answer phone messages for the majority of people booked right up til the end of december. Howeevr this was not in the slightest easy owing to customers ranting and raving at us down the phone and demanding things in return. One customer came down the store threatening to smash things up even though he had paid only a measly £10 for a single sitting that he had not even taken.
From a staff point of view I fully support all customers however a little grace would be appreciated. end of the day we did not have to go in on fri and help people. On that note I have still myself got a few photo’s of people that were delivered to the studio, i have been doing my best to play santa and get these to customers, only 10 envelopes remaining from 56. shame Olan Mills cant pay my personal phone bill for all the calls iv made in chasing people about collecting their pictures….
All the best to all the staff, btw check out the National Insurance Fund and also Emploment Protection Regulations, employees maybe able to claim money from owed wages through these national funds… why else do we pay national insurance each week/month
#13 - December 18th, 2006 at 12:12
I’ve had a terrible weekend just thinking about it, and still feel sick now. I’m a single parent who had taken my daugher along for part of her watch-me-grow programme and ordered photos for family members for christmas presents. Now i have no photos, no money and therefore no presents for my family, when this time of year is a big enough struggle. I’m in tears again now just thinking out it. PLEASE SEND ME MY PHOTOS
#14 - December 18th, 2006 at 16:03
I was as shocked and surprised about the collapse of Olan Mills as everybody else was and offer my heartfelt sympathies to all of the hardworking staff and disappointed customers. I’m a photographer with a studio based in Bedford and have been able to offer free sittings for anybody who had booked and paid for an appointment with Olan Mills and who has a receipt or appointment card and would like to make the same offer here for anybody who is within driving distance of Bedford.
Unfortunately I am unable to offer a free print with the sitting but hope that at least this will help reduce the disappointment for anybody who wishes to take advantage of our offer. I can be contacted on 01234-363914 during normal hours.
#15 - December 18th, 2006 at 16:12
strange. never heard of this website, yet its the only one, other than the mirror and the olan mills website that says anything about the company or situation other than some crap about “career building”!
The OM site is all a load of crap for the customers, the mirror paid some attention to the staff (my “colleagues”, more like work family considering we saw each other more than our own families due to long LONG hours over xmas that were for bugger all essentially!). but generally the customers seem to be the ones being sympathised with and though it is understandable (i can at least say in our studio about 10% of our customers were NOT evil pricks to us, and they will know who they are cos there is definitely a certain truth that cant hide in the face of a pissed off studio staff member!), it must be said that a lot of customers were complimentary grabbing demons who seemed to be running in parrallell with the company to see who could demoralise us the most. i totally empathise with the previous messager who was shouted at by customers whilst trying to inform them of the news on his/her first day of unemployment (your a bigger person than me!). also to the messager who named us, the studio staff, “the real hardworkers of the company” - THANK YOU!
Throughout the time olan mills was open the customers had their service line to call and complain that their FREE picture wasn’t big enough or that their photographer wasnt a professional clown making their children laugh and smile in their mums and dads ideal manner!
SO THIS IS FOR THE STAFF! so many of whom i knew and yet so many more i didnt, so many people i considered family that i wont see again cos we weren’t given any time to say anything to each other. i dont know who these people are who’ve left messages, i could know any of them! that job and that studio was all consuming and we all gave everything we had til one day they just said no more thank you goodbye get out! this whole situation seems very BIG to me but is so isolated in perspective with the rest of the world.
I feel very isolated from the people i need to be with when i think about all this. i just wanna say i hope everyone’s ok and that we’re gonna be alright, all of us. i do hope the customers get whats theirs, especially the ones who were good to us, they will be missed; i hope all your little ones grow up to be very cool big ones! most were heading that way already… and for the ones who never had a say, i hope all studio staff take care and experience some better luck. it would be extremely extremely well deserved!
take care guys,
. . . x
#16 - December 18th, 2006 at 16:22
My daughter had worked for this company for almost 7 years, having just moved back up North from Basingstoke where she managed her own studio which, I might add, won the top sales local and national!
She came back to settle down with her partner and have just signed up for a mortgage on their first house on Wednesday. So, when I received the shocker of a call from her in tears on Thursday, I couldn’t believe it. She absolutely loved her job and had nothing but praise for her co-workers, this company was like a little family to her, she worked hard at her job because she loved it so much, always talking about the kind of day they all had.
I’m gutted and dismayed at how things have turned out, especially when my sister rang me to say that loads of little girls were outside the studio on Saturday on the phone to their parents to say that the studio was closed, I was informed later that it was a girl zone party that had been booked, probably some poor little girls birthday treat!
I hope the people in charge have happy children this Christmas! Because my child certainly isn’t!!!!
#17 - December 18th, 2006 at 17:24
i worked in tsa for quite a while the people i worked with were like family,, we had our ups and downs but hey isnt any job like that? ill never find a job like it!! the manager was great.. (hey sara!!) we had our shit like u have with any boss but she became a very good friend to most of us and will be greatly missed!! im so gutted!! how can a company just go like that? we have been left with nothing its unreal. cant get my head round it!!
We all moan about work but i just wish this was a bad dream and im gona wake up… Or even better olan mills might pay my wages and il have a half decent christmas, but the way its goin i doubt it.. they paid me and took it vack which has now left me over drawn how shit is that!! no job no money and now bank charges!! can it get any worse? i just hope we all keep in touch and everyone who is owed money or pictures gets them at some point tin the very near fuuture!! (( THEY MUST HAVE KNOWN)) !!!!!
To every olan mills employee out there who is feeling this shit …. good luck for the future we’ll all get over this but you will all be missed very much xxxxxx And to the person up there who hid the fact that we were going under MERRY FOOKING CHRISTMAS TO YOU TOO YOU SELFISH BASTARDS!!!!
#18 - December 18th, 2006 at 17:27
excuse the spelling mistakes as u can gather im not in the right frame of mind for this either!!!!!! lol
#19 - December 18th, 2006 at 18:15
I have a watch me grow package with olan mills and have now lost my money for this.
perhaps if they didnt charge so much for the photos they take them more people would buy them then they wouldn’t of gone bust!!!!
#20 - December 18th, 2006 at 18:15
i worked for the company for 4 years and although i know we didnt get paid much and the hours were crap, i loved every minute of it and actually belived in what i was doing. when i found out what was going on my heart broke. everything i’ve know and loved gone. the people that were my staff who grew to be my friends were as destroyed as me. our christmas is ruined and i dont think i will ever find another job as satisfying again.
my sincere apologies go our to all the customers who came to the wigan studio, i took many of the xmas portraits this year and i know how excited some people were about reciving them.
as for the u.s side of things. there still going strong. i emailed them a couple of days ago and they send there deepest regrets. the u.s. had nothing to do with us after the company piper bought them out years ago.
and for all the ex employees. good luck, try to have a nice xmas and take care xxx
#21 - December 18th, 2006 at 19:01
There are some interesting comments on this site with regards to Olan Mills, however there is another perspective on all of this.
There is sympathy for all of the Olan Mills staff that have worked directly for the company and who have suddenly found themselves unemployed and nobody would wish for somthing like this to happen.
Regular calls were placed with a third party IT Support Company who supported the external IT for Olan Mills seven days a week, which involved calls such as sending one of their Engineers to Manchester (a four hour journey) to plug in an ethernet cable into a computer, or travelling to the South Coast (another four hour drive) to change one digit of an IP Address on a Server (which incidently could have been resolved remotely by Olan Mills IT Support themeselves because there was a dial-up connection to the Server already in place). There were other such calls such as travelling to the South-East Coast to swap out the CDRW Drive because it made a ‘noise’ or plugging in a Power Cable to an Appointment Terminal becuase it wouldn’t turn on, in fact this list is endless.
And so, added to this, due to the obvious incompetance of the IT Managers and IT Support Staff at Olan Mills, they decided to pay a tremendous amount of money to this third party IT support company so that their Engineers could do these poorly managed and unqualified calls on their behalf.
Furthermore the understanding is that these hardworking Engineers from this third party IT Support Company would often travel hundreds of miles to carry out these poorly managed and unqualified IT Support Calls and in return would recieve no thanks from their Employers, no thanks from Olan Mills Staff and would instead often be at the recieving end of unhelpfulnes and rudeness from the Studio Staff.
The point to all of this, is, that Olan Mills paid fairly good salaries to members of the IT Department at Olan Mills, who were often incompetant staff with little to no knowledge of IT, and it was these people who spent the huge amount of Olan Mills’ money on a third Party IT Support Company so as to hide all of their mistakes and poorly qualified IT Support Calls. This money alone could have better been spent internally at Olan Mills and may have helped contribute to the prevention of the lquidiation of this company. Maybe, if Olan Mills had implemented a better Management Structure, then they may still be trading today!
#22 - December 18th, 2006 at 19:25
Just wanted to send my sincerest condolences to all the staff that have lost their jobs at Olan Mills. x
#23 - December 18th, 2006 at 19:55
I feel very sorry for all those people who have lost out to this terrible situation. I have been a loyal customer of olan mills for some years since the birth of my daughter 7yrs ago. Only 2 weeks ago i purchased another plan for 3 sittings. Fortunately for me this has only meant loosing out on 20 pounds unlike many many other customers and staff. Just a thought for those people who made purchases using credit or debit cards it’s worth checking with the bank to see if you can claim this back with a letter from the recievers to confirm that you will not be getting what you paid for. Sorry theres no advice i can offer the staff other than my thoughts of sympathy.
#24 - December 18th, 2006 at 20:33
I was only an OM customer, on at least my 5th watch-me-grow package in 7yrs (I’d hate to think how much i’ve spent there!). I got a call on fri 8th dec to say my portrait was ready, but didn’t have time to collect it yet:-( Its so frustrating as I can see the cupboard where my picture is sitting if I look in the studio window at Bromley, but i wonder if i’ll ever get to see it! If only I had gone and got it before… I still had a sitting left on my plan too and we were going to have a portrait of the grandchildren done for the grandparents 40th wedding anniversary.
I would just like to say a big thank-you to the staff at Shirley and Bromley studios who captured my most special memories of each of my babies. You were always so friendly and kind and really made the effort with the children.
For me its only 1 lousy picture and a sitting, I just hope the new year brings better luck for you all. My thoughts and best wishes are with you this xmas xxx
#25 - December 18th, 2006 at 20:48
I worked at chatham for just under 2 years missed out on redundancy by 3 weeks! A RECORDED MESSAGE! To watch my manager lose her job after ten years, have a cry, pull herself together and contact her staff,many who considered her a friend,and inform them no job and no pay 10 days before christmas was heartbreaking something I will never forget!
I often felt frustrated with senior olan mills staff and as a telesales operator felt undervalued I had no idea this extended to managers studio staff and photographers aswell. Does the time of year mean nothing! I can’t believe this was handled in the best way! Taking money back from peoples banks is that even legal?
I tried so hard to get commission for christmas, and happily took card details at every opportunity i got and often got to know a little about customers and their families, feel like shit now!
To all I worked with take care try and have a nice christmas I will meet up with as many of you as poss to get pissed and slag off Olan Mills! THE BEST OF LUCK TO YOU ALL!!!!!!!
#26 - December 18th, 2006 at 22:11
Fed up - to hear that another company goes under.
What is happeing to the economy so much for looking for a job when you have one it goes before you do!!!
#27 - December 18th, 2006 at 22:16
I bought a £50 voucher for my other half for chrimble which obviously is worth as much as my cat dirt!
King Coel in colchester are offering a free sitting for anyone who has been stitched, just ask for Paul Cudmore.
Also, my apologies for the staff who are now out of work at quite possibly the worst time of year.
#28 - December 18th, 2006 at 23:33
Does anyone know why or even how Olan Mills went bankrupt?
I dont think it is legal for a bank to put money in and take it back out again without your prior permission, but saying that if you read the direct debit guarantee it does say something about if there are any mistakes you are entiltled to a full refund blady blady blaa. but if its wages which you are entitlted too and you’ve already been paid it, i’m pretty sure you’ll have a good case to sue the assholes for that seeing as though its theft really.
Speak to a solicitor, someone like Atha & Co. no win no fee solicitors and someone who will be able to give you free advice. worth asking and finding out without the charges.
Are you part of a Union?????? If so they should be able to act on yor behalf and incur the costs, if not it could get quite expensive.
Neway, for wot its worth, make the most of a shit situation and have a good christmas.
#29 - December 18th, 2006 at 23:52
Ok thought id write in again and let all STAFF know some VALUABLE INFORMATION, iv been diggging around trying to sort out all the goings on. Basically ive found the following:
1. All staff who have completed at Least 2 years work can claim redundancy pay consisting of 1 weeks pay for eaach full year worked and also i weeks pay for each year worked as notice. (all upto a max of £290 per week)
2. For EVERYONE regardless of time worked, they can claim up to a max 8 weeks wages that they have not been paid, and also upto 6 weeks holiday pay that would of been owed.
3. The DIRECT DEBIT which HSBC took out on Monday 18th, will be returned by your bank owing to this not actually being authorised as a legal transaction.
4. If anyone would like further details please contact me on my mobile (its not TPS either for all you TSA like i was) 07949 035790.
Im hoping that i can at least get some details for people, so at least for ALL STAFF there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
Looking forward to hearing from anyone wanting information. If any of you can pass on my number to other employees who may find this information useful please do so. But please respect my privacy with the number as in no calls before 8.30am and after 10pm please…
Many Thanks, and good luck all. James
#30 - December 19th, 2006 at 10:00
My daughter’s friend, who works in Brighton had his last week’s pay taken out of his bank account so now he owes his bank money!
#31 - December 19th, 2006 at 19:58
I am soooo sorry for all the Olan Mills staff who have lost jobs. I really think that this should be covered all over the newspapers as the Farepak drama was. I have been desperatly trying to track down a montage of my son which was taken last year.
My local branch of Olan Mills had taken in to reglaze as a “goodwill” gesture as my youngest son had just had his montage delivered and the glass was different. I am absolutly gutted and i wont be able to replace a photo of my oldest taken as a baby again….i really feel the motto “your life in pictures” is taking the utter piss as they have my childs photo from last year and are not tracking it for me.
I will be willing to have a courier pick it up or to drive there myself!! The picture had tinsel on it last year and has come of the wall for this reglazing. I am sick to the stomach. Also sick for all the people who now face hardship in the new year.. The bastards.
Lets talk to the newspapers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#32 - December 21st, 2006 at 17:56
Like many other photographers attached to the BIPP or MPA there’s enormous sympathy for everyone caught up in this mess.
For those customers affected in the Kent area, myself and colleagues would like to help where possible in trying to organise en masse reshoots without any sitting fees. Please contact me at sales@panoptica.biz or via http://www.panoptica.biz
#33 - December 21st, 2006 at 21:02
Well, well, well! Good one to the staff of one of the London studios who spoke to the BBC London News Television team and Radio on Tuesday 19th December 2006. One of the workers 8 year old daughter expressed her views…aww bless, she told them alright. They pushed KPMG to make a statement and also a statement came from Olan Mills. They said they didnt leave a recordered message and that it was face to face where posible…(.hmmm ?!! ) It was also mentioned in the free travel newspaper the Metro in london. In the Metro 19th December the headlines said “Merry Christmas your sacked!”
Did the directors of olanmills (in small CAPS as they dont deserve to mentioned in uppercase) think that the “ho ho ho!” approached to sacking everyone days before christmas would be taken with a pinch of salt? I THINK NOT !!! MORE LIKE THE KNIFE IN THE BACK
#34 - December 22nd, 2006 at 16:07
My sympathy to all staff and customers caught up in this mess. I worked for the company for 5 years as a photographer and can completly understand the dissapiontment and anger which not only staff have with the company but also the customers.
For all those customers affected in the merseyside and preston area please call me on 01704 538899, my studio is based in southport and we will try my best to help as many of you as possible we cant shoot and print any portraits which you had ordered with olan mills for christmas but we can shoot the remainder of your watch me grow and club plans.
#35 - December 22nd, 2006 at 20:50
Surprise in the post today i recieved the ‘free’ photo from an elegance photo session. just keeping fingers crossed now for the ones i paid for on the 14th.
#36 - December 22nd, 2006 at 22:58
can i break into the shop and retrieve my photos, surely thats no more unlawfull than what om have done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#37 - December 24th, 2006 at 20:29
Hmm so you’ve got scumbags over there too ha? And for x-mass! What a kick in the old nuts. But I can assure you; we have them over here in Norway too. Four days before x-mass, I had a phone call from the lawyer of my partner and customer for many years (same person), that could inform me that I would receive no pay what so ever for over six month of work. And two hours later I learned that he had also completely emptied out all the bank accounts we had for our company. So now I need a bank loan in order to pay my vat. And taxes for this quarter. Everything! Some people just don’t care, as long as they have money ant power, and sod the rest of us.
By the way, I’m an illustrator, painter, photographer, designer, web designer, musician, composer and singer. And this is how I have made my living most of my life. And the sad thing is that you find these people everywhere you go. And they are always the ones taking, without giving.
But keep it up good people of the world, because we are the salt of the earth, and without us, there would bee nothing at all…No art, no music, no comedy, no literature, no movies no nothing…. just the idiots and their money.
They can steal your money and time, but they can not have your talent.
So happy Christmas every one.
#38 - December 27th, 2006 at 01:51
id tried to book a sittin with ollan mills thru promotions and leaflets i’d sent off in the post since my son was 4 months and didn’t get no response until this month.all of a sudden i had a couple of phone calls trying to get me to book. so i booked a watch me grow package and the telesales guy also managed to convince me to buy an elegace shoot for myself. The week of the shoot i tried calling to reschedule and couldn’t get thru which i found weird.so me and my friend made our way down in the freezing cold with our lil ones all dressed up only to find the studio closed. I was confused and shocked wen few days later i found out what had happened.Not only the fact that i lost £50 i didn’t have but also i’v seen the good job olan mills do and was really looking forward to it. But i’v realised now what i’v lost is nothing compared to what the staff have lost and customers who are waiting for pics or spent large sums. my sincere condolences hope things work out soon. im just so angry coz they must have known and carried on taking peoples money and not letting staff know.
#39 - December 29th, 2006 at 02:58
My only knowledge of Olan Mills is that it was one on my competitors! Perhaps I should be cheering as less competition will probably help my own business.
However, I am disgusted to be honest! I have previously been employed by a number of photographic companies & been made redundant & that was bad enough! How a company can treat its employees in this fashion, under any circumstances is disgraceful!
As for the clients who must feel conned & cheated, you have my deepest sympathy!
I see little dfference between this scandal & the recent fall of Farepack (The Christmas Hampers Company). As yet there has been far less publicity though.
Should any Olan Mills Clients in the Essex, Herts, or London areas be interested, I would be more than happy to try & restore their faith in Professional Photographers .
My company ELITE Photography is based in Harlow, Essex & can be contacted on 01279 316015.
I would be interested in hearing from locally based Olan Mills Photographers as I maybe able to offer some freelance work.
For customers & clients of Olan Mills I wish you luck in your persute of what is yours!
May 2007 bring better luck for you all
Dave kilburn
ELITE Photography
#40 - December 29th, 2006 at 21:42
The demise was predictable….dated product….misconceived marketing straegy….unclear as to target market….one size does not fit all!
We have vacancy or two in Hertfordshire and Essex…ideal spots Romford ad Watford.
Really busy mobile promos…50 -100 sittings per day plus perm studio opportunities coming on line. We have some ex OM photographers already….great girls! Call and ask themif you are interested in jobs…they will tell you what sort of company we are! Call 07831 117755 for first contact.
#41 - December 30th, 2006 at 19:54
I left a extremely well payed job as an assistant manager in retail, to persue a career as a photography studio manager, i had wanted to get into the photography industry since leaving college. I had my interview, then about 3days later found out i had the job, completed my months notice at my previous employment, which dragged because i was so looking forward and excited about the new career which i was facing.
Started on the 4th of december in the studio i was going to be managering, had two weeks training where i travelled 60miles to one studio about 40 miles to another studio throughout the 2weeks, i was told my travel expenses would be paid for so i didnt mind i was enbarking my new career, doing something new in life i was really enjoying it, loving it.
Thursday the 14th december was my last WORKING shift unaware of what had happened or what was going on i woke up on the saturday morning, nice and early as normal got on the freezing cold train for the hour and 10 minute journey to arrive at work and nobody was there sounds bloody funny but it really wasnt. I read a notice on the door that the company was no longer trading and had gone into liquidation.
I spoke to the manager who was training me to check it wasnt a wind up and it was all true the whole bloody lot 9days before xmas with no money, no job, so i ended up taking the long journey home in tears the whole way on the phone to my mum and then my boyfriend. I had the worst sick feeling in my stomach. Spoke to the area manger who hired me a few weeks before claiming they didnt know anything about what was going on and that it was unexpected. im left confused and completelyt pissed off considering i left a perfectly well payed job to start a new career which never begun learning new skills that id never use. the career id been longing for only to be unemployed 2weeks after starting.
I dont think ill ever see the travel money or wage money im owed. my sympathy goes out to all other members of staff who deserved much more than this and a BIG THANK YOU to everyone at the ROMFORD and CHELSMFORD studio for all your brilliant and much apprechiated help with my training, thanks nat and claire x x x
#42 - January 1st, 2007 at 16:33
I worked for OM here in the States many years ago. They taught me valuable lessons about portrait lighting and handling customers. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the temperament to deal with the cattle-call, assembly-line, overbooking sales strategy they used - too much pressure for me in a heavily-populated suburban area. But I know people who flourished in that environment and produced truly beautiful portraits for years. OM had a method and it worked. Once you had the basics down you were free to experiment and get creative - at least a little. I’m sorry to hear they’re going out of business in the UK. Sad to see an old tradition go by the way.
#43 - January 2nd, 2007 at 01:12
i began my training at olan mills a couple of years ago and quit within three weeks. in that time it became apparent that the managment were a bunch of inept morons who saw customers as cattle and treated them accordingly. 10 mins for a sitting?! how the hell do you get a 2yr old to behave in that time when they feel frightened. the photographers and sales staff were treated like crap also.
uk ex employee
#44 - January 2nd, 2007 at 17:40
i am yet another ex-employee of olan mills.i think i can say on behalf of just about everyone who worked for om it was the people we workrd with that made the job what it was.
i done as much as i could in my studio to contact customers for apts and pictures and got nothing but shouted at(went in on fri unpaid,no longer working for the company mind) so if ur some1 who worked for om and u had that special whatever it was to do the job,u’ve still got it so take it where its needed(and u can get paid what its worth),
#45 - January 2nd, 2007 at 19:14
On the 13 th Dec 2006 I got my two toddlers all dressed in new outfits to have their very first picture with their grandparents who had come to the U.K from abroad for the very first time. It took a long time before my toddlers were comfortable for a family photograph. We loved all the photographs and were tempted to buy them all. We paid the full amount to collect the photographs at a later date before christmas. Its the new year now and there is still no sign of our photographs. The staff were all very helpful at the Slough branch. A BIG THANKYOU TO YOU ALL. I hope you get paid and here’s wishing we get our photographs too. It is disguisting to think that the staff can be loyal to their managers and directors but when it comes to the directors being loyal and informative they would rather fill their pockets with money, so as to have a merry xmas and to hell with anyone else.
#46 - January 5th, 2007 at 06:19
Olan mills uk is gone and the jobs of the employee’s as well. So sad is the fact that the clients are to lose the portraits that were paid for. This is not the way to do business. I am also a family portrait photographer and wedding photographer in South Florida. I know about the loss of a job and understand. I basically only work doing wedding pictures and portraits in Palm Beach and Broward, so I really feel for the employee’s at the holidays.
#47 - January 5th, 2007 at 14:45
i am not happy at all my husbands family bought us four photo sessions as a present so they have wasted there money and we went to one session, i have been ringing to book next apointment and couldnt get through it didnt even say on there website! this shows the manager is lacking customer service skills and is an idiot
#48 - January 7th, 2007 at 23:25
The following is lifted directly off the Olan Mills web site and shows that the administrators have tried to satisfy as many orders as possible:
Following an initial review of the business and its finances, the administrators regret to inform you that the Companies are unfortunately no longer able to continue trading. All stores have now closed and we are unable to fulfil any further appointments.
Where possible, the administrators have now satisfied outstanding orders for photographs. All images that were uploaded to the Head Office system have now been printed and despatched.
Photographs that remained in the studios awaiting collection have also been retrieved and sent out via a central distribution facility.
If your order was placed through a Mothercare concession we, along with Mothercare are doing everything we can to ensure these orders are sent out.
Unfortunately, if your images were not uploaded to the Head Office prior to the insolvency of Olan Mills, we are unable to process these goods. If your order included a frame, we were not able to send the photos in frames but again, where possible the photographs have been despatched.
If you have not received your order by 12 January 2007, regrettably these orders will now not be fulfilled and unfortunately the administrators are also unable to make any refunds of monies paid for these items.
#49 - January 8th, 2007 at 11:56
hi,
my sympathy to all you all u olan mills workers what a shocker, i hope you guess find somewhere soon where you can feel apreciated.
i will be looking at taking on some of you guess at my battersea studios so if are a photographer, makeup artist and also the sales guve me a call and we see how we can work togather.
02076221222 toyin
#50 - January 12th, 2007 at 14:25
well i was booked in for the 19th and i lost me dosh,,
but aldershot branch has always treated me well, i feel for all you OM guys!
i only lost a few quid, but you guys have had it bad!
what can i say!! i wish you all the best of luck in finding positions soon!
Isnt it about time the UK government protected staff/people in this situation? ..
I find it suspiciuos it closed at a time where the most money must have been rolling in?
#51 - January 12th, 2007 at 15:37
I read with great interest the article from ‘Business Analyst and Company Liquidator’ about how much money was spent on 3rd party I.T.
I worked for the 3rd party I.T. company (ACS office solutions - based in northampton) and i can confirm that Olan Mills IT dept had no idea what they were doing..
Pointless trips include…
* 200+ miles to the south coast to wiggle a vga cable
* Numerous trips to wales (4 hours each way) to correct one number of incorrectly configured routers.. (configured by instruction of Olan Mills)
* Drive to South coast - this time to swap a switch.. Ok this might not sound easy but the reality is to unplug 4 wires from one box and plug them into another (identical) box.
Also note Olan Mills IT dept Zero Communication program - If you know we are coming then let the store know so we dont have to bloody stand around waiting for hours..?!
Now none of this is rocket science is it?
I resigned from my job because of this incompetence. (And my manager was a 2-faced t@sser)
ps.. I must have been to 50+ stores and all staff were Brilliant! always helpful and smiling and overworked (and underpaid) , except that cow who managed the Ipswich Store..
You might be pretty but you’re a bitch - i hope you get run over by a bus.
#52 - January 12th, 2007 at 18:54
hello and sorry to all staff and customers (not that any of this was my fault). this was a crap situation for o.m to put us into
and right befor xmas was not big and certainatly not clever. i have to say out of all the other sites regarding
o.m this is the cleaniest.
to all the customers that had orders with us in the plant when all this happened i hope you all received
them by the time the liquidators
said you would and in the condition you should have recieved them in. our last day was on friday the 5th jan
and still the phones contiued to ring none stop, and to be honest alot of peaple are still unaware of what has happened
and the fact they no longer have a product they can use. the only thing i can suggest if you have a wmg or family
plan call your local indipendant photographer let them know what has happened and see if they can help. we found
that alot of these guys are taking the customers on coz at the end of the day it’s business.
you customers also no longer required the copyrite release for an of your photo’s.
to all the staff i spoke to, called, emailed or otherwise, you were and im sure still are a great bunch of guys.
i have had so much fun working there even though the pay was very shit the peaple made up for that.
i will miss loads of ya, keep your chins up its a new year believe in yourselfs.
as for the “the company liquidator” YOUR FULL OF SHIT AND TWICE AS SMELLY I HAVE TO SAY
you guys had no idea of what went on at the plant get a life and get you facts straight all the I.T guys
were all awsome at there job and a realy cool bunch of peaple .
#53 - January 12th, 2007 at 20:20
Sorry to hear about Olan Mills, they have been in norwich for years. really sorry for the staff i wish my new business was big enough to take someone on.
Olan Mills is, sorry was our biggest competitor and many of our potential customers were using Olan so we know how many people are affected.
We come to the home so if anyone in Norfolk or Suffolk has an Olan mills baby pack we can come to your home and give you 20% off your package ( normally £150 for 8 pictures) we do free sittings anyway.
Call hanson Home portraits on 01508 538608
All our thoughts are with the staff. may you find new jobs quickly (preferably with etter hours!!!)
#54 - January 14th, 2007 at 18:21
they had outstanding pictures of our family which cannot ever be replaced as we have a young baby who changes every daym I realy want these pictures i dont see why people cant have them.
#55 - January 16th, 2007 at 00:16
My sympathies go out to all the staff who lost their jobs, and truly hope that God sends you better jobs in your way. Honestly, I was very suprised and shocked to find out that they had closed down! I went on December the 21st as a I had a shoot booked at Harrow on the Hill and as I got there, all I was welcomed by was an empty store and the notices that were up! I had no blasted idea they closed down and no one let us know of closure either!! I was supposed to be taking the shot with my boyfreind and too bad we couldn’t. Im not particularly upset at the money side of things, but I was always pleased with the photo’s, they always came out very nicely done. At least I have quite a few that I can keep. I found their prices quite reasonble to be honest, not over-priced and much cheaper than some other studios that i’d rather not mention (!)
May this new year be a better one for all of us, x
#56 - January 18th, 2007 at 11:51
I feel sickened by what Olan Mills did to me and many others. Right, I didn’t get a confirmation call the night before and thought it was strange but thought they forgot me so I got my 11 month little girl ready in her xmas dress and spent over 7 pounds on travel and then I noticed the shop was dark and assumed they had closed for xmas until I read the sign. I was so upset because all of my christmas presents were ruined and I felt cheated, upset and stupid.
Anyway, I went into the Mothercare in Brighton where Olan Mills were and had a go. Didn’t help though. I later spoke to some lady on the phone from Olan Mills and she was really rude and said I wasn’t getting my money back nor will I be getting my photos so I told her I have no money and no photos which I was promised and she was like okay write to this address and I am going to send it tomorrow. Will I get any money/ prints?
#57 - January 18th, 2007 at 21:47
All this name calling sucks! yes it was bad but none of the lower end olan mills staff had any idea what was going to happen. I myself worked as a photographer in a london studio which i enjoyed for just under two years and it did come as a massive blow but i have thankfully now found another great photography job. All the best to the other ex employees x
#58 - January 19th, 2007 at 20:06
hiya, i dont know if anyone has heard of klick photopoint and max spielmann, they develop photos on the high street. well they have a portrait department that travels around their shops across the u.k and they do free sittings and have unbelievable prices. for only £25 you get a 10×8 and 4 8×6’s. its rumoured that they were approached by olan mills offering to sell the company at the end of november, but klick turned them down. maybe klick portraits will become big enough on the high street to help meet the demands of parents needing portraits. has anyone heard of klick portraits? if so what experience have they had?
#59 - January 20th, 2007 at 20:13
Well what can you say?…’B@st###s. I suppose that only purchacing a £50 voucher in November for my wifes Christmas pressie I am very small fish in this very large mess and luckier than many others. I am very dissapointed like everyone else, especially with the timing. I have also put in a claim to the liquidators, but am not holding out a lot of hope.
I am however very miffed and suspicious of the timing of closure, just on the run up to Christmas. I am sure the “pot” must have been nicely topped up with xmas bookings and vouchers before closure and still no sign of any payback.
Sympathies to all those who lost their jobs….must be gut-wrenching.
#60 - January 22nd, 2007 at 23:46
Gutted had my two young sons photographed at the bolton store on 14th (last day of trading) lost £125.00, but surely they could at least release the negatives to people. after all they belong to us. Would rather the photos than the money, feel sorry for the staff all were lovely in bolton. good luck guys
#61 - January 24th, 2007 at 20:02
I like many people have lost money at olan mills. Just 2 days before they closed i placed an order for christmas presents, surely someone must have known !!!!!!. However i do want to add that for any customers of preston liverpool or any one in the north west i found a studio in Southport, Merseyside and when i explained my circumstance they were very sympathetic and offered to give me free vouchers for their studios to replace the watch me grow ones i’d lost. Ive been to the studio, had the photos taken and are thrilled with the results, we were not rushed in and out and the two young girls even took the time to get to know my young daughters and make then completley comftable. Ive left a few message on sites now as i dont see why we should loose out when weve already bought plans with olan mills , i strongly reccomend this company to anyone the number is 01704 538899, its tucked just behind lord street but not hard to find, good luck to all the staff whove lost jobs.
#62 - January 25th, 2007 at 14:12
I was an employee Olan Mills. I gave up college and extra qualifications to become a photographer for the company and did everything I was asked. I was sent up and don the country and got not one thanks. Since I started, I had no end of problems, but none which warrant everyone loosing there jobs! Its a big F you to all the workers and customers courtesy of Olan Mills! Nice one!
#63 - January 29th, 2007 at 15:58
Its a shame Olan Mills is no more, especially for customer’s living in Croydon and surrounding areas, who depended on portraiture as a means of documenting their child’s growth. For individuals and families that had Olan Mills watch me grow plans or family sittings, all is not lost for I am able to offer you 20% off a Portrait Pro photo session costing £130 which consists of 2 8×10 prints and high resolution photo session CD with up to 20 images.
Portrait pro offers you the ability to plan your photo shoot:
• At home, memorable place or function.
• Portrait Pro offers the flexibility of personal props, free styling consultation and advice, using existing items from your wardrobe.
Portrait pro offers a high quality creative service, with exhibition quality print options.
Email your interest to portrait pro today.
portraitpro@hotmail.co.uk or call 07950 581 981
#64 - January 29th, 2007 at 21:50
Well reading through this website I am quite concerned about the bad mouthing of IT by the two following.
3rd Party IT Guy Says:
Business Analyst And Company Liquidator
I feel for everyone at Olan Mills. I worked in the IT department for four years were things have not been easy by half. Yeah there were a lot of calls for silly things, but why was this it wasn’t because as people we couldn’t work out what needed to be unplugged. A lot of the time even though we loved the staff in the studios they were not always clued up and or willing to touch the IT equipment especially in some of the longer running stores.
I do not blame them there should have been a lot better training which was being looked at before piper bought out the US.
Then things started to go horribly wrong a number of project costs were cut, meaning things were done on a very tight budget and if you were a 3rd party guy who travelled you wouldn’t have known we paid a F***ing set fee for the calls so dont preach about something you people know nothing about.
Everyone lost out on this and at the end of the day communication wasn’t great but that wasn’t between staff. Many a day I spent on the phones talking staff through problems over the phone stayed late to fix issues worked weekends and not being paid for it, like a lot of people in olanmills. I know that yeah IT probably did seem like the highly paid group but compaired to Jobs out there we could of happily moved and almost did. Only to think about the people that we would leave behind.
Notice how nobody on here has mention the plant staff that often slogged there guts out to get out images with equipment that was often faulty, and an accounts department that worked there hearts out to try and make sure commission was paid on time.
lastly 3rd Party IT Guy you should be ashamed of your comment about the manager of ipswich she may have had a go at you or been a bitch but you have no right to say that she should be hit by a bus. There was obvious reason why she would have been like anything to you.
I have so much more to put on here but the two people that put slander about things they know nothing about shouldn’t comment.
I wish all the staff from every STUDIO/TSA/MOBILE even the ones that probably hated IT and the way we worked all the best and a hope of new jobs to grow and expand there knowledge and happiness.
I look at it as a start to something new, and thats the way things go (memories can never be destroyed even by hateful words)
good luck and have good lives.
#65 - January 29th, 2007 at 22:06
Lastly 3rd party guy why didnt you just speak to us about it, I dont think we had many bad words about you guys just some comments from female staff thats all. If anything it just meant that the bad communication didn’t stop at us but within your department as well; and with ever changing store opening times people were not always contactable and you got paid for it so why complain we sat like many in offices with no windows to the outside world while you travelled the open road :o). Stop your whining, to be fair you didn’t work for olan mills and really have no right to complain. Only customers and employees.
#66 - January 30th, 2007 at 00:35
I worked for olan mills as a telesales manager for 7 years before I leaving the company 6 years ago for greener pastures. I am shocked by what has happened but, I must say, not by the appalling way in which the company has acted. The upper management of Olan Mills have a history of treating their staff with derision. In the main they also suffered from selected memory loss, so maybe they just forgot to mention to their staff that they were having servere financial difficulties. I have spoke with friends who worked for the company at the time of the liquidation and they confirmed that they had absolutely no prior warning about the situation. They just turned up for work and were told to go home. One had already put her first credit card payment through for the day when she was told, but she damn well made sure that she did a card reversal before she went home so her last customer would not be left out of pocket. People should remember that Olan Mills is a brand name which was sold off by Olan Mills America 2-3 years ago, however many of the upper mangement continued in their exisitng roles. Funny how many of them have been paid huge severance salaries over the months proceeding the companies demise. Me thinks they may have known what was coming ‘you think’?. Yes, they had their fair share unlike the poor staff at the sharp end and their customers who were left high and dry just days before christmas. My heart goes out to you all, especially the staff who must have been left devasted by finding themselves with no money and no job at the worst possible time of year for this to happen. Indeed I can quite honestly say that Olan Mills have really out done themselves this time.
Interestingly I am also informed that prior to it’s liquidation the company had been furiously opening new branches all over the place, in fact several a month, the last of these being only three weeks before they stopped trading. No wonder that they went under even during the busiest and most profitable time of the year for the company.
All I can say in closing is good luck to you all, you are all wonderful people who deserved to be treated better and I hope like me that you really do get to move onto pastures greener, though it might not seem like it a the moment. God bless
#67 - January 31st, 2007 at 06:06
THIS IS NOT NEW. 11 YEARS AGO THIS UPCOMING OCT, THIS HAPPENED TO ME AS WELL. I HAD WORKED FOR 25 YEARS, AND ONE DAY, IT WAS MY LAST DAY. NOT ONLY ME,BUT MANY OTHERS. IN THE END, THE ENTIRE OHIO (IN THE STATES OPERATION WAS ENDED.
DON’T EXPECT ANYONE TO SHOWS THEIR FACES. AT LEAST, NOT ANY OF THE SO CALLED “CORPORATE MEMBERS.” THEY LIVE THE HIGH LIFE, LOTS OF MONEY, STATURE, ETC., HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND LOOK YOU IN THE EYE, AND GIVE YOU FACTS AND DETAILS.
I SURE LOVE MY DIGITAL CAMERA…
#68 - February 2nd, 2007 at 16:00
Its interesting to read some of the comments above, 3rd party support guy, mrmeaner and other members of staff who have worked for olan mills.
maggs, correct, they have been opening loads of stores, last store was sutton on 27th October. all of the new stores were within mothercare stores, presumably to keep the overheads down.
3rd party support guy, aka jody fussel. yes, loads of silly little trips to places, some very frustrating. but when you have people in a studio that strugle to turn a pc on, what can you do? through a tantrum and break your window, then claim your car has been broken into?
mrmeaner, yes, of course they got paid, nobody works for free??? but maybe when they are traveling to somewhere, start off at 5/6 in the morning, working a full day, or not getting home until 9/10 at night and not getting paid overtime/expected to be at work for 8 the next day, it can be a bit annoying having poorly qualified calls.
and to the person who claims to be the administrator, i dont know who you are, but you abviously know about the way olan mills worked, and had access to the files detailing where and what engineers were doing. and know how much was paid by olan mills for this service.
there was communication problems at olan mills, when a call was logged, eg. server needs swapping out as the usb ports dont work, when the engineer turned up the ports were working, but the printer had been disconnected and plugged into a different port. or anther example of the server needing to be swapped out because again the usb ports had stopped working, but what the studio failed to tell you was that another member in the it department had told them to get a new card reader and install it, but the old drivers had not been removed causing the new reader not to function.
i cant comment on every call, as for the time i was working at the support company i wasn’t doing lots of calls, but we did have to respond quickly, and drop everything to do these silly calls, or a ginger haired man would spit his dummy out and get very upset.
but on a lighter note, i’ve been informed that olan mills is making a come back, with about 50 stores to reopen and start to trade again. i wonder if they will make a go of it again?
#69 - February 3rd, 2007 at 18:40
QUOTE [Then things started to go horribly wrong a number of project costs were cut, meaning things were done on a very tight budget and if you were a 3rd party guy who travelled you wouldn’t have known we paid a F***ing set fee for the calls so dont preach about something you people know nothing about.]
why wouldn’t someone from the 3rd party company know that olan mills paid a fixed fee for their annual maintenance contract???
knowing that you could send engineers here, there and everywhere, doing stupid things like plugging ethernet cables in because you thought the computer had blown up, you didn’t have to pay for each call, so why not make lots of silly calls to get your moneys worth???
#70 - February 4th, 2007 at 16:45
oh happy days folks…. they really did it this time… i also worked for olan mills back in 1998-2001. Sorry to all the staff left high and dry but the upper managment were always a bag of shit…
#71 - February 13th, 2007 at 21:56
when i was pregnant i bought a kit for 4 sets of baby photos for my daughter costing £50! i was not told about this and am very disapointd about this happening as i dont have the money to just through away! im a single mum and am very annoyed! you cant even claim the money back! how rediculous!!!!
#72 - February 14th, 2007 at 08:57
I had a portrait session done in November - the 1st photo for the “watch me grow” at Croydon, mothercare branch. The photographer and studiostaff were really nice people and I am so sorry to hear that they and hundreds of other staff have not been paid and are now out of jobs. Luckily I got one “free” print and paid £25 for an additional one (so paid £60 for 2 photos in the end!) To the photographer - you made my mother in law very happy - she loved the photo. I now realise how lucky I was to have received it.
#73 - February 14th, 2007 at 09:01
Just a quick one -my husband just mentioned this - does anyone know if the Olan Mills Copyright to copying photos still stands? as they have gone into liquidation and have lots of people’s money can we legitimately copy photos that we have received or are they still covered by copywright?
#74 - February 15th, 2007 at 09:20
shame Olan Mills is no more, families,couples and individuals that still have any of their olan mill packages, i will like to offer you 15% off pictures4print studio packages, prices starts from £100.
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#75 - February 15th, 2007 at 14:54
Please can some one help me.as ollan mills have gone bankrupt now what happens to all the photos they ahve already taken? myself and partner had some photos done 2 and half yrs ago but sadly all of the pictures we had got destryed in a house fire, i was thinking of contacting ollan mills to get copies but what do i do now, can any body help me?
#76 - February 17th, 2007 at 14:19
even if olan mills were still going you would not be able to get your pics as they were only ever saved for 6 months
#77 - February 17th, 2007 at 14:19
even if olan mills were still going you would not be able to get your pics as they were only ever saved a head office for 6 months
#78 - February 22nd, 2007 at 21:34
hi, x olan mills staff here, i worked at bolton studio as trad photographer for a couple years, n loved it, but felt it was my time to move on a couple years back. missed it loads when i wasnt there. and i feel for all the staff who have got screwed over and all customers……….
but me and an other local bolton photographer are looking at takening on the studio. as both are mobile at the moment.
so bolton people keep your eyes peeled. it might be back open for you… not as olan mills clearly.
my website is http://www.acepictures.co.uk
email, gemma@acepictures.co.uk if you want any info or home visits
again sorry to all those staff across uk, nice xmas bouns hey???
#79 - February 27th, 2007 at 11:05
Hello all…..
The thing I find most sickening about the whole thing is people have lost their jobs at very short notice…its sad….but its business.
Mr Strange…I know you of old…if there was ever a dated poorly managed product and company…you my friend are behind it!
Olan Mills has had some of the BEST PHOTOGRAPHERS this nation has ever seen….JON TREMLETT…MATT WEBSTER….STEVE PICKERING….DAVE CARNELLY…… MARC DE GIETLINK these guys had TRUE talent…but where are they now?
Perhaps if they where all still on the scene the comapny would be a different kettle of fish.
If Olan Mills is to be risen from the flames these people need to be at the forefront….they would blow Mtr Stranges comapny and all comers clean from the water.
If I was still in the photography business I’d be quaking in my boots at the thought of these guys coming back!
I watched the likes of Messrs Tremlett, Webster and Carnelly at a few of the Baby and Toddler shows and I have to say for 2fat blokes and a dwarf they where quite amazing…I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH FINE PHOTOGRAPHY IN MY LIFE!
God Bless OLAN MILLS and GOD BLESS ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LOST THERE JOBS!
ONE DAY THE TALENTED AND THE DOWN TRODDEN WILL RISE AGAIN!
#80 - March 4th, 2007 at 20:21
i feel very sorry for the staff, i worked in the walsall call center and i didnt lose my job this way i got fired on feb 06 for being too polite too customers! so im not too suprised really because i blame the managers! yeah the managers that went out for expensive meals and manicures etc etc and then brag about it the nxt morning to us under paid workers, so yes i didnt enjoy working with OLAN MILLS they needed really to have better managment. but good luck too all that lost there jobs
#81 - March 6th, 2007 at 01:17
common guys, i worked for olan mills for 2 years and was working on the day it went under. yh it sukked but at the end of the day the company had been looking to take a dive for a long while, when i first joined they were taking 1500 aday, 2000 plus on saturdays. At the end they could barely reach 1000 on a saturday.
Although it was a shitty way to tell us staff, at the end of the day it was the banks that pulled the plug and people like paddy couldnt have stopped it, and she did try, putting her house up for mortgage in the final weeks to buy it, however it didnt happen and no other bugger was silly enough to buy it.
what it all boils down to is that there was nothing the staff could do, but olan mils trained me and payed me enough so that i could have a great car and insure it no problems whcih at 18 aint that easy. so at the end of the day you can sit here slagging the company/directors/staff off all you want but shit happens. it set people up with great experience such as helen Findley,david vincent, james wren, steve pickering and jon tremlett, so its sad bad hey it had to happen.
#82 - March 6th, 2007 at 01:36
by the way guys and girls who worked with me keep in touch
dan burr
danburr4@hotmail.com
#83 - March 6th, 2007 at 09:40
I hadn’t realised that OM had closed until I heard the investor who had bought them out admitting on Radio 4 that more money should have been pumped in.
I worked there about 14 years ago as a Proof Supervisor. We were always under huge pressure to get the max sales from each viewing, the best I ever saw was an American called Becky. The supervisors got so much shit about the sales figures but you had to shield the studio staff from this. The Americans always treated the staff like shit, behind the smiles there was always a knife at your back - once you realised this it was easy to deal with them.
I really feel for all the staff being made redundant, Xmas was one huge nightmare - too many sittings, irate customers kept waiting, utter exhaustion.
I had the best of times and the worst of times at OM. The people I worked with were brilliant and we were all very close in the South of England, I still keep in contact with some of them now, even after all these years.
Good luck to all the ex-staff
#84 - March 10th, 2007 at 02:31
I wonder what effect this will have on the U.S. Olan Mills. I am a studio manager in one of their districts, and of late we have had 6 studios close in the last month. Should I be looking for other employment?
My condolences to all who lost their postitions.. and pray that you all prosper in spite of this event.
#85 - March 10th, 2007 at 22:47
Does anyone know the names of the directors or company owner or where these details are published ?
#86 - March 21st, 2007 at 14:55
Hi All,
If anyone can put me in touch with the team from the Aldershot branch I would very much appreciate it.
I can offer discounted sittings/prints to customers who lost out when O.M. went under and may well be taking on the premises in Aldershot.
Please get in touch if we can help you, or if you worked there as we may well want to employ some extra staff.
I’m really sorry that customers & staff lost out as the team at our local branch were allways pleasent even though we were the opposition.
Good luck to all, hope you get sorted.
Thanks,
Matt.
studio@mrmphoto.co.uk
#87 - March 22nd, 2007 at 13:49
Does anyone know of a similar type operation (i.e. offering photography sessions where they make you look good in a photo!) in the Bury/Bolton, Lancashire areas? I was thinking (thank God, only thinking!) of booking a session before Xmas as my sons had a sitting at Olan Mill in Bolton and the product was superb. I just want someone to take a nice photo of me - nothing fancy (I always look crap in pictures normally!).
Additionally, I hope many of you have managed to find other work now - the whole debacle has been very upsetting to read in this blog and I wish you all the very very best.
#88 - March 26th, 2007 at 13:36
Did the whole of Olan Mills go into liquidation? has it re-opened now? Ive seen staff vacancies for two of their london branches and had no idea about all of this- I assume this means they are back up and running? Im a little wary of applying for the job now!
#89 - March 29th, 2007 at 15:20
Apparently a couple of staff have managed to buy what was left of Olan Mills and are starting up again.
Totally different Management & the company is a lot smaller. They also haven’t re-employed any of the dross or cretins (in my humble opinion) I can remember quite a few idiots at the Plant
who contributed little or nothing in the later years and were a waste of space.
As an ex-employee I wish them all the Luck in the World, it was a great place to be when it started & I hope it will be again for everyone. XXXX
#90 - March 30th, 2007 at 14:46
Booked a course of sittings, thankfully I didnt pay a major amount of money for it but really feel for those who did..
#91 - March 30th, 2007 at 14:48
To anon, who mailed on March 22nd, I cant personally receommend any other company but venture take good pictures if you are interested.
#92 - April 2nd, 2007 at 22:51
If Olan Mills did this to all of their employees and their customers then why is this website: http://www.duniya.net/om/default.asp?m=about&b=history&p=history
still up and running and bragging about their company in the u.k., canada and the u.s.?
#93 - April 3rd, 2007 at 20:52
i too was an olan mills customer who had just purchased another watch me grow plan for my second daughter i must admit i was gutted when i heard the news ad i had nt used any of my sittings
but i was more gudded and shocked at how the staff who had NO CLUE about what was going to happen i mean right ontop of christmas all the staff had familys to provide for morgages to pay christmas to deal with i mean its the top dogs that are the ones to blame they must have known for months this was potentioly going to happen its not something that happens overnight now is it and why if they knew what was happening did they get staff to push sales so much it makes me SICK
so a HUGE THANK YOU to every one of you kind hearted staff that took it into your own hands even though you had bigger problems to deal with thanks for phoneing people and doing your upmost to get peoples pics to them ect
again like i said earlier most off us our moaning about what a £30 protrait plan mabey some of you have lost more but just think about the staff some of whom have probably lost everything HOUSE,FAMILY,SECURITY the lot there lifes ruined and right on top of christmas i hope that this has not been the case but im sure it has for many staff
THANK YOU AGAIN
on a brighter note all those including me who had a plan if you have not thrown it away like i nearley did check out
http://www.olanmillsphotography.co.uk/
#94 - April 8th, 2007 at 08:35
well, i don’t know if you have heard, olan mill is officially re-open here in the uk. infact i was just employed there the other day… but after reading this im not so sure i should go for it… i hope new owners means new attitude to staff.
#95 - April 9th, 2007 at 14:55
“Olan Mills has had some of the BEST PHOTOGRAPHERS this nation has ever seen….JON TREMLETT…MATT WEBSTER….STEVE PICKERING….DAVE CARNELLY…… MARC DE GIETLINK these guys had TRUE talent…but where are they now?”- Legend.
You missed a couple, STEVE ALLSOP from Stourbridge, SIMON from Aldridge, Damien from Harborne Oh and DARREN RUDGE had his moments when he became supervisor (although he was the first to admit he nicked his best ideas from rebelious photographers unafraid to break the OM mold in order to maximize sales potential). Matt married Donna from Hall Green, and set up his own business. Darren went to Venture.
#96 - April 9th, 2007 at 14:58
- It was Matt Hart who got married and set up on his own, not Matt Webster-
#97 - April 16th, 2007 at 17:37
***BREAKING NEWS***
There is about 25 previous Olan Mills stores that have opened up again. a list of these can be found at the previous site. http://www.olanmills.co.uk As far as I am aware the new owners will still honour previous customers sitting vouchers… This im sure most will agree is great news. Lets hope the new owners do a good job the background work of the company
#98 - April 17th, 2007 at 15:47
Hi James, UNFORTUNATELY FOR ALL OF US IN bIRMINGHAM, THERE IS NO NEW STORE OPENING ANY TIME SOON. I ALSO PURCHASED A WATCH ME GROW PHOTO SESSION AND SOMETIME LAST DECEMBER A MEMBER OF STAFF FROM HARBORNE CALLED TO REMIND ME OF MY NEXT SITTING AND I DECLINED THE DATE GIVEN TO ME AS IT WASNT CONVINIENT…AS I LOOK BACK NOW, I JUST CANT THANK GOD ENOUGH THAT I DIDNT GO FOR SITTING BEFORE THE COMPANY CLOSED UP BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE LOST MY MONEY LIKE THE OTHER CHAPS AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN GUTTED FOR THAT.
TO THE CHAPS WHO LOST THEIR JOBS, SORRY AND GOOD LUCK IN YOUR JOB HUNT.
#99 - April 17th, 2007 at 15:50
IT REALLY A SHAME THAT OM WITH ITS LEGACY HAS GONE TO SHREADS. I WOULD BE VERY SKEPTICAL OF PATRONISING THE NEW OM DESPITE ITS NEW MANAGEMENT
#100 - April 19th, 2007 at 16:35
olan mills has been open for over a month or so peterborough, milton keynes, nottingham are just a few and there going into most of the mother cares again quite alot of old staff with jobs back. mike wildman has bought it owen mathews is regional manager. neil clarke is back and so is paddy,adele and vicky parker are doing the mother cares again. apparantly theres no customer service everythying is deat with in studio the pay is increased with every skill you have and commision is better, so ive heard
#101 - April 19th, 2007 at 20:40
All sounds good. I know how customers felt also, I was also an employee but also had pictures done myself.
I hope the new company takes off bigger and better than before. I think the in house management will be a lot better for the staff. And everyone knows happier staff means better quality. That works ten fold for anything.
Hoping to see some ex staff/new staff at the reunion in June.
#102 - May 9th, 2007 at 21:50
Well, as im sure you know Olan Mills is re-open. New company, new attitude to both customers and staff. They really are improved! So, come down and see us at the southampton store, we’re in the back of mother care. We are honoring any vouchers you may have had with the previous company and also have loads of special offers for the first month! Hope to see you there soon! Craig M
#103 - May 11th, 2007 at 21:51
HI sorry to hear about all the OLAN mILLS STAFF. iVE HAD WATCH ME GROW FOR 7 YEARS AND TOOK IT FOR GRANTED to do one yearly . Photos always good at Romford Branch, Essex. Been sitting here reading all these messages and its shameful whts happened to all of you effected.
Last few messages mention that some have reopened . Any one know if Romford or there abouts has? Thanks if you reply.
#104 - May 26th, 2007 at 19:23
hello!sorry to all the staff and customers who lost their money along with me. I lost £75 on the nicest photos I had of the children on sat December 9th 5 days before it went into liquidisation. I finally got hold of customer services on January 15th and wrote to the claim address 3 times. I gave my order number to the man on the phone in January and he said my photos had managed to be developed and I’ll recieve them within the next few weeks and guess what I still haven’t recieved them. The helpline is no longer available. My photos were taken in Neath store in South Wales and were meant to be going back to the store for me to collect. I’ve been past the store every week to see if I can see anyone in there to see if my photos are there and there has been no sign of anyone been there as there is still mail on the floor. I still feel sick to this day as you can’t replace memories and I feel for all those who lost their jobs and had their christmas ruined just like I did. I’ve noticed that some stores have now been reopened does anyone know if I can contact them with my order number to see where my photos are as they were uploaded onto the computer. Thanks and all the best for the future to those affected!!!!
#105 - May 26th, 2007 at 19:24
can anyone help me and know who I can contact about my photos thanks
#106 - June 9th, 2007 at 14:41
Do you think OL went bankrupt because of venture portraits? and not keeping up with modern style.
#107 - June 14th, 2007 at 23:22
no olan mill went bust because they were millions of pounds in debt
#108 - June 20th, 2007 at 00:46
Hi Sarah, as along time server to OlanMills in Swansea i first of all Thank you for you thanks and sadness to all the staff who loat thier jobs, to many people have slated the staff, but we all lost out just like our customers. I understand where you are coming from with regards to you portaits but, i do not think you will be able to get your photos as all of the computers would of been deleted. I would also like to add that OlanMills may of opened back up, but NONE of the people who are now running it WHERE OR ARE responcible for what happened in Dec of 07. They have bought the rights to the name. I know in my heart of hearts that ALL in head office fought really really hard to stop what happened happening. I had just been promoted to a senior level of the company and i know that this is NOT the way that the orriginal OlanMills directors wanted it to happen. They had all worked far harder than i hard to make the original Olanmills work. Thier sweet and blood went into it and they all lost far more money than any of us did. I personally thank Sharon Barr, who gave me more than ob=ne chance, so thank you. In conclution, if you see an Olanmills open by you, please support them as they are trying to help the country by giving them great photo’s at a fantastic price again. If you want to chat or just have an insite to what went on at Olanmills, email me at lwheatley83@hotmail.co.uk.
#109 - June 20th, 2007 at 00:54
I would also like to add that should anyone (old staff inparticular) wish to comment in a negative way against olanmills staff then please email me with you name and number and i will quite happily talk to you about the real Olanmills
Thanks
#110 - June 24th, 2007 at 08:19
I live overseas and have only just found out that Olan Mills have gone bust as I was trying to organise photos for when we return with our children in the summer. We had pictures taken on several occasions at the Coventry branch and also in Cheltenham - each time the photographs were absolutely fantastic and so were the staff that organised everything and took the photographs. I have never been able to get such lovely pictures taken anywhere else. I don’t know why the staff are getting a slating on this website as they were very helpful and pleasant whenever I used their service. Good luck to all the staff and I hope that they have found employment since. Sympathies to everyone who lost photographs but it’s not exactly the same as losing your livelihood!
#111 - June 26th, 2007 at 21:29
has anyone heard if this is going on the the USA?
#112 - July 15th, 2007 at 05:06
I work for OM in the states in the Church Directory Division as a Portrait Consultant. As far as I know, there is nothing “shady” going on here apart from the norm. You might not know that OM “partnered” with a store calleed K-Mart and let this crap supermarket use the OM name on their in-store studios. OM then closed down the studios near the K-mart studios because it was a conflict of interest; then, K-Mart went bankrupt. Needless to say, there are not a whole lot of OM studios left in the states anyway. The Directory Division is the biggest and though it is hurting in its own ways, it seems to still be going strong.
The thing that is hurting is is that Gen-X and Y don’t seem to care about quality–they as a norm seem to not think ahead, instead, they live for here and now. This butts heads with Olan’s mantra of not sacrificing quality for price. Who knows where it will go, all I know is that there is pretty good money in the Division I work in and with as little as they are reimbursing me for gas (19 cents a mile), they have to be doing well.
#113 - October 7th, 2007 at 03:08
ok-thanks!
#114 - October 24th, 2007 at 11:11
I used to work for Olan Mills until I read this article. I quit and left for another photography business. I felt that if that happened overseas, then it is going to happen here. I don’t dispute the quality of portraits that Olan Mills produces, but I think people these days are in to the “fast food” type of photography and that gets lost when you are trying to do a good job with your customers and trying to give people the best quality photos, but playing the numbers game. People are annoyed when they have to wait an extra fifteen minutes when they could have went to another portrait studio that they feel will get them in sooner with less quality. I think that people also see Olan Mills in a K-Mart and relate that to a lower grade portrait studio. None of the employees were told in the states about thieir bankrupcy during this time, or at least in Cincinnati, and I felt they should have been honest and upfront about it. Certainly they did not care about the workers overseas. I think this was an act of bad business.
#115 - November 6th, 2007 at 17:28
Olan Mills does do bad business! I will never ever return there again. We had our baby’s first pictures made there and we were told to come today to pick them up. I have to drive thru 2 counties and 30 miles w/ gas more than $3 a gallon to get there to be told that they won’t be ready until December. I asked what the problem was and she said the ‘plant’ had some sort of shut down. Olan Mills calls me the day before the appt. & the day of the appt. to remind me. Could they not call me to let me know there was a problem? No, because I’ve already paid for the pictures. They have the money and I have no pictures. This company clearly does not care about customer service. I’d rather go to WalMart!
#116 - December 6th, 2007 at 23:02
OK…I worked for Olan Mills for 4 yrs on and off…they taught me ALL i know about Photography…never had to go to college or anything…i was a manager within’ 6 months of working there…they don’t pay their photographers well at all…we all know that one…I was one of the higher end paid photographers in our district…I would ask for a raise b/c i was workin’ MY TAIL END OFF for that company…and i was carrying the rest of the district MANY times…I would work 9-11hrs without a lunch or any kind of a break…I dealt with too much Drama and i am sorry but not worth my Life or safety…so i FINALLY quit for good and started my own Buisness…I do it on my own now…which has been very successful…I am forever GRATEFUL for what they taught me and I am saddened that so many people have been screwed…but HEY…they don’t care…in their eye’s you can be replaced…and look where it’s getting them…BAMKRUPTCY…hhhmmmm….wonder why? What goes around comes around baby…i pray for all the Employee’s that have been affected…Hold that equipment ransom and do your thang….you can make good money at it and you ALL know that!!!
#117 - March 27th, 2008 at 03:29
NONE OF THIS IS TRUE… I WORK FOR OLAN MILLS AND THEY ARE STRONGER THAN EVER. THIS WILL BE TURNED OVER TO THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE COMPANY
#118 - June 14th, 2008 at 18:38
Hi All
Well I’ve just skimmed through the posts! Some are absolute Crap and Others are spot on! Having worked for Olan Mills for 10 years and having my position made redundant thanks to the “New Regime” you’d think I might be bitter? But not at all!!!
Olan Mills was miss-guided, dated, often run by suits that weren’t in touch, relied on the good will of it’s employees far to much and offered very little to those employees in return!!! HOWEVER - It was full of some of the best people you could ever wish to know! And as a team we were awesome! Anyone that had the pleasure of working with Paul Findlay, Jon Tremlett, Matt Webster, Mark De Gietlink, Michael Stevenson, Darren Rudge, Les Moore, Jordan Baines, Chris Heggarty would know how dedicated these people are! That’s why more than half of them are still working very succesfully in photography with Venture or other professional outfits!
So please have a go at the Old company if you wish but please Remember that amongst all that was wrong, we had some very, very talented people that were producing high class work on a regular basis and that this was produced in a bisic studio without the aid of Digital technology!
Good Luck to Mike and all involved with the new Venture! From looking at the website and knowing the people involved I’m sure that given the correct pricing structure they will continue to grow.
Ad for me I’m still working in Photography in the North East shooting Digital and 10 x 8 plate cameras!!! So if you want to get in touch : northerngunner@hotmail.com
Regards
Dave Carnelly
#119 - July 23rd, 2008 at 22:54
Along with so many of the great and good of olan Mills I had the unfortunate experience of working in a company that had Sanch in a position of authority, apart from the fact that the woman wouldnt know a good idea if it was covered in chocolate and served to her on a golden platter, she would not only stab you in the back she would also take the knife out wipe it clean on some animal print or velour outfit she had the misfortune to be dressed in that morning and then use it again on her next victim, all in order to save costs you understand so she could carry on with her numerous affairs with the cab driving masses of middlesboro and drink her self up a dress size on latte and bottles of wkd. the woman manipulates to the point of meglamania and can talk a glass eye not only to sleep but to suicide when she gets going about herself, her nails her hair and a bit more of herself, obviously i was saddened to hear that she had survived a car accident, seems that what goes around does actually come around, just a shame i never managed to get to one of the tsa awards, i hear she really brown tongued the top brass at those, Sharon Barr must be gutted that she ever met the woman never mind trusted her with such a responsible job, im sure her new venture into glamour will be just as successful as she made olan mills telesales, and wont be long before we have flawless makeover staff relaxing indulging and enjoying the surroundings of the local benefits office, still one good thing is the staff that work for the benefits agency are atleast human. a gastric bypass some clever photography and a decent hiar cut will not change the womans character traits just her appearance, wolf in sheeps clothing springs to mind. As for me, well im not bitter in the least, since leaving olan mills ive got married, inherited my fathers estate and live quite a good life, and in the hope that miss chipendale is reading this, i have a significant financial interest in property, and ive always thought it best to be nice to people on your way up, you never know who your going to need on the way down
#120 - September 29th, 2008 at 14:17
Hi - I’m not sure whether this will appear but a few months ago I entered a competition. I was charged £10.00 for a telephone call to claim my prize and GUESS WHAT - the prize was a voucher sent to me entitling me to a professional portrait sitting PLUS A FREE 40″ X 30″ PRINT!!! I have to say that the company forwarding me the voucher sis not enclose any letter or EVEN THE ADDRESS OF THE SENDER - so my conclusion is that there is a company out there knowingly offering a prize from a company which was not operational at the time the voucher was sent to me i.e. end of August/beginning of September 2008.