Bartell Drugs Upgrades Photo Lab

Bartell Drugs plans to replace its remaining fleet of in-store photo processing lab systems with Kodak Adaptive Picture Exchange (APEX) systems as part of a chain-wide upgrade that converts its photo processing lab systems from silver halide “wet lab” technology to APEX thermal dry labs.

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,” said Ron Miller, SVP of merchandising, Bartell Drugs. “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.”

The Kodak APEX system enables retailers to accept, manage and produce premium product orders, including photo books, collages, posters, single-sided and duplex greeting cards and calendars. The modular, scalable platform offers low cost of operation and low maintenance requirements, requires no costly chemicals and supplies, and has low space requirements for materials storage. APEX also uses 70 to 90 percent less energy than comparably-sized silver halide minilabs, and consumes no water.

“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,” added Miller.

Seattle-based and family-owned Bartell Drugs operates 59 stores in King, Snohomish & Pierce counties.