I'm horribly jetlagged from a trip to Dubai and in my 4am haze decided I needed to write a passionate pitch to KODAK. Why? I'll tell you why.
Analogue is sweeping the table, knocking our phones out of our hands. I predicted this move away from social media and internet ephemera, gravitating towards that which is REAL.
People are digging out their old iPods, CD players, film cameras, print magazines and *gasp* books! In an attempt to be present, disengage from AI slop, and reclaim our attention.
We're opting for hobbies like knitting, collectables, and film photography.
It's time for Eastman Kodak Company to come out of hibernation (no offense). 🐻
Kodak is iconic for it's vintage branding and of course it's historic domination in film photography. They created a ritual rooted in memories. Take the photo. Drop off the film. Get your memories back.
Most of the time, in my case anyways, half of the photos were blurry or completely out of frame, but we didn't care! There was no motive to be instagram-worthy.
Their real profit center wasn't selling cameras, it was film + processing. The camera got us started, keeping our film stocked and processing our photos maintained the profit cycle.
They had a globally trusted consumer brand, massive retail presence, and serious technical expertise. Digital didn’t kill their ability to innovate; it killed the profit structure built around their old system.
Now is your time!! Lean into our NOSTALGIA and unearth your most authentic roots.
3 moves that would lock Kodak in as the analogue trend leader
1) Launch Kodak Offline Club membership + subscription
An entire lifestyle system built for people trying to live less online.
What it includes:
- Monthly film drops (beginner-friendly + pro options)
- Prepaid lab processing + scans OR prints-only options (for true digital detox)
- “Kodak creative prompts” like Proof of Life, Opening Scene, I Love Story with No People
- Limited collabs with zines, indie mags, bookstores
This turns Kodak into a habit-forming cultural membership, not just a product.
2) Make “The Kodak Moment” a real-world experience (labs + lounges + dropboxes)
Bring back the magic of photo culture by giving it a physical home.
Modern version:
- Kodak-branded micro-labs, like mini Apple Stores, but warm, loungey + nostalgic with dark rooms where you can develop your own film (!!!)
- Drop-off boxes inside partner locations: bookstores, coffee shops, record stores
- On-site same-day prints, photo books, contact sheets, instant zines
This becomes the third place for the analogue generation. It’s retail, community, and nostalgia all in one.
3) Own the “print era” with Kodak Editions (print drops + magazine partnerships)
If the zeitgeist is shifting toward physical media (zines, print magazines, collectible books), Kodak should be the seal of approval for it. Print is coming back culturally, especially among younger audiences and millennials craving tactile creativity.
Kodak Editions could look like:
- Quarterly collectible photo books from emerging photographers
- Partnered “film-only issues” with indie magazines (shot entirely on Kodak)
- Limited-run posters, contact-sheet art prints, darkroom-style coffee table books
- Special packaging that becomes part of the aesthetic (display-worthy, archival)
This positions Kodak beyond a supplier, as the publisher + patron of analogue culture. ˙✧˖°📷 ༘ ⋆｡˚
I want to see them get that magic creative mojo back. The world needs a leader in this movement, and Rochester needs its icon to rise again!
What do you think about a Kodak comeback?
Thanks for reading
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱₊˚⊹
Trish