Unique Photo
The Unique Photo Superstore, Fairfield, New Jersey location. | |
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry |
|
| Founded | 1947 (79 years ago) |
| Founder | Bernard and Harriet Sweetwood [1] |
| Headquarters | , |
Number of locations | 2 |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Alexander Sweetwood (President) [2] Jack Sweetwood Jonathan Sweetwood Zak Sweetwood [3] |
| Products | |
Number of employees | 51-200 |
| Website | https://www.uniquephoto.com/ |
Unique Photo is a camera, video, and audio store and education center. It is a family-owned business that opened in 1947. Unique Photos has locations in Fairfield, New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[4]
History
Bernard and Harriet Sweetwood started the company in 1947 when they opened a small photographic supply outlet in Brooklyn. Soon after, they opened over 20 retail outlets in department stores across New Jersey and then the Hoboken Camera Center in the 1950s. In the 1980s, their two sons, Jonathan and Matthew Sweetwood took over daily operations.
On February 13, 2008, Unique Photo announced that their Florham Park, New Jersey location on Vreeland Road would move to the Fairfield, New Jersey superstore on Route 46. The Fairfield superstore opened on February 18, 2008. It is a 50,000 square foot facility equipped with a multimedia classroom, large rental equipment program, camera trade-in program, and photo lab.[5]
In October 2015, Alexander Sweetwood was named president of Unique Photo.[6]
In 2019, Unique Photo opened up their second location in Old City, Philadelphia with classrooms and studio rental space.[7]
Unique University
Unique Photo runs a photography education program called Unique University that offers seminars and classes from beginner to expert. Unique University's technical classes include basic D-SLR photography, D-SLR video, lighting techniques, Adobe Photoshop, Elements and Lightroom, composition, editing and printing, wedding photography, HDR photography, and working with speedlites.
Famous speakers and photographers have included Lindsay Adler, Tyler Stableford, Art Wolfe, Erin Manning, and Michael Yamashita.[8][9]
Film
In March 2009, it was mentioned that Unique Photo is the largest film supplier in the United States. On March 30, 2009, Unique Photo announced that it had received the very last shipment of Polaroid film ever made.[10]
Recognition
Unique Photo was awarded "2013 Dealer of the Year" by Digital Imaging Reporter.[11]
In November of 2018, Unique Photo was named a finalist in the 2018 Family Business of the Year by the Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurship at Fairleigh Dickinson University.[12]
In the news
Unique Photo helped the Fairfield Police Department arrest a credit card fraud suspect in March 2021.[13][14]
Lawsuits
Argued October 31, 1966. Decided January 23, 1967. -- Hoboken Camera Center, Inc. v. Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co., 93 N.J. Super. 484, 484 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1967) [15]
On September 17, 2013, Unique Photo filed a lawsuit on Unique Photo Deals USA, LLC[16][17] because Unique Photo Deals USA had agreed to cease using the similar name in February 2013, including operating on Amazon and surrendering UniquePhotoDealsUSA.com to Unique Photo, Inc., but continued using the name elsewhere.[18]
References
- ^ Unique Photo Embraces Roots
- ^ Unique Photo names third-generation family member to run company
- ^ "Staff | Unique Photo at Unique Photo".
- ^ "TopicWay.com". www.topicway.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
- ^ Industry News : Panasonic & Unique Photo Unveil First Lumix Lounge Lifestyle Concept Store in U.S.
- ^ "Unique Photo names third-generation family member to run company".
- ^ "Unique Photo opens new superstore in Philadelphia's Old City District".
- ^ Education & Inspiration: Unique University
- ^ Electronics Giant Selects Local Retailer for National Launch
- ^ Where Do I find polaroid film?
- ^ Digital Imaging Reporter’s 2013 Dealer of the Year: Unique Photo
- ^ "Unique Photo Named a Finalist in 2018 Family Business of the Year".
- ^ "Credit Card Fraud Suspect Arrested at Local Photography Store". 8 March 2021.
- ^ "N.J. Man charged with credit card theft in Fairfield".
- ^ "RavelLaw Search".
- ^ Unique Photo, Inc. v. Unique Photo Deals USA, LLC et al Docket
- ^ RFC Express - Unique Photo, Inc. v. Unique Photo Deals USA, LLC et al Archived February 5, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Unique Photo Inc., Fairfield Photography Retailer, Files Suit Claiming Name is Unique