Kerrisdale Cameras

Celebrating 60 Years as a Family Business.

Over the last 60 years, many businesses have come and gone from Kerrisdale Village, while a handful of family-owned businesses have stood the test of time. Kerrisdale Cameras is one of these success stories.

Bob Hudson in 2009

photo by Felix Mar

Linda Hudson is Kerrisdale Cameras’ president and owner. In 1961, her father, Bob Hudson, and her grandmother, Mary Hudson, opened their camera business on West 41st Avenue.

Linda says, “My father’s interest in cameras dates back before the opening of his first store. ‘I started selling equipment when I was going to UBC to break the monotony of classes,’ Bob told a photo magazine back in 1990. With a mischievous grin, he’d recalled how he was even selling the equipment while in class. Appropriately named, his business Varsity Camera was based out of the family home near UBC—when he wasn’t selling during classes.”

Following graduation from UBC and shortly after his father passed away, Bob decided to open Kerrisdale Cameras. Initially, he continued working at his full-time job at Safeway, across the street, while his mother ran the shop. He would return to the store during his breaks at Safeway.

Linda Hudson, Owner & President of Kerrisdale Cameras

photo by Sandra Steier Photography

As people moved out of the Kerrisdale neighbourhood to other areas around Metro Vancouver, Bob had numerous requests to open more shops. Between the years 1968 to 1986, branch stores opened in West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam, and Surrey. Victoria replaced Surrey in 1986.

Seven stores had become the magical number for us to maintain the personal touch with both customers and employees.

Linda shares, “Growing up in the family business meant that Dad worked long hours and family vacations were limited but we did lots of camping. We weren’t encouraged to follow in his footsteps but I had a camera from the time I was very young (I still have that camera). I also learned to work in our home darkroom with my dad. I was in photo clubs at Kerrisdale Elementary School, Prince of Wales Mini School, and then Langara College. It was at college that I found an interest in business courses instead of continuing with sciences, and asked Dad for course recommendations. Little did I know how that set me up for the future.”

Similar to her father, Linda attained a business degree in the 1980s, but she majored in human resources and accounting in addition to marketing. In 1981, following college, Linda joined the family business and held the position of personnel and advertising manager until 2011. She says, “I didn’t see this as a long-term career, just long enough to get work experience, attend SFU and move on... but I never left. My grandmother continued working into her mid-eighties and retired in the late 1990s. My sister and one of my brothers worked in the business for a few years. My mother, Jay Hudson, was very involved in the Kerrisdale community and taught at Point Grey Secondary in the 1960s, however, she didn’t work in the business. For a number of years, four members of three generations of the Hudson family worked together, although to be honest, not always in harmony.”

“We adapted early on to the digital world as all our employees embraced the new technology. While phones have replaced smaller pointand-shoot cameras, more people than ever are discovering the world of photography beyond what they can do with their cell phones. One manager aptly describes cell phones as the gateway drug to advanced digital cameras. Photography has become more popular than ever and the technology in today’s cameras is incredible. Plus, we’ve had a website with online shopping for about 20 years,” Linda says.

Throughout the digital era, film photography continued and is currently experiencing a revival. Many young people who grew up with digital are now using film cameras.

Linda comments, “They appreciate the look and the process. It’s not instant and every shot has to be more thought out. We have been bringing in a greater variety of films and our photo lab is kept quite busy with both film and digital orders. Plus, with a continuous flow of tradeins, both digital and film, photo enthusiasts can add to their photo gear at significant savings while those new to photography can get started on a shoestring budget.”

Sadly, in the fall of 2011, following the death of Linda’s mother, and shortly after celebrating the company’s 50th anniversary, her father passed away unexpectedly at age 79 of heart failure.

Taking over the company the same week as celebrating 30 years working with my dad, wasn’t what I anticipated; I expected he’d be running the company for another 10 or more years.

She remarks, “I’ve retained the position of human resources manager, which has enabled me to hire everyone who currently works in the company. In our dealings with our customers and our employees, we strive to meet the highest standards of fairness and honesty. We’re a small independent photo specialty chain with store managers and employees who share our commitment to providing personalized, knowledgeable service. Our “we show you how” service ensures our customers get the most from their new camera gear. Perhaps this commitment and family atmosphere is why forty per cent of our employees have been with the company for over ten years. Employee turnover is very low and is often the result of retirements. Most employees have many years in the photo industry and many are professional photographers or graduates of photographic schools and colleges. All of them are avid hobbyists and their passion for photography drives them to stay current on the latest cameras and photo gear.”

“Since taking over running the company, I continue to be in the office every day, just as my dad was. Having our head office at the back of our store in Kerrisdale keeps us in tune with our employees and customers. Unlike the people I hire, I’m not a pro photographer and don’t stay up to date on the latest photo gear; my strength has been my keen interest in the business side of our industry,” Linda says.

Running a small to medium business means wearing multiple hats and never knowing what the next day will bring.

Over the past 10 years, Kerrisdale Cameras has moved three stores, and renovated all the other stores. In 2013, they added the Langley store as their eighth store, which had belonged to a competitor that was downsizing, and their five employees joined the business. In 2019, the concrete foundation of the West Vancouver store, her dad’s first branch store in 1968, was cracking and they had to quickly shut down the store with nowhere to move to on short notice.

Linda comments, “One day, I hope we will be able to return to eight stores when an opportunity arises. As other camera stores have closed or downsized over the past ten years, we’ve had the opportunity to hire some of the best photo sales specialists in the industry.”

Linda is actively involved in the Kerrisdale community that is also her home. Her involvement with the Kerrisdale Earthquake and Emergency Preparedness (KEEP), allowed her to get to know more local residents. Linda says, “Being on the board of the Kerrisdale Business Association and getting to know the local business owners reinforces the villagelike feeling of the community.” Running along the greenway, skating at Kerrisdale Arena, attending classes at the Kerrisdale Community Centre, and cycling to work are all things that Linda still enjoys doing just as she did as a kid growing up nearby.

She remarks, “Yes, Kerrisdale has changed, but growing up along with the community for all these years, I’ve been able to see these as positive changes. I truly hope that the shop local movement continues so our small independent businesses can thrive for decades to come, rather than being replaced by national chain stores. Small shops offer a unique shopping experience.”

Commenting on the pandemic, Linda says, “As a store owner, the pandemic has been overwhelming, as it has been for many small to medium businesses. However, while things have appeared daunting at times, we have been constantly reminded of how fortunate we are to be in communities where people support small local businesses.”

Reaching the 60th anniversary of Kerrisdale Cameras is a surreal feeling for Linda. “I now have the sense that my dad’s company (I still think of it as his) will come out of the pandemic stronger than ever and that will be because of the support of our employees and customers,” she says.

As Kerrisdale Cameras continues to successfully march along, what does Linda predict the years ahead will look like?

“Photography is growing in popularity so we’ll continue to thrive. While many businesses in the photo industry found that cell phones replaced real cameras, we took a different approach. For us, cell phones have opened up the world of advanced photography to so many people and helped contribute to our success. We’re proud to be the oldest and largest independent photo chain in Western Canada, still owned by the original family,” she concludes.

We wish Kerrisdale Cameras a very happy sixtieth anniversary—and many more!

Kerrisdale Cameras, 2170 W 41st Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6M 1Z5

Telephone 604-263-3221

www.kerrisdalecameras.com