Alkit has withstood the test of time in our industry. Started in 1936 by Alfred and Kitty Slesinger, Ed entered the business in 1964, when he first went to work for his father-in-law. Then located on Third Avenue & 52nd Street in New York City, Ed was fresh out of college, and did not have a photographic background. Al had given Ed a Kodak Retina camera as a birthday present. It was the first camera he’d ever owned. Ed admitted that he didn’t have a clue as to what photography was all about. Luckily, back in 1964, Kodak conducted classes in Rochester to help educate photo retailers. If you had a store, you could send your people up there for a few days for a basic course in selling. The course was about learning the equipment, and offered training on such backdrops as Niagara Falls. But more importantly, it was about how to sell. Ed learned how to “ask for a sale”. Instead of asking if they want to buy, Ed would offer to gift-wrap their new camera. And finally, Ed would stop selling after the sale was made. These are all great, basic selling tools. He loved selling. Ed loved being behind the counter and interacting with customers. It’s how he learned about his retail business, and used this experience to train his staff to do the same thing. He taught the staff how to listen to what the customers needed.

Ed thrived in this environment, but always wanted more. As the market grew, so did the opportunities. Ed added on-site one-hour developing; one of the first in New York City. This was a huge step forward for a store located within walking distance of the United Nations. Around 1984, he saw the chance to take Alkit into an entirely new direction, by adding commercial photography supplies & equipment to Alkit’s service. This expansion would require more space, and trained staff. So in this year, Ed opened Alkit Pro Camera, the first photographic super-store in NYC, located in the heart of the photo district. It included on-site one-hour developing, a full selection of frames & albums, as well as film, paper and chemistry for consumers and professionals. In addition, there was a fully stocked camera department and pro lighting section, electronics department, professional equipment rentals, and even a video rental department. Alkit Pro Camera serviced government contracts, hospitals, schools, as well as professional photographers and studios across the country.

Ed believed that the company needed to “grow or die”. By 1996, it was becoming clear that new technologies were about to take a firm hold on our industry. Within a few short years, Ed built four new Kodak-branded consumer camera stores, all in New York City. Each had its own on-site developing and offered the latest digital advancements for photographers, including gifting and sharing of photos. In addition, Ed opened Alkit Digital Imaging, a gallery and production facility for Fine-Art photography. He had grown from a single 3500 square foot store on Third Avenue to seven stand-alone properties employing over 160 staff members.

Ed faced criticism for mixing a customer base of consumers and professionals. He saw that his photofinishing was always the backbone of the business. Ed said that instead of being a one-hour amateur lab, he envisioned a one-hour professional lab. This was another brilliant vision which paid off for Alkit. Ed knew by this time that the future of Alkit was not to rely on the sale of equipment, but rather, the continuous high-margin quality printing. This was a period when most developing was being done at drug stores. Alkit provided a high-quality solution to those who appreciated the difference and were willing to pay a premium for it.

So how does a family photographic business survive and thrive well into the third generation? To coin Ed’s phrase, we grow or die. Alkit has consolidated its operations into a massive production plant located on Long Island. The lab provides printed photographic solutions for high volume school and sports photographers across the country, as well as portrait, wedding and social events, and yes, consumers too. Key to Alkit’s success is the integration of the latest technologies for the organization, transmission and manipulation of images & data. We provide workflow solutions to streamline the photographic process from capture to output and packaging, including printing onto any creative gift, keepsake and specialty item imaginable. These technologies proved indispensable during Covid-19, such that clients would continue to receive their preserved memories in a touchless environment.

Edward Buchbinder leaves behind Laurel, his former wife of 38 years. His sons Steven and David, who run Alkit, and a daughter Hildy. In addition, two daughters-in-law, a son-in-law, and seven grand-children, as well as a grandson-in-law. He also leaves behind a legacy that is his contribution to Alkit, now a third generation family-owned business in today’s photo industry, which continues to thrive.

The family respectfully requests that anyone wishing to make a tax-deductible contribution in honor of Edward Buchbinder, consider the National Alliance on Mental Illness, by using the link below.