Photoland Business Has A Family Focus

By Jan Howard

It was only natural that Jiggy Kothari should take over his brother’s Newtown Photoland business two years ago. He learned the craft from his late father, and so it should be no surprise that Photoland has become the family business for him and his two brothers.

“I learned on black and white in the darkroom,” Mr Kothari said, “and moved on to digital and color.”

Mr Kothari is the owner of the Photoland store in Sand Hill Plaza at 228 South Main Street, one of four family-owned Photoland stores. He began his business career with one brother at his Fairfield store, worked in Orange at another brother’s Photoland, and then became the owner of the Newtown store. One of his brothers also owns a Photoland in New Haven.

“Most of my training has been on the job,” Mr Kothari said. Training courses are offered through manufacturers of the photographic equipment he uses in his work, he said. He also took a custom-framing course in Massachusetts.

Mr Kothari’s wife, Manjusha, works with him in the store. Their daughter, Risha, 28 months, also “works” in the store, he noted, laughing. “She messes everything up so we have to fix it up.”

Portrait, business, and holiday photography is by appointment, Mr Kothari said. Different backgrounds are offered, plain for business purposes and others according to the season.

He recently participated in a Portraits with Santa program for dogs with another Sand Hill Plaza business, Grooming Finalists.

Photoland offers digital printing, film supplies, one-hour photo, custom black and white, wide format prints, custom framing, 8 mm conversions to video and DVD, and photo gifts, such as T-shirts, mugs, mouse pads, sweatshirts, puzzles, clocks, ornaments, and calendars. It also does film printing for wedding and other event photographers.

The business also offers an annual club membership for $29.95, which guarantees members second sets of photographs and 15 percent off all services at Photoland stores.

The store also offers the convenience of ordering photographs online.

“It can be done from home,” Mr Kothari said, at photolandonline.com.