Jessops
Jessops is a UK multi-channel photography retailer founded in 1935, selling cameras, lenses, drones, videography equipment, optics, and accessories through its e-commerce platform and physical stores, serving consumer, professional, and corporate customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1935
- HeadquartersMarlow, United Kingdom
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Jessops does
Jessops is a UK-based multi-channel photography and imaging retailer founded in 1935 and operated through the legal entity Jessops Europe Limited, headquartered in Marlow, England. The company sells cameras, lenses, drones, videography equipment, optics, accessories, and selected home technology through its e-commerce platform and a UK physical store network (reported at 50+ stores). It positions itself as an authorised retailer of major imaging brands — Canon, Sony, Nikon, DJI, Fujifilm, and Panasonic — and explicitly markets "no grey imports," emphasising official supply and manufacturer warranty provisioning as a trust differentiator.
The business is structured around three core customer segments: consumer/hobbyist photographers, professional photographers, and corporate/institutional buyers served through a dedicated Business Solutions team. Beyond hardware sales, Jessops operates several adjacent revenue streams: Jessops Academy (online and in-person photography courses), in-house Photo Services (printing and editing), a trade-in and used-equipment programme, and the Restore & Revive media restoration service. Pricing is supported by interest-free finance options, broadening accessibility for higher-ticket purchases, and the company is privately held under CEO Peter Jones.
Note on data integrity: the reported employee range of 5,001-10,000 appears inconsistent with the stated 50+ UK store footprint (a more typical headcount for that footprint would be in the low thousands), and the relationship between the "Peter Jones" and "Steve Jessop" CEO listings is not reconciled in the source material. No direct revenue, EBITDA, or funding disclosure is available.
Jessops firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Jessops
- Legal name
- Jessops Europe Limited
- Website
- https://jessops.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1935
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Jessops is a UK multi-channel photography retailer founded in 1935, selling cameras, lenses, drones, videography equipment, optics, and accessories through its e-commerce platform and physical stores, serving consumer, professional, and corporate customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Jessops industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Photography Equipment Retail
- NAICS
- Photofinishing (81292)
- SIC
- Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Camera & Lens Retail (Photo Cameras, Lenses & Optical Accessories) (CRACAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Video Camera & Production Gear Retail (Camcorders, Cinema Cameras, Rigs) (CRACAHAB), Lenses & Optical Accessories (Lenses, Filters, Adapters, Teleconverters) (CRACAPAF), Consumer Drones for Imaging (Camera Drones) (CRACAPAD), Binoculars, Scopes & Sport Optics Retail (CRACAHAI), Photo Printing & Imaging Supplies Retail (Printers, Paper, Ink, Darkroom) (CRACAHAJ), Used & Refurbished Photo/Video Gear Retail (CRACAHAK)
Keywords
Where Jessops is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Marlow
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Jessops business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Sale of new cameras (mirrorless, DSLR, compact), lenses, drones, video equipment, accessories, and home technology products. Products sold from major brands including Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm, DJI, Panasonic, and others.
- Used Equipment Sales: Sale of pre-owned cameras, lenses, and accessories. All used equipment is serviced by expert team and comes with up to 12 months guarantee.
- Photography Courses and Services: Revenue from Jessops Academy photography courses, workshops, experiences, and photography-related educational services.
- Photo Printing Services: Online photo printing including photobooks, prints, posters, canvas, wall art, calendars, and personalized gifts through photo.jessops.com.
- Trade-In and Part-Exchange: Revenue generated from accepting trade-ins and part-exchange of customer equipment for new purchases.
- Interest-Free Finance: Finance options offered to customers for purchasing higher-value photography equipment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Consumer camera equipment from entry-level to enthusiast |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Used and pre-owned equipment |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Photography courses and experiences |
| Other | Monthly | Interest-free finance options |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Jessops product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Jessops sells new and used cameras, lenses, drones, videography equipment, optics, home technology, and camera accessories from leading brands such as Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm, DJI, and Panasonic through its UK website and physical retail stores. It complements this hardware retail with photography courses (Jessops Academy), online and in-store photo printing (Jessops Photo), media restoration, equipment trade-in, and repair services, plus a Business Solutions team serving corporate, government, NHS, and education buyers.
Product overview
Jessops operates as a multi-channel photography and imaging retailer offering an extensive portfolio of cameras, lenses, videography equipment, drones, home technology, optics, and accessories through both online and physical store channels. The core offering centers on camera hardware across three main categories: Mirrorless Cameras (Sony, Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Panasonic, OM System, Sigma), Digital SLR Cameras (Canon, Nikon, Pentax), and Compact Digital Cameras. These are complemented by Camera Lenses, Drones (DJI, HOVERAir), Videography Equipment, Home Technology products (printers, scanners, monitors), Optics (binoculars, telescopes), and Camera Accessories. Supporting services include Used Equipment sales, Photography Courses through Jessops Academy, Photo Services for prints and photobooks, Restoration Services for media transfer, Trade-In and Repair Services, and Business Solutions for corporate clients. The company operates 50+ UK stores alongside its e-commerce platform, positioning itself as a one-stop destination for both amateur and professional photographers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Jessops Academy: Photography training and courses offered by Jessops for photographers of all skill levels.
- Jessops Photo
Products and services
- Mirrorless Cameras
Companies that use Jessops
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Jessops technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Jessops partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CanoncoreMajor camera brand partner. Jessops is an authorised retailer of Canon cameras, lenses, and accessories including EOS mirrorless and DSLR cameras, RF lenses, and Canon video equipment.
- SonycoreKey brand partner for mirrorless cameras, lenses, and video equipment. Jessops offers Sony a7 series, a6000 series, Sony lenses, and action cameras.
- NikoncoreAuthorised retailer of Nikon DSLR and mirrorless cameras, Nikkor lenses, and Nikon accessories.
- DJIcoreLeading drone brand partner. Jessops stocks DJI drones including Mavic, Mini, Avata series, DJI Osmo action cameras, and DJI gimbals.
- FujifilmcoreFujifilm mirrorless cameras, X-series lenses, and Fujifilm instant cameras including instax line.
- PanasoniccorePanasonic Lumix cameras, camcorders, and GH series video cameras.
- SigmacoreSigma lenses including Art, Contemporary, and Sports lines for various mounts.
- TamroncoreTamron lenses for Canon, Nikon, and Sony mounts.
- OM System / OlympuscoreOM System and former Olympus cameras, lenses, and Tough camera series.
- GoProcoreGoPro action cameras and accessories.
- Pentax / RicohcorePentax DSLR cameras and lenses, including weather-resistant models.
- CelestroncoreCelestron telescopes and astronomy equipment including AstroMaster, NexStar, and Travel Scope series.
- Peak DesigncorePeak Design camera bags, straps, clips, and travel tripods.
- VanguardcoreVanguard tripods, binoculars, and camera bags.
- instax (Fujifilm)coreinstax instant cameras, printers, and film. Full range of mini, square, and wide formats.
- SamsungminorSamsung technology products including SSDs and portable storage.
- EpsonminorEpson printers and imaging equipment for home and office.
- BenQminorBenQ monitors for creators and designers.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Jessops competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wex Photo Video: Wex Photo Video is a long-established UK multi-channel camera and imaging retailer with e-commerce and showrooms, offering the same major brands (Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm, DJI) and used gear. It is the closest like-for-like competitor to Jessops in the UK specialist camera retail space.
- Park Cameras: Park Cameras is a UK specialist camera and imaging retailer with a strong e-commerce presence and a London showroom, selling the same brand portfolio and offering used trade-in. It is a direct competitor for enthusiast and professional photographer customers.
- Clifton Cameras: Clifton Cameras is a UK specialist camera retailer offering new and used equipment, trade-in, and servicing. It competes head-on with Jessops in serving enthusiast and professional photographers across the UK.
- Camera World: Camera World is a UK specialist camera retailer with physical stores and e-commerce, offering new and used equipment and trade-in. It is a direct UK competitor targeting the same enthusiast and professional photographer segments as Jessops.
Broad incumbents
- Currys: Currys is the UK's largest consumer electronics retailer, stocking cameras, drones, and home tech alongside TVs, computing, and appliances. It competes with Jessops in cameras and drones at the mass-market end while operating at far broader scale.
- Amazon UK: Amazon is the dominant general online retailer in the UK and stocks cameras, lenses, drones, and accessories from all major brands Jessops carries. Its scale, logistics, and pricing pressure define the competitive baseline in UK camera retail.
- Argos: Argos (part of Sainsbury's) is a UK generalist high-street and online retailer with a meaningful cameras, drones, and optics range. It competes with Jessops at the entry-level and gift-purchase end of the market.
Emerging players
- MPB: MPB is a UK-headquartered platform for buying, selling, and trading used camera and video gear. It directly overlaps with Jessops' used equipment and trade-in business and is a price-aggressive, online-native competitor.
Regional players
- B&H Photo Video: B&H Photo Video is a US-based specialist camera and electronics retailer with deep enthusiast and pro assortments. It is broadly comparable in product mix but operates primarily in North America, so it is a regional peer rather than a direct UK competitor.
- Calumet Photographic: Calumet (now operating under Calumet/Photographica in parts of Europe) is a long-standing European specialist photography retailer with showrooms and used gear services. It is comparable in offering but is more continental European in footprint than Jessops' UK-only operation.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Jessops social profiles
Digital presenceJessops financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Jessops leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Jessops funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Jessops M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Jessops
What does Jessops do?
Jessops sells new and used cameras, lenses, drones, videography equipment, optics, home technology, and camera accessories from leading brands such as Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm, DJI, and Panasonic through its UK website and physical retail stores. It complements this hardware retail with photography courses (Jessops Academy), online and in-store photo printing (Jessops Photo), media restoration, equipment trade-in, and repair services, plus a Business Solutions team serving corporate, government, NHS, and education buyers.
Is Jessops a public or private company?
Jessops is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Jessops founded?
Jessops was founded in 1935. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Jessops based?
Jessops is headquartered in Marlow, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Jessops make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are used Equipment Sales, photography Courses and Services, photo Printing Services, trade-In and Part-Exchange and interest-Free Finance.
Who are Jessops's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wex Photo Video, Park Cameras, Clifton Cameras and Camera World. Broad incumbents are Currys, Amazon UK and Argos. MPB is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are B&H Photo Video and Calumet Photographic.
Does Jessops have an API?
No public API is recorded for Jessops.
What industry is Jessops in?
Jessops's product category is Photography Equipment Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACAHAA, Camera & Lens Retail (Photo Cameras, Lenses & Optical Accessories), with a secondary code of CRACAHAB, Video Camera & Production Gear Retail (Camcorders, Cinema Cameras, Rigs). Its NAICS code is 81292 and its SIC code is 3861.