Foto Video Sauter

What Foto Video Sauter does

Foto Video Sauter operates as part of Calumet Photo Video GmbH, a privately held German specialty retailer of photography and videography equipment. The company runs 13 physical retail stores across major German cities (Hamburg, Hannover, Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden, Essen, Düsseldorf, Köln, Frankfurt, Nürnberg, Stuttgart, and two Munich locations) alongside a national e-commerce platform at calumet.de, supported by Click & Collect, telephone sales, and trade-in/buyback logistics. Its target customer base spans professional photographers and videographers (primary), photography enthusiasts and hobbyists, and students/assistants building careers in the field.

The core offering is the multi-brand retail sale of new and certified pre-owned cameras, lenses, video equipment, lighting, studio gear, drones, accessories, bags, and tripods from over 30 major manufacturers including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, OM System, Leica, Panasonic, Sigma, Tamron, Profoto, Phase One, Hasselblad, DJI, and Wacom. The core technology is a standard e-commerce retail platform with inventory management, store locator, and online ordering capabilities; no proprietary software product or AI/ML capability is documented. Revenue is generated through a diversified portfolio of streams: one-time new equipment sales, certified used equipment sales with warranty, usage-based rental, professional services (repair, sensor cleaning, photo printing, studio rental), transaction-based financing fees via Targobank, and recurring workshop/coaching revenue.

The go-to-market motion is multi-channel: direct-to-consumer through retail and e-commerce, event-driven via in-store and online workshops, and sales-led through professional consultation, telephone support, and trade-in programs. Pricing is unit-based with promotional campaigns (cashback up to €1,100, trade-in bonuses up to 10%), 0% interest financing, free shipping from €39, and 30-day returns. Marketing combines a content library (Calumet Magazine), email newsletters, social media, manufacturer co-marketing, and educational events. The brand is positioned as Germany's leading specialist photo and video retailer with long-standing Trusted Shops certification (10+ years) and an idealo partnership since 2013.

Name

Foto Video Sauter

Legal name

Calumet Photo Video GmbH

Website

https://foto-video-sauter.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Foto Video Sauter is a German specialty retailer of photography and videography equipment, operating 13 retail stores and an e-commerce platform (calumet.de) to serve professional photographers, hobbyists, and students with new and used gear, rental, repair, and education services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

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

Used & Refurbished Photo/Video Gear Retail (CRACAHAK), Lighting & Studio Equipment Retail (Flash, Continuous, Modifiers, Backdrops) (CRACAHAF)

Keywords

• Camera equipment retail
• Photography video gear
• Used camera sales
• Photo equipment repair
• Photography workshop services

Headquarters

HQ city

Germany

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales - New Equipment: Retail sales of cameras, lenses, video equipment, lighting, studio equipment, accessories, bags, tripods, drones, and other photography/videography products from major brands including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, OM System, Leica, Panasonic, Sigma, Tamron, Profoto, and others.
2. Second-Hand/Used Equipment Sales: Certified pre-owned equipment sales with 30-day return policy and 12-month warranty (6 months guarantee). Trade-in and buyback services allow customers to sell or exchange used equipment.
3. Equipment Rental Services: Equipment rental (Rent) service for short-term needs, allowing customers to rent photography and videography gear.
4. Professional Services: Additional services including repair services, sensor cleaning, photo services, photo studio rental (Munich Sonnenstraße location), and workshops/education programs.
5. Financing Services: 0% financing options through Targobank, making higher-value equipment more accessible to customers through installment payment plans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Calumet Photo Video GmbH (operating the Foto Video Sauter stores) is a German specialty retailer of new and certified pre-owned photography and videography equipment — cameras, lenses, lighting, studio gear, drones, accessories — sold through 13 physical stores across Germany and the calumet.de e-commerce platform. The retail proposition is supported by a portfolio of paid services including equipment rental, professional repair, sensor cleaning, photo printing, photography/videography workshops, a trade-in/buyback program, and 0% installment financing via partner bank Targobank.

Product overview

Calumet Photo Video is a German specialty retail chain and online store for photography and videography equipment, operating as a single unified retail platform rather than a modular software product. The core offering is the sale of new and used photography/videography equipment across categories including cameras, lenses, video equipment, lighting, tripods, bags, and accessories. This is supplemented by a portfolio of service modules including equipment rental, repair services, sensor cleaning, photography workshops, photo printing services, trade-in programs, and 0% financing options. Editorial content is provided through the Calumet Magazine blog. The company operates 13 physical store locations across Germany alongside its e-commerce platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Second-Hand / Used Equipment Certified pre-owned cameras, lenses, and accessories sold with condition ratings, 30-day return policy, and 12-month warranty for photographers and videographers seeking value-priced alternatives to new equipment.
• Equipment Rental Short-term rental of photography and videography equipment for customers who need gear for specific projects or to test higher-end equipment before purchasing.
• Repair Service Professional repair services for photographic and video equipment, offered to customers who need to maintain or fix gear purchased from any source.
• Sensor Cleaning Service Professional sensor cleaning service for digital cameras, helping photographers maintain image quality from their equipment.
• Workshops and Events Photography and videography seminars, workshops, coaching sessions, and webinars delivered at 13 German locations and online, serving hobbyists, students, and professionals seeking skills development.
• Photo Services (Foto Service) Photo printing and processing services including prints, photo books, and other photo products for consumers and professional photographers needing physical photo output.
• Trade-In and Buyback Service Trade-in and buyback service where customers can sell or trade used photography/videography equipment for cash or credit toward new purchases, available in-store or via free shipping for a quote.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30-day return policy on all used goods
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Trusted ShopsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrusted Shops certification providing buyer protection and customer review platform. Calumet has been Trusted Shops certified for 10 years, demonstrating long-term commitment to customer trust and satisfaction.
• idealominorGTM or Marketing Partneridealo price comparison partner since 2013, enabling Calumet products to appear in price comparison searches and reaching customers actively shopping for photography equipment.
• DHLminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary shipping carrier for domestic German deliveries, enabling nationwide delivery of online orders.
• UPSminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlternative shipping carrier for domestic and international deliveries.
• PayPalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPayment processing partner enabling secure online payments for e-commerce transactions.
• TargobankminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFinancing partner providing 0% installment payment options for customers purchasing higher-value photography equipment.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Adorama: US multi-channel photo, video, audio, and electronics retailer with strong e-commerce and NYC showroom. Directly comparable in product mix and customer base of enthusiasts and professionals.
• MPB: UK-headquartered platform specializing in used photo and video equipment buy-and-sell. Directly comparable to Calumet's certified pre-owned / trade-in business, which is a meaningful revenue stream.
• Wex Photo Video: UK-based specialty photo and video retailer with both online and physical stores. Highly comparable product assortment, target customer (professionals and serious enthusiasts), and used-gear trade-in program.
• Foto Erhardt: German specialty photo and video retailer with online store and physical showrooms — directly comparable in product mix, target customer (professionals and enthusiasts), and category focus on cameras, lenses, lighting, and accessories.
• B&H Photo Video: Largest US specialty photo/video retailer with extensive e-commerce and a flagship NYC retail store. Comparable in product breadth across cameras, lenses, lighting, audio, and serving photography/videography professionals.
• Calumet Photo (US parent brand): US-based specialty photo retailer operating under the same Calumet brand as the subject's German business. Closest direct mirror in product assortment, multi-channel model, and professional-customer focus.

Regional players

• Cyberphoto: Nordic specialty photo and video retailer with strong online presence and physical showrooms. Comparable product depth and pro-customer focus, but operates primarily in Finland and Sweden rather than Germany.

Broad incumbents

• Saturn: Major German consumer electronics big-box retailer (sister brand to MediaMarkt). Sells cameras and accessories but lacks Calumet's specialist depth, service portfolio, and professional-customer orientation.
• MediaMarkt: Europe's largest consumer electronics retailer with broad assortment including cameras. Overlaps in product category but competes mainly on price/availability rather than specialist consulting for pros.

Emerging players

• Cewe: German photo printing and photo book specialist. Comparable through overlap in photo services/printing revenue stream, though Cewe focuses on consumer printing rather than equipment retail.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foto-video-sauter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Foto Video Sauter