Accrington innovator launches photo kiosks (From Blackburn Citizen)

Accrington innovator launches photo kiosks

11:39am Monday 28th July 2008 in Hyndburn By Ben Briggs

A FLEDGLING entrepreneur is aiming to give wedding photography a 21st century twist with his new product.

Memorytube Kiosks Ltd, Eanam Wharf, Blackburn, is pioneering interactive touch screen kiosks which will enable people to download photographs from their mobile phones and on to a hard drive while they are still at the event.

Owner Lee Cunningham, 38, of Accrington, started the company at the end of 2007 and believes the kiosks could eventually replace the need for disposable cameras at weddings.

A former manager at BT, Lee said his time spent at trade shows made him realise that touch-screen technology could be harnessed for other uses.

He said: “After taking voluntary redundancy I came across a company that was getting rid of touch screen betting terminals to landfill. I bought seven of them and had them refurbished and just thought there was a market out there for them to be used at weddings.”

Market research led him to realise that companies offering disposable cameras were charging around £300 for the wedding package, a price he believes he can compete with.

The interactive kiosks can be placed at a wedding ceremony and guests can then download images from their cameras or camera phones on to the kiosk’s hard drive. There is also a small camera at the top of the kiosk which guests can use to record messages to the bride and groom.

Following the ceremony, Lee will then download the images and videos on to CDs for the newlyweds.

Lee's efforts have been backed by Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) funding through No Limits, a scheme which helps new start-ups.