12:00a.m. 3rd September 2008

Ken Webb is the new part-owner of a chain of digital camera stores on the Sunshine Coast. Photo: Michaela O'Neill/ 177960

Ken Webb is the first person to admit he’s no expert when it comes to cameras.

But he certainly knows a thing or two about business.

And while he has been living on the Sunshine Coast for just two years, he has already made a significant mark in business circles.

His first venture was building the Nambour Heights Motel opposite the Nambour Hospital.

More recently he has joined forces with long-time friend Terry Yensch, a Gold Coast-based photographer with a 20 year history in the industry, to buy the Camera House stores at Maroochydore, Noosaville and Nambour.

Mr Webb, who formerly owned hotels in Cardwell and Mackay in the north of the state, and has also been involved in residential property development in Mackay, said the stores were now part of the Garrick’s Camera House chain, joining stores owned by Mr Yensch on the Gold Coast, in Townsville, Mackay and Cairns.

With the acquisition of the three Sunshine Coast stores, Mr Webb said he believed the group was now the “biggest privately-owned independent camera group in Australia”.

He also said the partners were already planning major changes in at least two of the Coast stores.

“We’ve already refurbished the Noosaville store and we’re looking at setting up a new concept that we call Quick Pix, in one section of the store,” Mr Webb said.

Quick Pix has already been included as part of the stores in Cairns and Townsville, Mr Webb saying it was indicative of how quickly cameras and photography were evolving.

“It’s a different concept that hasn’t been seen in Australia as far as we know,” Mr Webb said.

The concept involves setting aside an area within the stores, complete with coffee lounge and children’s play area, where cutting edge machines (costing about $100,000 each) allow people to print their own photos, and use images off their memory cards to make things such as greetings cards and invitations.

“People can use the machines to virtually create whatever they like,” Mr Webb said.

“We’re looking at incorporating the concept into the Maroochydore and Noosaville stores.”

He also said he had been pleased with how the Coast stores had been trading.

“We’ve made a few personnel changes and business is going well.

"We’ve got great staff ... all our staff are photographers which is important,” he said.

Mr Webb also said the owners were already looking at a significant expansion of Garrick’s Camera House stores throughout south-east Queensland.

“We’re particularly looking at Caloundra ... that looks attractive.

“Plus we think there are opportunities in places like Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and Rockhampton,” he said.