B&H Photo

{{Short description|Photo and video equipment store in New York City}}

{{Infobox company

| name = B&H Photo & Electronics Corp.

| logo = B&H Photo Video logo 2021.svg

| logo_size = 250px

| image = B & H Photo Storefront (48206485446).jpg

| image_caption = The exterior of the store on West 34th Street

| type = Private

| industry = Retail

| foundation = {{start date and age|1973}}
Manhattan, New York, U.S.

| founders = Blimie Schreiber
Herman Schreiber

| location = Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
{{coord|40.753124|-73.996281|format=dms|region:US-NY_type:landmark|display=title,inline}}

| locations = 1

| products = Cameras, video, film, audio, computers, electronics

| homepage = {{official URL}}

}}

B&H Photo Video (also known as B&H Photo and B&H and B&H Foto & Electronics Corporation) is an American photo and video equipment retailer founded in 1973, based in Manhattan, New York City.{{cite news| url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05340/616255.stm| newspaper= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette| title=New York camera shop combines 18th-century Jewish traditions and the hottest digital technology| author= Goldman, Adam | date=December 12, 2005| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060516165724/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05340/616255.stm| archive-date = May 16, 2006}} B&H conducts business primarily through online e-commerce consumer sales and business to business sales, as they only have one retail location. While initially a photo and film shop, B&H has grown into one of the largest electronic retailers in the U.S., selling over 400,000 products.{{Cite web |last=Zhang |first=Michael |date=2018-12-31 |title=A Brief History of B&H, The Largest Non-Chain Camera Store in the US |url=https://petapixel.com/2018/12/31/a-brief-history-of-bh-the-largest-non-chain-photo-store-in-the-us/ |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=PetaPixel |language=en}}

Their warehouse is located in Florence, New Jersey.

History

B&H opened in 1973 as a storefront film shop at 17 Warren Street in Tribeca, and took its name from the initials of owners Blimie Schreiber and her husband, Herman. Later in the 1970s, B&H moved to 119 West 17th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues in the Photo District and began to expand its stock to a wider range of film and photography products. In the 1990s, the company began selling various electronics, including computers, lighting, and audio equipment.{{Cite web |date=2020-08-05 |title=The Wild Success Of B&H Photo - Professional Leadership Institute |url=https://professionalleadershipinstitute.com/resources/the-wild-success-of-bh-photo/ |access-date=2024-04-12 |language=en-US}} In 1997, the store moved to its present location.

The owner of the company, Herman Schreiber, and many of the store's employees are observant Satmar Hasidic Jews. The company’s only brick-and-mortar store is located in Manhattan at 420 Ninth Avenue at the intersection with West 34th Street. The store is closed on Shabbat, most Jewish holidays, and Christmas. Although the B&H website is accessible on Shabbat, checkout and processing of online orders are unavailable during that time (from sundown Friday evening till Saturday evening) along with Jewish holidays according to local (New York) time.{{cite web | url = http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ | title = B&H Photo Video|access-date = May 11, 2010 | quote = Please note that B&H does not process Web orders from Friday evening to Saturday evening.| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100511055443/http://www.bhphotovideo.com/| archive-date= May 11, 2010 | url-status= live}}{{cite web|url = http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/SHcalendar.jsp | title = B&H order processing schedule|access-date = May 11, 2010}}

In 2007, B&H opened a second floor above its original sales floor making a total of {{convert|70000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} of sales space. That same year, B&H moved its offices to 440 9th Avenue in Manhattan.

As the company has grown, it expanded its office presence to accommodate sales, customer service, buying, marketing, and various back office functions; these functions are housed in 150,000 square feet of office space.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20131212/REAL_ESTATE/131219952/japanese-group-pays-210m-for-9th-ave-property|title=Japanese group pays $210M for 9th Ave. property|website=Crain's New York Business|date=December 12, 2013|access-date=November 19, 2018}} The store has an extensive conveyor belt system that runs along the ceiling.{{cite news|title=Inside B&H conveyor system…|url=http://www.swiss-miss.com/2012/01/inside-bh-conveyor-system.html|access-date=May 10, 2016|publisher=Swiss Miss}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lense.fr/news/bh-photo-visite-de-la-mecque-des-boutiques-photo/|title=BH Photo: Visite de la Mecque des boutiques photo|first=Par|last=Lâm|date=June 6, 2011|access-date=July 8, 2017|language=fr}}

In 2015, B&H added an Apple authorized shop to the computer department with an assortment of Apple products. There is an Apple employee in shop to assist and consult.{{Cite web|url=http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/03/18/bh-photos-manhattan-superstore-opens-prestigious-apple-authorized-mini-store|title=B&H Photo's Manhattan superstore opens prestigious Apple-authorized mini-store|website=AppleInsider|date=March 18, 2015 |access-date=July 4, 2017}} In 2016, Vaio announced that they signed a contract with B&H photo video to offer their products.{{cite news|title=Vaio Expands Distribution With Ingram Micro On Board|url=http://www.twice.com/news/laptops/vaio-expands-distribution-ingram-micro-board/61128|access-date=May 10, 2016|publisher=Twice|date=April 13, 2016}}{{cite news|title=CORRECTING and REPLACING VAIO Expands Distribution Channels to B&H Photo Video, DataVision and Ingram Micro|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160412005557/en/CORRECTING-REPLACING-VAIO%C2%AE-Expands-Distribution-Channels-BH|access-date=July 8, 2017|publisher=BusinessWire|date=April 13, 2016}} That same year, the company moved their warehouse to Florence in Burlington County, New Jersey.{{Cite web |title=Why New Jersey's warehouse sector is booming |url=https://whyy.org/articles/if-you-build-a-warehouse-in-new-jersey-they-will-come/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=WHYY |language=en-US}}

B&H Photo launched the B&H Payboo store{{cite web |title=B&H Photo’s New Credit Card Pays Back Sales Tax; We Take a Look |url=https://www.shutterbug.com/content/bh-photo%E2%80%99s-new-credit-card-pays-back-sales-tax-we-take-look |website=Shutterbug |access-date=21 February 2025 |language=en |date=8 May 2019}}{{cite web |title=B&H Payboo Credit Card {{!}} Save Instantly or Get Special Financing |url=https://www.bhphotovideo.com/credit-cards |website=www.bhphotovideo.com |publisher=B&H Photo |access-date=21 February 2025}} credit card for use only at B&H in 2019,https://files.consumerfinance.gov/a/assets/credit-card-agreements/pdf/QCCA3Q2023/SYNCHRONY_FINANCIAL/B&H_Payboo_Credit_Card_Account_Agreement_and_Pricing_Information.pdf-267596.pdf by Synchrony Bank and relaunched the card in 2022 with Comenity Capital Bank as the issuer.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-20 |title=B&H revamps Payboo Credit Card, now offers choice of sales tax refund or special financing |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/01/20/bh-revamps-payboo-credit-card-now-offers-choice-of-sales-tax-refund-or-special-financing |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=AppleInsider |language=en}}

In September 2021, the New York Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Attorney General of New York State claiming the company knowingly avoided paying millions in New York sales taxes.{{cite web |last1=Lecher |first1=Colin |date=November 14, 2019 |title=B&H dodged millions in taxes, New York attorney general alleges |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/14/20964980/b-h-photo-taxes-lawsuit-new-york-state |access-date=December 18, 2019 |website=The Verge}}{{Cite web |last=Marks |first=Jeffrey |title=B&H Photo Prevails in NY Sales Tax Dispute (via Passle) |url=https://advertisinglaw.fkks.com/post/102h8g1/bh-photo-prevails-in-ny-sales-tax-dispute |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=Passle |language=en}}

In 2023, as part of the company’s 50th anniversary celebration, B&H sold custom LEGO models of their flagship store.{{Cite web |last=Altland |first=Rikka |date=25 January 2024 |title=B&H has a custom LEGO set of its flagship NYC storefront that you can actually buy |url=https://9to5toys.com/2024/01/25/lego-bh-store-set/ |website=9to5toys.com}}

= Bild Expo =

In 2023, B&H Photo Video celebrated its 50th anniversary with the inaugural Bild Expo (named after the Yiddish word for 'image'), held on September 6–7 at the Javits Center in New York City.

The Expo featured four main stages: the Bild Main Stage for talks from photographers, directors, and creators; the OPTIC stage for outdoor and travel photography; the Depth of Field Stage for instruction on portrait, wedding, and event photography; and the Creative Production stage or filmmaking, videography, and editing.{{Cite web |last=VanTine |first=Michelle |date=2023-08-19 |title=B&H’s Bild Expo: Who Will Be There and What You Will Learn |url=https://fstoppers.com/workshops/bhs-bild-expo-who-will-be-there-and-what-will-learn-638896 |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Fstoppers |language=en}} In addition to educational experiences, the expo included a 100,000+ square-foot Gear Expo with more than 130 creative technology brands. The event also celebrated the 100th anniversary of 16mm filmmaking with a special Kodak 16mm Film Workshop.{{Cite web |last=DIRAdmin |date=2023-08-23 |title=B&H Presents Bild Expo 2023: Celebrating Photo, Video & Audio Creativity |url=https://direporter.com/industry-news/shows-and-conferences/bh-presents-bild-expo-2023 |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=Digital Imaging Reporter |language=en-US}}

Philanthropy

In 2013, the B&H Wilderness Photo Competition awarded two prizes, one based on a professionally judged vote and one from a popular choice vote.{{Cite web |last=Hong |first=Albert |date=2013-11-19 |title=Dubinsky takes ‘wild’ photograph on Study Abroad trip, enters B&H contest - The Temple News |url=https://temple-news.com/dubinsky-takes-wild-photograph-study-abroad-trip-enters-bh-contest/ |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=temple-news.com |language=en-US}} The competition included categories such as land mammals, aquatic, birds, and landscape/scenery.

In 2018, B&H sponsored Bushwick Stories, a documentary workshop for young storytellers created by the Bushwick Film Festival.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bushwickfilmfestival.com/press-releases-1/2018/8/17/bh-photo-canon-bushwick-film-festival-present-bushwick-stories|title=B&H Photo, Canon & Bushwick Film Festival Present Bushwick Stories|website=The Bushwick Film Festival|date=July 31, 2018 |access-date=January 27, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.amny.com/entertainment/bushwick-film-festival-1.21832665|title=A celebration of film diversity this weekend in Bushwick|website=am New York|date=October 11, 2018 |access-date=January 27, 2019}} For many years, B&H has sponsored NYC Salt, a program that offers intensive photography training to NYC high school students.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nycsalt.org/partners.html|title=NYC SALT {{!}} PARTNERS|website=www.nycsalt.org|access-date=January 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127094645/http://www.nycsalt.org/partners.html|archive-date=January 27, 2019|url-status=dead}} B&H also sponsors programs and fellowships at BRIC, the largest presenter of free cultural programming in Brooklyn.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bricartsmedia.org/about-bric|title=About BRIC|last=admini|first=BRIC|date=March 9, 2016|website=BRIC|access-date=January 27, 2019}} B&H has worked with partners, including Intel, to donate tech equipment to NYC public school classrooms.{{Cite web|date=2019-11-18|title=Chelsea Public School Receives $25K In Donated Laptops|url=https://patch.com/new-york/chelsea-ny/chelsea-public-school-receives-25k-donated-computers-tech|access-date=2020-08-03|website=Chelsea, NY Patch|language=en}}

During the COVID-19 pandemic, B&H organized "Days of Appreciation" for health care workers at Lenox Hill Hospital and other NYC hospitals.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-15|title=B&H Electronics Sponsors Day of Appreciation for the Medical Staff of Lenox Hill Hospital|url=https://www.newyorkcountypolitics.com/2020/06/15/bh-electronics-sponsors-day-of-appreciation-for-the-medical-staff-of-lenox-hill-hospital/|access-date=2020-08-03|website=New York County Politics|language=en-US}}

Controversies

In October 2007, it was reported that B&H Photo agreed to a US$4.3 million settlement in response to claims of discrimination against Hispanic workers, without admitting any wrongdoing.{{cite news |url=http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/archive/10-16-07.html |title=EEOC and B & H Reach $4.3 Million Settlement in National Origin Discrimination Case |publisher=Equal Employment Opportunity Commission |date=October 16, 2007 |access-date=November 13, 2007}}

In November 2009, B&H Photo faced a lawsuit, initiated by four women, for allegedly violating New York City and New York State human rights laws with their hiring practices.{{cite news |url=http://ny1.com/1-all-boroughs-news-content/top_stories/109168/gadget-retailer-faces-discrimination-suit |title=Gadget Retailer Faces Discrimination Suit |newspaper=NY1 |last=Spitz |first=Rebecca |date=November 19, 2009 |access-date=November 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122101612/http://ny1.com/1-all-boroughs-news-content/top_stories/109168/gadget-retailer-faces-discrimination-suit |archive-date=November 22, 2009 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/11/bh_photo_sued_f.php |title=B&H Photo Sued For Talmudic Discrimination Against Women |newspaper=The Village Voice |last=Edroso |first=Roy |date=November 19, 2009 |access-date=November 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091121235418/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/11/bh_photo_sued_f.php |archive-date=November 21, 2009 |url-status=dead }} The lawsuit, which aimed for class action status, sought $19 million in compensatory and punitive damages to discourage similar future practices.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/nyregion/19bagels.html |title=It Was Some Day in Court For Ampersand |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 18, 2009 |access-date=November 18, 2009 |first=John |last=Eligon |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111111151432/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/nyregion/19bagels.html|archive-date=November 11, 2011 |url-status= live}}

In 2011, B&H was involved in a lawsuit concerning claims of discrimination against Hispanic workers.{{cite web |last1=Del Signore |first1=John |title=B&H Photo Sued Again For Discriminating Against Employees |url=http://gothamist.com/2011/12/14/bh_photo_sued_again_for_discrimatin.php#. |website=Gothamist |date=December 14, 2011 |access-date=June 17, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303214616/http://gothamist.com/2011/12/14/bh_photo_sued_again_for_discrimatin.php#. |archive-date=March 3, 2014 }}{{cite news |last1=Ross |first1=Barbara |title=B and H Photo discriminated against us, say 2 Hispanic employees in lawsuit |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/b-h-photo-discriminated-2-hispanic-employees-lawsuit-article-1.991286 |newspaper=Daily News|location=New York |date=December 14, 2011 |access-date=June 17, 2014}} In August 2017, B&H settled a lawsuit for $3.22 million (while admitting no wrongdoing) filed by the United States Department of Labor Office of Contract Compliance around concerns B&H was hiring exclusively Hispanic men for entry-level warehouse positions, subjecting them to harassment and poor working conditions.{{cite news |last=McGeehan |first=Patrick |date=February 26, 2016 |title=B&H Electronics Store Sued for Discrimination of Hispanic Workers |url=http://nyti.ms/210VkGX |newspaper=The New York Times }}{{cite web|url=https://petapixel.com/2017/08/16/bh-pay-3-22m-settle-lawsuit-filed-dept-labor/|title=B&H to Pay $3.22M to Settle Lawsuit Filed by the Dept. of Labor|website=petapixel.com|last=Zhang|first=Michael|date=August 16, 2017 }}

Awards & recognition

In 2015, B&H's Google Play app was named the "Best Mobile Shopping App" at the Mobile Shop Conference.{{cite news|title=B&H Photo Video Wins Best App of the Year at Mobile Shopping Conference|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/b-h-photo-video-wins-090800063.html|access-date=May 10, 2016|publisher=Yahoo|date=October 19, 2015}}

In 2016, Consumer Reports awarded B&H Photo its No. 1 Top Rating for Best Electronics Retailer,{{Cite news|url=https://clark.com/technology/auctions-e-commerce/best-electronics-retailers/|title=Best electronics retailers|date=November 19, 2015|work=Clark Howard|access-date=November 19, 2018}} and in 2018, named it the leading online consumer electronics retailer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-stores.htm|title=Top Electronics store Reviews {{!}} Best Electronics store – Consumer Reports|website=www.consumerreports.org|access-date=December 3, 2018}}

In May 2018, B&H was named by Forbes Magazine as one of America's Best Midsize Employers for 2018. The Forbes recognition was based on independent employee surveys conducted by Forbes.{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/companies/bh-photo-video/|title=B&H Photo Video on the Forbes America's Best Midsize Employers List|work=Forbes|access-date=November 18, 2018}} In 2020, the company was included on Forbes' “America’s Best Employers By State” list.{{cite web |title=B&H Photo Video Company Overview & News |url=https://www.forbes.com/companies/bh-photo-video/?sh=7e9287be759c |website=Forbes |access-date=30 May 2024 |language=en}}

In 2018, B&H's consumer website was recognized as the Best for User Experience of any e-commerce company by the Baymard Institute.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baymard.com/ux-benchmark|title=Top 60 E-Commerce Sites Ranked by UX Performance – Baymard Institute|website=baymard.com|access-date=December 3, 2018}} They were also ranked #1 in the Institute's mobile usability benchmark of the 50 highest grossing U.S. e-commerce sites.{{Cite web |title=UX Research: 7 Reasons B&H Photo’s Mobile Site is Best-in-Class – Articles |url=https://baymard.com/blog/bhphoto-mobile-experience |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Baymard Institute |language=en}}

Newsweek named B&H as one of America's Top Companies for Customer Service in 2019, 2020,{{Cite web|date=January 2020|title=America's Best Customer Service 2020|url=https://www.newsweek.com/americas-best-customer-service-2020|website=Newsweek.com}} and 2024,{{Cite web |last=Newsweek |date=2023-08-30 |title=America's Best Customer Service 2024 |url=https://www.newsweek.com/rankings/americas-best-customer-service-2024 |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Newsweek |language=en}} and has named B&H as a Best Online Shop from 2020 - 2023.{{Cite news|url=https://fstoppers.com/gear/bh-named-top-company-customer-service-newsweek-310556|title=B&H Named Top Company for Customer Service by Newsweek|date=November 22, 2018|work=Fstoppers|access-date=December 3, 2018}}{{Cite web |last=Newsweek |date=2022-10-12 |title=Office, Electronics & Media 2023 |url=https://www.newsweek.com/rankings/best-online-shops-2023/office-electronics-media |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}

B&H Photo has won two Webby Awards in the How-to, Explainer & DIY video category; for The Art of Street Photography with Hugh Brownstone in 2023,{{cite web |title=The Art of Street Photography with Hugh Brownstone |url=https://winners.webbyawards.com/2023/video/video-series-channels/how-to-explainer-diy/242687/the-art-of-street-photography-with-hugh-brownstone |website=The Webby Awards |access-date=26 June 2024 |language=en}} and Ira Block's The Colours of Cuba in 2024.{{cite web |title=Watch Ira Block’s Webby Award-Winning Portrait Photography YouTube Series |url=https://alphauniverse.com/stories/watch-ira-blocks-webby-award-winning-youtube-series/ |website=Sony Alpha Universe |access-date=26 June 2024 |language=en-us}}