Originally posted by clackers B&Ms are dead, EFats, online's the way to go, as far as the new generation of consumers goes.
I'm like you, have an affection from my youth for shops, such as book and record stores, even videotape rental places, but that's all very yesterday.
Well I don't know, we have a rather large chain of shops here (they sell more than just cameras) and they have ramped up their advertising around town for their photographic services and gear. They've also just renovated the entire camera department as well (no space for Pentax in the new department). To be honest I've not really seen a decline in camera shops. Some shutdown but others take their place. In fact a massive one just opened up next to one of their competitors, but also, no section for Pentax/Ricoh.
Online-only works if people already know your brand, but with lack of marketing and no place to see one "by chance", you want to cater to only the narrow slice of people who remember Pentax from our youth?
Maybe we're getting a bit off-topic, but I think the lack of presence at the show isn't a one-off for Pentax/Richo, it's indicative of a bigger problem.