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Artist Profile
TIM HALL   GM AND FOUNDER, COLOR3LAB

  

What it does: Color3Lab is pretty much the last San Francisco Color Photo Lab standing offerring drum scanning, Custom C-Prints, full mounting and laminating services.      
  
HQ: San Francisco.       Founded: 1987.       Websites: Color3Lab.COM
   
Source of start-up capital: Personal funds put up by myself and two brothers. The three in Color3Lab has a dual meaning: three brothers and also the three primary additive colors (RGB) used in the photographic print process.
   
Background: Graduated from S.F.S.U. with a BA in Music. Artistically I'm very fortunate to have both good ears and good eyes. In my career the eyes won as I moved toward photographic printing. I registered for and was put on the waiting list to study under Ansel Adams. In the meantime, I self studied his program and took a print production position at an established S.F. Photo Lab. The spot did open in Ansel's class and I received the invitation to attend. Since I was already working full time as the Lab Production Manager and guaranteed that there would be a space for me in the next  class, I passed on that opportunity. Very unfortunately for him (and for me too) Ansel passed away that next year.

Big picture
Reason for starting business: Wanting to do things my way.       Most difficult part of decision: Borrowing money
   
Biggest plus of ownership: Doing things my own way, we built the lab with many production efficiencies. For instance the enlarging rooms were constructed purposefully to limit the amount of walking distance between printing, processing and finishing. The process has changed so much over the years that these efficiencies no longer matter, however back in the 80's and 90's it gave us a distinct advantage.
   
Biggest drawback: There are just so many hours in every day, and often in order to get projects completed to my satisfaction, I have to do them myself.
   
Biggest misconception: Assuming there were enough people (similar to myself) that would be available to work for the lab.
   
Biggest business strength: I am very good at seeing what does and doesn't work in a photograph.
   
Biggest business weakness: Handling money.       Biggest risk: Borrowing $750,000. to go digital.
   
Biggest mistake: Putting trust in some individuals that proved to be untrustworthy.
   
Smartest move: Downsizing when necessary and not giving up. A lot of our old business has been lost due to: the current economy, changing technology and the desire by many customers that cheaper price is more important then quality of product.  These changes have pretty much eliminated all of our former worthy competitors.

Daily routine
Most challenging task: Running the business differently then every other business that I've worked at.

Favorite task: Making wonderful photographs.      Least favorite task: Managing salespeople.

Biggest frustration: Dealing honestly with dishonest people.       Source of support in a business crisis: Focus and perseverance.

Dreams
Key goal yet to achieve: Peace of mind.       First move with capital windfall: I opened a deli with my wife. 

Five year plan: Getting to make photographs that matter.

Personal
Most admired entrepreneur: Paul Newman.       Most interested in meeting: Franz Schubert.       Stress Reducers: Good Music.

Favorite pastimes: Anything with my kids.       Favorite book: "Tao Te Ching", Lau Tzu.       Favorite film: The Matrix. 

Favorite restaurant: Jyun Kang Vegetarian Restaurant at the City of 10,000 Buddhas.

Favorite destination: City of 10,000 Buddhas in Talmage, CA (near Ukiah).

What is on your iPod: I don’t listen to iPods.       Automobile: Datsun 510 with stick shift (my first car).


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