You may have heard the news story this morning about how Telus acquired Black’s Photo for $28 million. Company mergers and acquisitions are nothing out of the ordinary in the business world, but there is usually an obvious connection between the two parties involved. For instance, when we heard about T&T Supermarket being acquired by Loblaw’s (Superstore), that made sense since they are both in the supermarket industry.

With Black’s being sold to Telus, the connection isn’t quite as obvious. Black’s is a company that largely caters to the traditional photography market, selling cameras, frames, albums, and other related products. The company has moved into more modern technology by selling digital photo frames and other consumer electronics, but it is still largely perceived as a traditional company. Telus, on the other hand, is inherently known as being more cutting-edge, since it is in the cell phone industry. Further still, what would be the direct connection between cell phones and photography?

Yes, many cell phones come with integrated cameras these days, but the picture quality produced by these camera phones typically pale in comparison to even the cheapest standalone digital cameras. Is there enough of a connection here to make the acquisition worthwhile for Telus? Will there be some convergence and co-branding here with Black’s selling Telus cell phone service too? Or was this strictly a business acquisition with Black’s Photo continuing to operate as it has been for several years?

In considering any new business relationships, mergers, or acquisitions, don’t be afraid to think outside the box to see how these partnerships can be mutually beneficial to all parties involved. If a cell phone company can buy a company best known for developing photo prints, anything is possible.