Why we opened the UK’s most remote camera store… on top of a mountain

by Wex Team - 19/08/2022

On August 19^th, World Photography Day, the Wex team scaled one of Snowdonia’s most picturesque peaks to open the United Kingdom’s most remote camera store.

Sitting atop Moel Hebog, the store boasted everything you’ve come to expect from us– a fantastic selection and cameras, tripods and lenses, with our staff on hand to give intrepid customers the kind of expert advice they rely on us for.

Check out the video below to see how the team got on with the mammoth task of scaling the peak and opening the store:

So, you may be wondering what possessed us to open a store at the top of a mountain. Well, it’s all because of you – specifically, the habits of British photographers. We commissioned a survey recently to learn more about your photo-taking habits, and discovered that you prioritise taking pictures over, well, pretty much everything.

More than half of you said that having a good time was secondary to taking a good photo. About 40% of you were proudly happy to risk life and limb by climbing over safety barriers, suffering sunburn or exposing yourself to insect bites and stings – as long as it resulted in a good picture. A sheepish 51% of you copped to arguing with loved ones when trying to take the perfect picture, and 22% said that the stress of taking a good picture had led to missing out on time with family and friends.

It can be emotionally taxing in other ways, too. One in five of you admitted that the pursuit of a great photograph had reduced you to tears, and some of you admitted to taking the same picture up to 50 times, trying to get it just right.

Hikers make their way up to the UK's most remote camera store, opened by Wex Photo Video in Snowdonia, Wales

By opening our store on Moel Hebog, we brought our expert team to one of the UK’s most remote and most photographable locations – because if you’re willing to go to such tremendous lengths for an amazing photo, then so are we.

We know that it’s important to photographers to continue to improve. Around three in five of you said that you felt your photography skills left a lot to be desired, and we’ve seen a huge spike in ‘how to’ searches across the web as British photographers have hunted for ways to improve their snapping skills.

Whether it’s through equipment advice, video tutorials, expert tips from our photo and video ambassadors, or even opening a store atop a mountain in one of the UK’s best-loved photo locations, we’re committed to meeting photographers where they are, and helping them get to the next level.

The UK's most remote camera store by Wex Photo Video has opened in time for World Photography Day

We scaled Moel Hebog not only to open a camera store, but because it was an unforgettable experience in one of the country’s most beautiful spots. Our team came away with memories to last a lifetime. More than fifth of you admitted that you don’t enjoy a moment as much as you could because you worry about getting the perfect picture – so we also wanted to use this store to remember that photography is something to enjoy. Let’s capture the moment – and cherish it, too.