STAYING FOCUSED.

• Author: Wanbaugh, Taylor
• Position: STATEWIDE: Triad

Retro instant photographs aren't just for Throwback Thursdays anymore: Instant-print cameras are making a comeback because of nostalgic consumers and their novelty interest for younger people. Unit sales of instant-print cameras grew 166% in the year ending September 2016, according to market research company NPD Group. During that same time period, instant-film sales doubled, as more than 3.5 million units were sold. Zink Holdings' manufacturing facility in Whitsett capitalized on the trend by creating about 30 million packets of inkless imaging paper in 2017.

The paper Zink produces is not limited to just instant-print cameras. It also can be used for portable printers, such as HP Sprocket, which enables people to utilize Bluetooth technology to...