Queensland Flood Report Update

The Queensland floods have caused utter devastation to townships, communities, businesses, and residential areas with a tragic loss of life. Images and stories of survival, loss, and destruction in the aftermath of the floods have been viewed around the world as mass clean up operations commence and thousands of volunteers step in to offer assistance.

Reports from Affected Members

Neville Volker from Dalby Colour Innovations - Kodak Express wrote of his appreciation of support:

Good morning All.

Just writing to say a big THANKS for all your kind emails, phone calls, offers of support and messages over the last few weeks as Dalby suffered some 5 large floods. 

We were very touched by this and would like to advise we are all ok.

Both the shop and our home stayed dry and we feel very lucky especially when we look at the horrific images that we have seen over the last few days. 

We trust now, as we send this that you too are ok and surviving what will be QLD worst floods in history.

Our thoughts are with you and we look forward to some dry weeks ahead. 

Take Care

Kind Regards
Nev Volker & Nathan Berting
Dalby Colour Innovations - Kodak Express

Picture Framers "Help Network"
 Jared Davis from Megawood/Larson Juhl and Ormond Williams from the PPFA coordinated a "Framers Help Network"  to link those Framing businesses requiring help to those that were in a position to assist. Ormond requested the following:

Ways you can help:

1. Hands on help to clean up or setup the business.

2. Loan a spare machine or computer. Megawood Larson Juhl has generously consented to freight machinery from you to the business in need, at their expense.

3. Donate spare hand tools and supplies. eg, point drivers, staplers, steel rules, pliers, wire cutters, nail hole putty, staples, vee nails, etc, etc. Anything used in a framing business.

Any unused/unwanted donations, after the program is complete, will go to Workplace Training for the Picture Framing apprenticeship program in Queensland.

Specific needs for Framers include:

Artagraph - Milton:

Needs:

·         Workbench

·         Plan drawers

·         Matboard rack

·         Moulding racks

Murray's Art & Framing - Toowoomba

Needs -

• Underpinner

Articulate Framing - Bellbowrie

Needs -

• Matcutter
• Work Benches
• Racks
• Framing Tools & Accessories

Please contact co-ordinator (Ormond Williams) if you can provide any of the above items. (Transport may be able to be organised from other areas)

Phone: 0265 832686

Mobile: 0428 832686

Email: ormond@ormondsframing.com

Store Damage Update

Phil Gresham, Fotofast, Brisbane, has been reporting to PMA those businesses which remained safe and those which have been damaged in the Brisbane metropolitan area. Phil has reported;

Frontier Digital in Sherwood, owned by Frank Curcuruto, has lost much equipment in the flood.

Fairfield One Hour Photos, Fairfield Gardens has been totally lost.

James Delahunty's business has been saved by moving $900K of stock upstairs in Festival Towers.

Westridge One Hour Photos, Drayton North was saved by moving a vast majority of equipment to a safe position..

Many businesses remain closed to enable staff to deal with consequences of the flood.

As you are undoubtedly aware, the Queensland floods in SE QLD have caused immense damage, disruption, and tragic loss of life.

PMA would like to extend a Help Line" to all photographic businesses who have been affected by the QLD floods  (as well as those elsewhere), by co-ordinating those businesses who are seeking assistance with those individuals and companies that can offer help.

Please contact PMA (and provide name & contact details) if:

1/ You are, or know of a photographic industry business who requires assistance to become operational again. (The more specific you can be as to product/services required, the more assistance we hope to be able to provide).

2/ You are a business willing to help. (Again, please provide details of how you may assist eg. Loan equipment, machinery, donated materials, furniture etc.)

Any assistance that is offered will be passed onto those businesses that have requested help. You can contact PMA on (02) 9454244 or email: pmaaustralia@pmai.org

Please forward this email to anyone you know in the Photographic Industry, and lets help those flood affected businesses get back on their feet again. 

PS. This initiative followed from our Framing colleagues at Megawood/Larson Juhl, and Ormond Williams from the PPFA Australian/New Zealand Chapter  who have already initiated a "Framers Help Network" to co-ordinate assistance to those Framers in need of help, with individuals & businesses in the Framing industry who are able to offer assistance.

Phil Gresham from Brisbane's Fotofast has launched an initiative in conjunction with Hewlett Packard Australia to assist flood victims.

Gresham says "We were one of the lucky ones, while we had to close up shop for several days we managed to avoid being flooded. However being surrounded by so much carnage we just had to find a way where we could actively get involved and help. HP were fantastic and jumped onto the idea with us and so we have set up the Free Digital Photo to CD service. Simply put people go around their property and shoot items that have been damaged and may need to put in insurance claims. They then bring those files to us and we put them onto a personalised photo CD with index booklet. They get two copies, one for their records and one for the insurance company."

Phil has also used his extensive contacts through DIMA and PMA to source the best methods of preserving water damaged images and taking advice from stores that helped out during the Hurricane Katrina disaster and has provided the information on his website to assist those who have had images damaged.

Gresham says 'A lot of people don't realise that wet images can often be salvaged, we just wanted to provide the information because if we can save just one person's precious family photo then the effort will be worth it'.

Smartphones behind over a third of store walk-outs

In-store customer service that is supported by access to real-time information is more important than ever, finds a Motorola study, thanks to the increasing number of store visitors armed with smartphones.

 by Helen Leggatt

By the end of 2011, analysts predict smartphone use will outstrip feature phone use. That means more consumers than ever before will have access to retail websites, social networks and apps all while browsing a store.

This has a significant impact on the effectiveness of store staff, found a recent Motorola study, particularly those employed by retailers who have not invested in technology.

It found over half (55%) of retail assistants believe shoppers during the recent holiday period were "better connected to consumer information" than themselves - 17% agreed wholeheartedly and 17% somewhat agreed.

A whopping 87% of retailers admitted it was easy for savvy shoppers to find a better deal elsewhere, and many do. The report found that 39% of store walk-outs are due to customers making checks on their smartphones regarding prices and availability.

"Retailers have put their associates at a significant disadvantage to connected consumers with the majority citing that shoppers are better connected than their in-store associates," said Frank Riso, senior director of retail solutions, Motorola Solutions.

"Retailers need to arm their mobile associates with access to real-time information to level the shopping playing field."

Sun Jan 30:                        PPFA WA Industry Meeting

                                           Gallery 360, Subiaco