There must be something in the air??

Best wishes to Stan Kessanis of Stand Alone Design, who has been hospitalised this week with  a tummy issue.He is on the mend and am sure he will be back playing touch footie soon.

Similarly Jeff Crowley of Fujifilm (and PMA Vic. State Chairperson) had a stint in hospital earlier in the week with a stomach bug.He too is recovering at home and will be "back on the road" next week.

Best wishes to you both.

We hear the ever smiling Julie Brandtman from Camera House head office is moving on, and plans to move with her family to Sunshine Coast, Queensland.We will miss you Jules and now know where to go for Xmas!

Had a chance to drop in and visit Les Brenner last week. He is well informed on all things happening in the photo industry and asked to be remembered to all his long time friends. He certainly is one of a kind!

Richard Robertson is certainly enjoying his well earned break. Last week he and Jacintha were staying in beautiful Port Fairy Victoria (at the end of the Great Ocean Road). Next week they are off to NZ. Notice he is still logging in regularly to add comments in trade news. Get back soon Robbo.....we miss you!

One benefit, following the extensive publicity re the "GST free imports" issue, is the following enquiry by Customs.  

Hopefully it will highlight the extent of the problem.

Peter Rose

Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor revealed Customs had launched a 14-week investigation to scrutinise and identify which consumers and businesses were breaking the law.

The crackdown will be used to inform the Government on how to manage political heat from retailers demanding online shoppers pay GST and duties. Customs will increase focus on online goods sent by air and sea, especially for items such as clothing, cosmetics and musical instruments.

Mr O'Connor exclusively told The Sunday Mail that consumers needed to understand that GST and some other taxes must be paid on goods bought on the internet and repeat offenders faced fines. "People are purchasing a range of goods (online), including full marble-top kitchens from South-East Asia and China," Mr O'Connor said.

"Customs will have the power to seize goods. If the goods are not allowed in ... Customs will destroy them."

While goods escape GST and other taxes if they are worth less than $1000, consumers are required to fill out declaration forms and pay duty on more expensive items.

In some cases, consumers are saving 30 per cent by buying goods online. Retailers have argued they cannot compete and are demanding the Government extend taxes on goods worth less than $1000.

A Productivity Commission Inquiry into the economic structure of the retail industry and the impact of online shopping will start soon, with the final report to the Government by November

On Notice: Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor (right) has revealed Customs launched a 15-week investigation to crackdown on Australian consumers who fail to pay tax on goods over $1000.00

Ready-to-Use Newsletters
New for PMA members! Take advantage of ready-to-use newsletters that can be customized to help your customers take great pictures, while also promoting your store.

As a PMA member, you have access to a new newsletter released each month. Available newsletters include:

• "Learning More about Color"
• "Framing Kids Art"
• "Don't Forget to Have Fun"
• "Time to Photograph a Parade"
• "Four Tips for Custom Framing"
• "Zoo Photography"
• "Black-and-White Photography - Part 1 and 2"
• "Pixels and Print Quality"
• "Beyond Your Kit Lens - Part 1 and 2"
• and more . .

View Newsletters Now

Newsletters can be used as-is or customized with store name and/or logo, and can be used online or in print. It's another way your PMA membership helps you.

At PMA we are always looking to find ways to help provide information on doing business better and smarter.

As part of that ongoing search PMA have partnered with Steve Miller to bring you a series of ideas and tips called the "Marketing Stimulus Package"

This is a no obligation marketing program with no hard selling, no sneaky behind the scenes pushiness - nothing... just a free twelve week marketing course, to provide you with some new insights, new ways of approaching your marketing or simply reaffirm that what you are doing is best practice.

This course is not going to eat up hours of your time but will provide you with clear direction in short, concise and to the point videos and tips.

To sign up just click here:

http://www.marketingstimuluspackage.com/membership/pma_intro.html 

Here's what you get.

• Upon registration, you will receive immediate access to my seven-part video series, "Introduction to the Seven Foundational Concepts for a Successful Marketing Strategy."
• Then, starting tomorrow, once a week for twelve weeks, you'll receive an email with a link to a valuable marketing tip, tactic, or tools designed to help you generate more prospects and more customers! These will include such topics as:
• The single best way to get prospects and customers to open your mailings 100% of the time!
• Why your current branding proposition isn't helping and, in fact, may actually be HURTING your business!
• How to develop a solid Referral Marketing System (I'll bet you don't even HAVE one right now)!
• How to understand and incorporate the new Social Media tools (like Twitter, blogging, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn) into your marketing strategy!
• The #1 online tool I've found to build and enhance relationships!
• The three most important factors influencing your customers to tell their peers all about you!
• Why the worst thing you can do is think and act like a marketer!
• How to use online video to drive sales!
• How to develop your own proprietary research (not only for your own use, but to create golden-handcuffs with your customers)!

So what are you waiting for? Join up today, put a few minutes aside each week to look, listen and learn and then a few extra minutes to decide how best to implement some of these ideas in your business.

We hope you enjoy and get great benefit from this PMA initiative.

Don't forget to bookmark and check out Steve's blog too www.twohatmarketing.com

Steve Miller - Marketing Stimulus Package Author