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21st July 2011 |
Issue
25/2011 |
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| A week of highs and lows | |
Good Afternoon,
The week had its highs and lows:
How about Apple's sales results for the last quarter... $28.5 Billion (LY $15.7 billion )at 41.7%GP.When did we last see growth and profitability at that level in our industry?. Have you all visited an Apple store? Funky products, minimal pos material, no discount signs, no pressure selling, no clutter, fantastic service, consumers paying for advice, customer galore and an atmosphere that makes you return.
They are a joy to visit.
Do you think the formulae might be working?
Costco opened two more stores this week.
Massive floor space and range, red hot prices (reported maximum 16% mark up on all products),$60 joining fee before you can buy, hordes of consumers and an aggressive store expansion program.
Do yourself a favour and visit a store.
It is reported Woolworths new hardware chain is going to stock CE products as part of their growth strategy. Will this mean another seller of digital cameras?
In my memory there has never been a better time for small/medium retailers to be part of, and participate in, trade associations, which provide communication, networking, conferences and a peer group who are all going through similar challenges.
As things get tougher, as they may indeed do, do not withdraw, you need to reach out and look for solutions and growth opportunities.
They are out there!
Our best wishes go out to Jens Madsen of Wollongong who is in hospital fighting cancer. His daughter Sonja, reports he is very unwell.
If you have any messages for him, please send them and we will pass them on.
Have a good week
Cheers
Peter Rose
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Your PMA Australia Executive
National Chairperson-Richard Robertson
richardr@teds.com.au
Eastern Region TVP
and NSW Chairperson
John Ralph
jrcamerahouse@bigpond.com
WA, SA, NT, QLD TVP
and QLD Chairperson
Andrew Mason
print@photocontinental.com.au
TAS Chairperson
Tim Jones
tim@perfectprints.com.au
VIC Chairperson
Jeff Crowley
jeff.crowley@fujifilm.com.au
SA Chairperson
Paul Atkins
paul@atkins.com.au
WA Chairperson
Murray Gibbs
murray@ggch.com.au
Director of Australian Activities
Peter Rose
prose@pmai.org
Australian Directors for PMA
John Paxton
jpaxton@paxtons.com.au
Len Sandler
len.sandler@starshots.com.au
PPFA Chairperson
Ormond Williams
osgood@bigpond.net.au
APCI Chairperson
Paul Atkins
paul@atkins.com.au
PSPA Chairperson
Paul Dawson
pd@hydrophotographics.com.au
PIEA Chairperson
Gale Spring
g.spring@rmit.edu.au
PMA Australia Office
02 9454 2444
pmaaustralia@pmai.org
Editor
Glynn Lavender
pmaaustralia@pmai.org
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| GST Threshold reduction vote |
Fairfax is reporting that the Federal Government has already looked into the feasibility of halving the GST threshold, with it being ruled out on the basis of cost of implementation.
As reported by Clancy Yates citing documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, customs and Treasury officials last year investigated how quickly the threshold could be cut to $500 and what the administrative costs would be.
According to customs staff, reducing the GST threshold on imports to $500 would increase administration costs by $38 million over four years. The same source also suggested that the change could have been implemented by July 1 this year if required. However, the revenue that could be gained from lowering the threshold is as high as $460 million a year according to Treasury, making the cost of collection seem a justifiable expenditure.
These revelations are a big win for the Fair Imports Alliance and all retailers arguing for the lowering of the GST threshold, with the issue sure to be thrust back into the spotlight with evidence now that the government potentially has more to gain by lowering the threshold than not. And, as Fair Imports Alliance spokesman Brad Kitschke told Fairfax, " They show that it could be done, that plans were in place to reduce the threshold and advice was sought as to the earliest possible start date."
However, the Federal Government has already responded, saying that their investigations reveal the cost of administering the lowering of the GST threshold would be far higher than the $38 million suggested by customs. And it would require a complete backflip from Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten, who won the very public GST battle earlier this year with a wave of public disdain toward the major retailers who sort to tax online imports currently exempt from GST.
'New data, gathered during the recent three-month enhanced compliance campaign between January and March 2011, indicate that the increase in processing would be significantly higher, placing an even greater burden on customs resources than first predicted," said a spokesman for the Assistant Treasurer's office. 'This burden would create additional costs for customs and the government and longer waiting times for consumers."
Our most recent Power Retail Poll shows readers are largely against lowering the GST-free threshold on online imports, with 60% against, 29% for and 10% who just don't care.
Want to add your vote? Click here link
Grant Arnott is the editor and publisher of Power Retail. Other hats include Content Manager for the Online Retailer Conference, Program Director for the Online Retail Industry Awards, Global Head of The Media Pad Pty Ltd, and adoptive father of a fast-growing Golden Retriever. Grant has a specialist business publishing background spanning more than a decade, and contributes regularly to a multitude of print and digital business media.
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| The Government was ready to change GST threshold | |
The Fair Imports Alliance said documents released under Freedom of Information (FOI) revealed the Government was planning on reducing the low value importation threshold for overseas purchases from $1000 to $500 in October 2010.
The Fair Imports Alliance spokesperson Brad Kitschke said the documents released under the FOI showed the Government went so far as to ask for advice from Customs and Treasury as to the earliest possible start date for a threshold reduction.
"The documents disclose that 1 July 2011 was nominated as the start date for a lower threshold and that Customs provided advice that a reduced threshold was administratively feasible," Kitschke said
"The Government has always claimed a lower threshold would be administratively unfeasible but these documents reveal otherwise. They show that it could be done, that plans were in place to reduce the threshold and advice was sought as to the earliest possible start date.
"This information demonstrates the Government was giving serious consideration to reducing the GST threshold on imports prior to the announcement of the Productivity Commission Inquiry. Now that we have proof a lower threshold is both administratively feasible and economically beneficial we eagerly await the Productivity Commission's recommendations when its draft report is released in August.
"The Government established the Productivity Commission Inquiry and we have to put our faith in that process, even though politicians from all sides continually undermine the Inquiry by pre-empting the outcome and opposing a lower threshold. We want politicians to have an open mind to the outcome of the Inquiry. No matter what, we won't stop fighting for the retail sector and the reform that is needed,"Kitschke said.
The documents released under Freedom of Information can be seen here
http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Document5.pdf http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Document3.pdf http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Document4.pdf http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Document6.pdf
The Fair Imports Alliance comprises the following organisations: Australian Retailers Association (ARA), Australian Sporting Goods Association (ASGA), Bicycle Industries Australia (BIA), Australian Toy Association (ATA), Photo Marketing Association (PMA), Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA), Australian Booksellers Association (ABA), Australian Music Association (AMA) and the Retail Cycle Traders Australian (RCTA). For more information visit: www.fairimportsalliance.org.au or email fairimportsalliance@retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.
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| Canon Australia Announcement | |
I would like to update you on a recent change in our business. Earlier this week Canon's Chief Operating Officer Allan Corder announced that he has decided to leave Canon at the end of July.
Allan did not take this decision lightly. However, after engineering three years of significant strategic change across Canon's Business Imaging, Consumer Imaging and Service divisions, he felt the time was right to make the move to pursue other opportunities. I know Allan feels incredibly proud of what he has been able to achieve with Canon over the last 10 years and is looking forward to the new challenges that lie ahead. From Canon's perspective, Allan leaves behind a legacy of strong contributions that have seen us achieve tremendous success and, most importantly, have established a foundation for future growth.
Personally, I will miss Allan's guidance and support, but I am confident in our strategies and the ability of my team to execute with excellence. With our strong foundation, we will drive toward constant improvements that deliver results for our valued partners and consumers alike. I would like to reassure you that there will be no change or effect in the way the Canon Consumer Team operates or is structured as a result of Allan's departure.
Allan will be working through to the end of July and if you would like to send him a note, I'm sure he would be delighted. His email is allan.corder@canon.com.au
Kind regards,
Jason McLean
Director - Canon Consumer Imaging
Canon Australia Pty Ltd
I know many of you in the industry will want to wish Allan all the very best for the future - Peter |
| Register your events on the CLIQ website |
PMA members can now reach photo enthusiasts in their area through the CliQ Event Calendar. Thousands of photographers will soon be able to search for photo events like workshops, classes and photo walks in their area. As a PMA member, your event will pop up to the top of the list.
We are pre-announcing this to PMA members so you can get your events listed before the event calendar goes live on the cliqworld.com web site the week of August 1. So click here to enter your next event into the CliQ Event Calendar now.
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Idea # 2 - from issue 9 -
Profitable relationship with professional photographers
As Gary Grinaker suggested, we're doing some "best of" issues.
Mike St Germain, Concord Camera, Concord, NH, USA (www.concordcamera.com )
Ever have customers ask you to refer them to a professional photographer? We keep a book full of business cards of the professionals that are our regular customers. If a customer asks for a photographer we open the book, pull out a few cards for that specialty and say, "Here are cards from a few photographers we know. We've seen these people's work and they do good things."
When the professional photographer comes in the store we say, "Let's check your supply of business cards in our referral book." They know we send them business so they give us a significant part of their film and processing business in return. We aren't a professional stock house type of store but it provides us with some profitable professional business for routine finishing and film. (or digital prints, photo books and enlargements now)
The McCurry Ideas Exchange Newsletter is a fantastic resource of ideas that WORK.
If you aren't a member - join up now and start hunting through the 1000+ ideas!
http://www.photoimagenews.com/mccurry402.htm
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| PMA Calendar 2011 | |
Mon July 25th: PMA VIC Meeting of Members
Water rat Hotel, South Melbourne
Wed July 27th John Noyes Arctic Blast Classic
PMA VIC Winter Golf Day
Amstel Golf Course
Wed August 3rd PMA QLD Meeting of Members
Fotofast, 101 Adelaide St, Brisbane
Wed August 31st PMA Farewell for Robbo
Melbourne - Details TBA
Sept 19th - 20th: PMA WA Trade Show
PCEC, Perth
Tue Sept 27: PMA NSW Second Quarterly Review
North Ryde
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