PMA@CES....Wow, What A Show!

24th January 2012

Issue 2/2012

Newsline

PMA@CES... Wow, what a show!

The size,crowds,constant buzz and number of exhibitors made it all very hard to "take in".

Samsung alone had a booth of 28,000 sq feet! ( for comparison our total Sydney show last year had a floor are of 90,000sq ft).

Everywhere you looked ,new products were being released,new categories were being developed and queues were there to see them!

PMA @CES was part of a large group of exhibitors who were at the Venetian Hotel (a 15 minute shuttle bus away from Vegas Exhibition Centre) and whilst the crowds were not as big, it was more of a business to business event which appeared to suit those that were there.

The DIMA convention was well attended prior to the CES show opening and will probably be the format for future conventions. The official DIMA Business session saw Phil Gresham being recognised for his contribution as International President for the last year, as well as Glynn Lavender being elected as 2nd VP for DIMA for 2012.

Alan Logue was also voted in as a trustee for PMA .I know all members would join me in congratulating the above gentlemen. Australians were well represented with around 75 suppliers and retailers in attendance.

The cost of air tickets, and retailers being very busy early January may well have prevented a larger turnout from this part of the world. Following the success of this years show, Jim Esp and the PMA Board under the leadership of Allen Showalter, are very committed to a long term association with CES Vegas.

Photos below!

Happy New Year from your PMA team!
Cheers

Peter Rose

In This Issue

PMA Australia Committee for 2012

Bill McCurry enters PMA Hall of Fame

Mark Byron hospitalised

Retailer Hot Picks from PMA@CES

Aussies at PMA@CES

PMA Calendar 2012

Your PMA Australia Executive

National Chairperson

Phil Gresham
philip@fotofast.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

PMA Australia Committee for 2012

PMA has seen its greatest year of change (both in Australia and Internationally) probably since inception.

The need for stability and an understanding, as to what may be required in our industry over the
next year, requires a "steady as she goes" policy.

This stability will be a real asset, as Jim Esp, with the guidance of a reinvigorated Board looks to reengineer PMA for the future.

It's going to be an exciting time!

Each of the current PMA State Chairpersons (as listed below) have agreed to stand again for 2012.

NSW TVP John Ralph

John did a great job in 2011 and was of great help during the annual conference in Sydney.

Vic Chairperson        Jeff Crowley
Jeff has added a different approach to membership and functions such as the Xmas party.
Qld TVP       Andrew Mason
Andrew has continued the impetus generated by Phil and has headed a committee that has organised successful Xmas functions.

SA Chairman Paul Atkins
Paul has attempted to organise PMA functions in SA whilst being limited by a small membership base.

WA Chairman       Murray Gibbs
Murray arranged a trade show and a couple of successful social functions that were well supported.
Tas Chairman       Tim Jones
Tim has managed to arrange a number of well attended PMA social events and is seen as the 'face " of PMA in Tassie.

Congratulations to Phil Gresham on being voted in, as Australian National Chairperson . Phil has subsequently agreed to stand and I know he will be of great help to your association in the coming year.

There was also strong support for John Ralph, which is well deserved, following his efforts over recent years.

PS Thanks again to Robbo for agreeing to continue his role until January.

I am sure you would join me in congratulating (and thanking) the above group for agreeing to stand.

Bill McCurry enters PMA Hall of Fame

As mentioned last week Bill McCurry was inducted into the PMA Hall of Fame this week.

A VERY deserving member of this esteemed group. Here are some excerpts from Bill's acceptance speech.

When the news came out about this award, which is really quite humbling, the very first call was "I'm glad you didn't have to die to get it." I am too.

Why PMA?

PMA introduced me to mentors. Two gentlemen who are past presidents, which I am not, but past Hall of Famer's, which I'll be as soon as I shut up. Both these gentlemen, since they've become Hall of Famer's, Ron Inkley opened a new camera store, which you'll hear about from his son in just a few minutes and Mike Worswick, the president of Wolfe's Camera and also PRO President. Mike expanded ProMaster into Canada this year. These guys are not slowing down and Lord willing I won't either.

And then the next question was "Is PMA really relevant anymore?" And I think that's a very healthy question to ask, because it's not your father's industry, it is your industry. So let's just take a peek at a couple of issues.

What's PMA's relevance internationally? What's the big noise about bringing everybody together from around the world? You know, just talking to the American's for a minute, guys the world doesn't revolve around the US of A.

There are ideas from around the world that American's need to hear and certainly the rest of the world has figured out, and maybe we ought to just reflect back. If it were not for the Australians coming to PMA, we would not have had the Kiosk revolution we did, because they were three years ahead of us and they brought it to us.

It was the Philippines who in 2005, Illme came to the DIMA Marketing Idea Exchange, and told us 80% of her print business came from cell phones and how long did it take us to listen to what she told us? There's a lot going on in the international community within PMA can bring that to us.

And there are benefits that PMA brings to members. This slide is from Mike's Camera's website, they put on their salespeople's name tags either the CPC logo or the SPFE logo. They tell their customers Mike's Camera is part of this program from PMA and you should be buying from CPC's.

Carlos Bastos, from Brazil, has tripled his return on investment; he has recovered it 3 times over in 5 years. Recovered three times his total investment in the company. Carlos gives the credit to Brian Mundy and the DIMAcast for every week, bringing him new ideas and new strategies. Thank you Brian! What a testimonial that Carlos can listen and take ideas and get a three time return on the investment of a brand new business.

A little close to home . . . South Bend, Indiana, those of you PMA members know all about the new PMA Academy. As you see on the screen, Jack St. Pierre was able to expand his class offering with no out of pocket cost using the PMA Academy.

Pictures do matter. This is Dr. Kenneth Condrell. You heard a little bit about Picture's matter already this morning. Dr. Kenneth Condrell taught us that when kids are growing up, they have to have images in their home. Hard copy images tell kids who they are and what they are. These images are what we do for a living. We help children grow up when our product is on display in their home.

Dr. Condrell will tell you stories of kids who need to know where they've come from. Because if those kids see they had a past, they then understand they have a future. If those kids know that they are loved by people around them, if they understand where they fit in with family, where they fit in with friends, those pictures matter.

Within the McCurry family, I can account for 221 photo albums printed. Two hundred and twenty one photo albums printed since photo albums started as we know them. So they're not new around our family. This Christmas we got a photo album of the grandkids for 2011. The first thing one of the granddaughters told us before we finished the unwrapping, "There's five full page pictures of my sister, there's only four full page pictures of me." It's real. It's important. Pictures Matter.

I never thought I'd quote a congressman, but one said "When you're through changing, you're through," from Congressman Bruce Barton.

Thank you PMA for this honor.

Congratulations Bill!

Mark Byron Hospitalised

Mark is well known, liked, and respected in Victoria following long stints with Kodak, and in recent years with Playcorp. He unfortunately suffered a heart attack pre Xmas (followed by complications early Jan.) and is now in rehabilitation at Royal Melbourne Hospital for what appears, may be an extensive stay.

Mark is far too young to be going through this, and I know all who know him wish him all the best for a speedy recovery.

Get well soon fella!

Retailer Hot Picks from PMA@CES

For those who couldn't make this years PMA show here are some of the hot products found by attendees looking for new profitable products. (List edited for country relevance)

The PMA Retailer Hot Picks returned in 2012, encompassing the PMA@CES exhibits at the Venetian and the 2012 International CES venues. Hot Picks are designed to help retailers discover new, profitable products.

* Artsy Couture -Photograph displays with floating blocks for pictures and wording No investment in hardware, no ongoing cost. Pay as you go.

* Pro Cyc/ MyStudio - "My Studio" Miniature cyclorama shooting sets with lights. Rugged and not ridiculously overpriced.

* Brisa Entertainment - Easy gift sell. The photo is sealed inside a pop-lid can. Keystone markup, nice display

* Beta Shell - Rigid, water-proof, shock resistant lens case designed to provde a lifetime of unsurpassed protection to your expensive SLR rangefinder, and video optics. Allows you to travel in the harshest conditions and in the most extreme environments with confidence your gear will be there to catch the perfect shot. Pricing $50 and up

* Black Rapid - Ergonomically curved, ultra comfortable camera strap allows user to side up to shooting position in a split second. Grab, Slide, Click! Dual shoulder and single shoulder versions for men or women, or depending on your comfort -level preference. Pricing: approximately $58

* Tabelz - Portable laptop table

* Promote Control - Digital SLR Camera Remote Control featuring HDR Bracketing, Focus stacking and bulb ramping for the pro and amateur photographer

* Pentax Q - The King of compacts, the Pentax Q represents the smallest interchangeable lens camera to date, maybe borrowing from the Pentax SLR 110 days, but this time Pentax is working a little magic with its tiny sensor camera . Check out a full size image from that little camera and you'll be surprised at the image quality. And, with the number of accessories already are available, you'll have some "extras" to sell right away. Adaptors allow SLR lenses to be used, and Pentax already thought of flash photographers throwing a shadow from that big tube by making flash able to "climb" way up and away from the camera body. The specialty retailer will have fun with this little guy.

* Tamrac - More and more women are moving into the dSLR camera line yet most camera bags are still decidedly "masculine". Carrying a line of camera bags designed for women will show you care about that segment of the market. They'll make your retail display look better too.

* Tristar (APV) - Every DSLR shoots video today. Tristar offers a number of products that can help newcomers improve their video shots. This one keeps the camera at eye-level for tills or video. Also offered were constant lights and low level video stabilizers.

* Point of Sale Credit Card processing Pay Anywhere, and Square, Allows for processing credit card payments from your phone at a 2.75 percent per swipe fee for processing. Next day payout. Direct deposit to your bank account. Free reader and free App.

* Heigl Technologies - Card Printers (Dualys, Zenius, Zebra) - High-performance, dual-sided color printer to personalize cards individually or in bulk. Great tool for branding and marketing you business. As recommended by Ryan Millman, he offers gift cards with sales from large entities, i.e. eBay, when a customer purchases a camera. It's value add for the company making the sale and it's free advertising for his business. These card makers allows you to generate the gift cards. Pricing: $1,200 - $1,400

* Goal Zero - Portable solar power system that powers a variety of devices anyplace at anytime.

* Sea Sucker - A vacuum mount for holding your iPhone or iPad in place on various surfaces. A heavy duty flex arm allows you to blend and turn your tablet to get your screen to the perfect position. Pump it until the seal is tight (a couple of pumps) and one second to disengage it.

* Schneider Optics iPro lens system for iPhone - Fisheye and Wide Angle lenses that easily twist on and off and let you capture more in every shot. The pocket-sized lens case security protects your lenses, doubles as a universal tripod mount and also makes a comfortable handle. Pricing: $199.00

* Fuji-Xpro - Booth - Interchangeable lens hybrid viewfinder camera system. Great retro design reminiscent of the Leica at a fraction of the price!

* Sony SmartWatch

* Apex Digital - GigaPan EPIC

* Polaroid digital hybrid camera Z340- shoots 14mpix file plus makes instant prints with fun retro-image effects

* Sony NEX 5N and NEX 7 - Very compact body with a large APS C size sensor in a mirrorless SLR

The PMA Hot Picks team was led by Brian Mundy, Laura Mundy and Chelsea Mundy, and products were nominated by Phil Gresham*, Steve Olock, Paul Rentz, David Bever, Martin Wagner*, Erin Manning*, Douglas Otto, Chris Lydle*, Mark Comon, Lee Varis, Carlos Bastos, Gary Pageau, Chelsea Mundy, Rob Comeau, Steve Wong, Bob Moggach, and Lisa Otto. *Indicates expert panel.

PMA@CES

People movement

Immediately before Xmas there were some changes within organisations that unfortunately went unreported (to our knowledge)

Gary Thoroughgood leaves Tasco after a number of years to seek greener pastures.Gary is a well respected member of the trade who had a lot of fans.I am sure he will be back in action within a short period.

Stewart Pickersgill was "without portfolio" after the transfer of the Ricoh agency from Tasco to Kennedys.Again I am sure we will be seeing Stewart 'pop up" soon. (since writing this it has been announced that Stewart will be working at CR Kennedy with the Ricoh brand)

Ex Head of the JVC division at Hagemeyer , Carlos Prowse,is well known and respected by many within the CE and Photo channels.Carlos (together with a number of his team) was retrenched following the transfer of JVC to Shriro.

PMA wish each of the above gentlemen well for the future.

PMA Calendar 2012

Jan29-Feb 1: PPFA Conference

West Coast Art & Frame

Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas

Feb 18-19: PSPA/SPAA Annual Conference

Renaissance Hotel, Las Vegas

Feb 29: PPFA Brisbane Industry Meeting

Megawood Larson Juhl

May 24th- 26th: PMA Australia 2012 Conference

May 25th- 27th: 2012 The Digital Show