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6th March 2012 |
Issue 8/2012 |
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| Proud Past, Bright Future |
Several months ago, there was an interview in PMA Magazine with our new Executive Director, Jim Esp. Jim talked about his new role and re-building PMA on a foundation of better communication. I want to continue with that same theme. With the New Year still in its infancy, my goal is to help keep you informed of the trends I see and hear in the North American market place as well as overseas.
Last week I had the opportunity to attend PSPA/ SPAA in Las Vegas and the theme for the PSPA/SPAA conference says it all: "Proud Past, Bright Future"
During program after program, I listened as speakers talked about new ideas to diversify, increase efficiency and revenue, and expand the reach of framing and photography. The optimism I heard over and over again, at WPPI as well, simply made me proud to be a part of the imaging industry.
The future is indeed bright and PMA intends to be at the forefront in aggressively working to develop programs to help our members become more proactive. In fact, the staff is working hard on their own efficiency. We are in the process of selling the headquarters building and downsizing to a more cost-effective location. With a smaller more proactive staff, the cost reductions will allow us to invest in more programs to help our members.
A few weeks ago, Jim and I attended the CP+ Show in Japan and had numerous discussions with key industry leaders. After listening and viewing the enthusiasm of the manufacturers and suppliers, our future relationships and opportunities will be stronger than ever.
Most important of all, I'm here to represent you. Those of you who I've worked with in the past know my reputation for being involved. Communication is a two-way street and I am looking forward to your feedback on PMA's programs, trends you're seeing in your market and ideas you want to share with other members.
The ultimate exchange of ideas will culminate once again at the annual PMA show. It's time to circle the dates for 2013 as PMA@CES takes place January 8-11, in Las Vegas. This year was a transition year, giving PMA members access to the most diverse show in the history of the association. Our relationship with CES will continue and in turn give you access to more programs, products and the expansion of imaging technology.
Thank you for your support and please remember, I'm here as president of YOUR association. My goal of better communication can only be achieved with your help.
Best regards,
Allen Showalter
PMA International President
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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
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Framing Industry Meeting - Brisbane 29th February 2012 | |
In it's continuing efforts to assist with the education of picture framers, the Australia/New Zealand Chapter of PPFA held an educational meeting for framers in Brisbane at Megawood Larson Juhl premises last week. Framers came from Brisbane & surrounds, Toowoomba, Bribie Island and Gladstone and Port Macquarie to attend the meeting. It was especially pleasing that Peter Rose from PMA, Sydney, was also able to join us at the PPFA meeting. Thanks for coming, Peter!
The four educational sessions were lead by Jared Davis MCPF, GCF, and Ormond Williams, MCPF. The sessions covered preservation framing, an introduction to new ideas for framers, and pricing of custom framing. Refreshment time between the afternoon and evening sessions saw much discussion between the framers attending. Framers have many things in common and some great information was shared between the sessions!
Anne Lamb completed her MCPF exam at the meeting successfully and became the seventh Master Certified Picture Framer in Australia. Congratulations Anne on your excellent knowledge and skills!
Thanks to the 20 Picture Framers who attended the Brisbane classes for a very interesting and lively meeting.
Ormond Williams MCPF®
National Chair, PPFA Australia/New Zealand Chapter
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You need to hear this! | |
The PMA team are currently working on the completion of the DIMA Conference progam, to be held this year in Melbourne, May 24th to 26th.
Over the next few months we will highlighting many of the Conference sessions in this newsletter, allowing you a "sneak peak" at the broad range of topics brought to you by industry acclaimed speakers.
Today, our featured speaker is Anthony Milner, Elcom Technology
Session E5, Thursday 24th May,
"Managing Your Web Content Successfully"
Learn five secrets to improving productivity and maximising your investment on the web.
Anthony has over 15 years' experience in shaping web content management solutions, intranet, ecommerce and online marketing for Australia's leading commercial and government organisations. As the Product Director for Elcom Technology, one of Australia's largest web technology vendors, he is responsible for the strategic direction, design and development of Elcom's market leading Enterprise Content Management platform for web, intranet, eCommerce, training and document management - the elcomCMS.
Online registration to the DIMA Conference will be available soon at www.pmaaustralia.com.au
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State Report - Whats Happening in PMA WA? | |
PMA WA Chairperson, Murray Gibbs, reports on the WA meeting held at the Ambassador Chinese Restaurant,Cannington, on Wednesday 22nd February.
Peter gave us a full rundown of PMA @ CES, held in Las Vegas in early Jan 2012.
PMA internationally is in an era of change as the market shifts to electronic communication and product releases are no longer held off for such events.
PICA, renamed as IDEA, is to run the The Digital Show in May which is looking more consumer orientated as time goes by; the Framing Show will not be attending the trade show this year. Retail sales at the show are still undecided and the method of accomplishing this is still to be advised. PMA will still run its Digital Conference on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the Show.
Consensus was that business has been tough across the country and is very sporadic at best, Thailand floods have impacted on all wholesalers and lack of stock has been felt at retail with consumers holding off for new models in March and April.
Consumer printing is still on the decline in most areas except for big print services.
All members are urged to renew their membership and encouraged to remind others to do so.
Thanks to Peter for coming across and bring us up to date on changes within PMA and the industry.
Murray Gibbs
(WA Chairperson)
The meeting was attended by:Murray Gibbs, Geoff Temple, Howard Frank, Leigh Diprose, Burke Flynn, Duncan Dodd, Len Wetterman, Michael Vander Zanden & Peter Rose.
Apologies from: Laura Ferguson, Paul Maietta, Penny Valentine, Justin Moriarty, & Nick Bairdo.
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Free Retail Excellence Workshops hosted by ARA and Victorian Government | |
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The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) Retail Institute in partnership with the Victorian Government and local councils is holding free Retail Excellence Workshops, a series of four workshops between February and April 2012.
Workshop topics include:
* Entertain with Visual Merchandising
* Engage with Superior Customer Service
* Maintain with Financial Control
* Connect with Strategic Marketing
If you are interested in attending any of the free workshops in the City of Bayside, City of Warrnambool, or City of Whitehorse, click here |
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| Just give me a chance.... by Glynn Lavender | |
This past weekend I have been in Griffith New South Wales training local photographers with my business Creative Photo Workshops.
There is an incredible thirst for shooting knowledge by the up and coming photographers in our communities and it was at the request of one of those photographers that had us up their running our Workshops.
This is a common request from rural and urban photographers.
As I said there is a huge thirst, and a preparedness to spend money, for knowledge with a real scarcity of people servicing this demand.
Whilst we primarily train for shooting skill there is always talk about what to charge, what gear to use and, the elephant in the room, WHERE to buy that equipment.
Now whenever we are in rural areas we try and work with a local store to try and drive business their way.
If they can work in with our sponsors and have the equipment we promote on hand in store then all the better.
But we ALWAYS need to address the reality that a lot of these photographers (the majority women) hugely undervalue their own rates and therefore do not earn the income they could with a more realistic pricing strategy.
It is this undervaluing their own worth that also feeds the direct import / eBay sales market.
They have less to spend but still desire the gear.
I are lucky that, because I have been involved in improving their skills I can be pretty frank with them.
I can be frank in saying that $40 for an afternoon photo session WITH images on a CD is robbing their family of a good christmas, a family vacation or just a better quality of life.
It also allows me to be pretty frank about NOT buying local. The damage this has on their local community and EVERY business in town.
But we also have to be realists and know that we are never going to win all these battles with every customer but we have to give ourselves a fighting chance to win SOME of them.
Louise Miller from Griffith Camera House popped along to the afternoon session of our Creative Flash Workshop. She wanted a chance to connect with these customers and help build relationships.
This year is the 40th anniversary of Louise's store - EVERYONE in the local area knows it exists - but does that mean they shop there?
In the final wrap for the weekend I quickly addressed the direct import issue one final time, this time with Louise in the group.
Louise had only one, low pressure, friendly thing to say to the 11 photographers in attendance.
'Just ask'
Pure and simple.
Where she can she'll work with a customer to try and keep the sale local.
All she asks is that they give her a chance.
When was the last time you asked your customers the same question?
When was the last time you had a group of them in front of you to connect with and make it harder to shop somewhere else?
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| If you haven't smiled today...... | |
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Write to us! | |
We would appreciate your feedback and comments on any of our PMA Australia Newsline articles.
Contact us at pmaaustralia@pmai.org to share your thoughts. Please keep them topical, concise and reprintable, together with your name, as we will be running them each week.
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PMA Calendar 2012 | |
March 16th: PMA VIC Summer Golf Day
Melbourne
April 3rd: PMA NSW First Quarterly Review
North Ryde RSL
April 17th: 2012 The Digital Show Consumer Launch Promo
Melbourne
April 17th: TBC PMA VIC Meeting
May 24th- 26th: PMA presents The Digital Conference
May 25th- 27th: 2012 The Digital Show
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