British Photographic Industry News Dec 2015 - Jan 2016

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DEC 2015 - JAN 2016 • £3

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Christmas & New Year Survival Kit Open now for essential advice on making the biggest margins from the most profitable photo gear!

INSIDE!

PLAN OF ACTION! Pull-out & keep 2016 wall chart featuring key photo industry dates!

SEE INSIDE FOR: 30 YEARS OF GRAYS OF WESTMINSTER + RETURN OF THE MACGROUP + PMA Cover shot by Damien Lovegrove on the Fujifilm X series. Model Chloe-Jasmine Whichello

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Photograph courtesy of Rob Lendon. Shot on OM-D.

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BPI News

EDITORIAL

Dec 15 / Jan 16

Photographic British

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published monthly by

EDITOR Gavin Stoker Tel: 020 8274 0578 Tel: 07990 974 367 ART EDITOR Michael O’Connell EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Please direct all editorial requests, news and press releases to info@bpinews.co.uk ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Please direct all advertising enquiries and sponsorship opportunities to gavin@bpinews.co.uk.

Follow us on Twitter... @bpi_news Publisher’s Office: 31 New Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 7HZ. Legacy Media Ltd accept no ultimate responsibility for accurate reproduction of digital artwork created by third parties.

Insurance and carriage of products submitted for inclusion in reports rests with the owner. News, data, prices, interviews and opinion are printed in good faith E&OE. Content including advertising artwork created by Legacy Media Ltd or its agents is ©2015 Legacy Media Ltd. ISSN: to be advised.

T! RGE r O F T ’ fo DON ue date 016 2 d Copy February 9th. s 1 w e ry BPI N is Janua out r d e e cov post onth. e u s s m I e of th end

Essential dates for your diary in 2016

B

y the time you read this, Black Friday most of the cashback deals from the majors will likely be over (unless you’re we highlighted last month are continuing reading our online version), and either well into the New Year to help drive footfall you’ll be filling boxes to fulfill online orders, to specialist retailers. Panasonic has even or checking you’ve sufficient stock in advance doubled its offers for a limited period. of what should be the busiest sales period on As soon as the Christmas sales frenzy is the calendar. Yes, for many Christmas and New over, all eyes will be on the New Year trade Year is the make or break month. But it’s not show season, kicking off early 2016 with CES too late to strengthen your chances of success, in the States (January 6th to 9th), and then and this issue is therefore something of a closer to home, The Societies Convention Gavin Stoker, Christmas & New Year Survival Kit. (January 20th to 24th, free Trade Show dates Editor We’ve top tips for high margin accessories 22nd to 24th), The Broadcast Video Expo gavin@bpinews.co.uk from the likes of Nedis and Macgroup that (BVE) in February (23rd to 25th), and then @GavinStoker should sell well this season – plus, for those The Photography Show in March (19th to who offer photofinishing services, we’ve recommendations 22nd). Of course, 2016 is also another Photokina year – for either installing a new minilab, a new print ‘app’, or and for that the dates for your diary are September 20th getting your colour profiling correct to deliver output to 25th. We can almost taste the bratwurst! quality that will have customers coming back for more! This Finally, BPI News would like to wish the trade a happy is the season in which the highest volume of images are and profitable Christmas. It’s been a big year for us too, traditionally taken, and consumers will be actively seeking in setting up a new publishing company to produce the photo gifts, so make sure your offerings are up to scratch magazine and online updates (don’t forget you can find us and well advertised. on issuu.com as well as at bpinews.co.uk, days in advance of A case in point: we’ve news this issue of Fujifilm’s the print version hitting your desks). Whatever 2016 brings quarter of a million pound TV ad spend to encourage for our industry, we’ll be here to document it. See you back those with families to print more. Plus don’t forget that here for our February cover, out the end of January.

CONTENTS 04 NEWS New cameras from Leica, Nikon and Sony whilst there are new faces at BPI News regulars Tetenal and Nedis

20 RETURN OF THE MAC(GROUP) The distributor of Tenba, Benro, MeFoto and more shares its latest wares with BPI News readers

24 GRAY MATTER STILL FIRING AFTER 30 YEARS Gray Levett of Grays of Westminster talks the highs and lows of three decades in business, 20+ as exclusively Nikon

10 ESSENTIAL COLOUR MANAGEMENT VIA THE DPS GROUP Beckenham-based Digital Photo Solutions pitches the importance of correct colour profiling to the trade

26 BPI NEWS FIELD TEST We dodge November rain and get to play with the new wide-angle Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM lens

11 WHAT’S ‘IN STORE’ FOR LEICA THIS CHRISTMAS We meet David Stephens, of Leica Store Manchester, who tells us of his transition to Leica-only

27 FUJIFILM £1/4M TV ADVERTISING SPEND Fujifilm’s Peter Wigington is investing big to encourage your customers to print more this Christmas

16 CANON WALL PLANNER 2016 Map out your destiny for the next 12 months: from The Societies Convention in January to Photokina in September

30 THE WHOLE COUNTRY’S GOING NORITSU GREEN Says PhotoXport’s Derek Fieldhouse, distributor for a Noritsu network stretching from John O’Groats to Land’s End

18 PATHWAYS TO RENEWED CONSUMER RELEVANCE Latest PMA market analysis, focusing on where we are in 2015 and where we could be in 2016

Subscriptions, back issues & BPI News online Overseas annual subscription £50 (Cheques payable to Legacy Media Ltd). For details email info@bpinews.co.uk. View current and back issues online at www.bpinews.co.uk

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NEWS

Nikon D5 comes alive THE PHOTO stalwart has announced that its next flagship camera will be the D5, its latest generation FX format (full frame) DSLR. Likewise ‘under development’ at the time of writing are a new WT-6 Wireless Transmitter and Speedlight SB-5000, which will be positioned near the top of Nikon’s existing Speedlight line up, according to the brand.

Release date, product images and suggested pricing for the new Nikon gear was still under wraps as we went to press. www.nikon.co.uk

Leica gets straight to Dupont, adds ‘M’s

Canon 750D sub-£450 via DirekTek

NEW FROM the premium brand is a range of premium accessories, resulting from a partnership with French luggage manufacturer ST Dupont. The 0.95’ collection of accessories is inspired by the Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH lens, which also gets a limited ‘Edition 0.95’ outing at £9.5K (with January 2016 availability). Prices for the rest of the range, available now from Leica Stores (Mayfair, City of London & Manchester), go from

PHOTO specialists are being targeted by the latest promotion via Direktek – a 24.2 megapixel EOS 750D and 18-55mm lens for a trade price of just £446.

Further features include a variable angle touch screen, 5fps continuous shooting plus Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity. A bundle deal with accessories is also available. Call 01494 471100 or contact sales@direktek.co.uk

£110 for the key ring to £575 for the fountain pen or lighter.

Christmas gifts perhaps for the Leica fan who has everything!

In related news the brand also announced a new digital rangefinder camera in the Leica M (Typ 262) as we went to press, bringing the current ‘M’ line up to four models. Designed for photography purists, the latest camera features a full frame 24MP CMOS sensor but omits video recording and Live View.

It’s said to be ideal for shooting in available light and costs £4,050. On top of this Leica is also offering an à la carte service for the Leica M (Typ 240) to allow photographers to customize their camera and create something uniquely bespoke (see above). Pricing for the body ranges from £5,100 to £6,050. uk.leica-camera.com

Sony A68 lookin’ great WITH SONY having concentrated on successive generations of full frame system cameras – notably the A7 series – and one inch sensor compacts of late, we were almost forgetting it makes digital SLRs, or, as it terms them, ‘SLT’s due to the incorporation of a translucent mirror mechanism. But now the A68 shows up, providing many of the same pro-style features as the earlier A77 II. Points to pitch include the 24 megapixel ASP-C sized sensor, swift 79-point Auto Focus, 8fps continuous shooting speed and light sensitivity stretching up to ISO25600.

Stills and video are composed via eye level OLED viewfinder, usefully providing 100% frame coverage, or via tilting 2.7-inch LCD monitor on the back plate. A top display panel makes for easy function reference. SRP is a body-only £440, or it’s £520 with the standard 18-55mm zoom.

BPI Advert December.pdf 1 16/11/2015 11:35 www.sony.co.uk

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4 December 2015 / January 2016 | BPI News

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I AM THE BEST – “IT‘S OFFICIAL“ I WILL ALLOW YOU TO REACH YOUR CREATIVE POTENTIAL. I am a whole range of outstanding cameras for everyone and every skill level. Perhaps that’s one reason why I’ve won Best Photography Brand in the Which? Awards this year.

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NEWS

Panasonic doubles up to boost sales AS predicted in November’s BPI News, the electronics behemoth is doubling its Christmas cashback offers on its 4K cameras – at least until December 6th, with up to £300 now up for grabs by your customers. There’s an online form to complete within 28 days of purchase, and last date for registration is March 7th, 2016. Helpline number is 0800 072 7649.

Models covered by the latest ‘double cashback’ deal are the Lumix DMC-LX100, FZ1000, FZ330, GH4 and GH4R, GX8, G7, HC-WX970 and HC-VX870EB-K. www.panasonic.co.uk/promotions

Plenty to show & tell APART from the new gear and gadgetry on display, big name speakers are part of draw for visitors to The Photography Show, which as those in the know will be well aware, takes place March 19th to 22nd 2016, in Hall 5 at Birmingham’s NEC. Tickets had just gone on sale as we went to press, with recognizable names Charlie Waite (below left), Andy Rouse (middle) and Michael Freeman (right) leading the Beginner and Turning Pro Masterclasses.

New also for 2016 is the Turning Pro Conference, pitched at photographers seeking to make the leap from enthusiast to professional.

Speakers here will include wedding photographer Kevin Mullins and

portrait photographer Peter Searle, with further names expected to be added.

The exhibitor line up meanwhile currently reads like an issue of BPI News, as it features Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Fujifilm and Leica, plus, among many others, Panasonic, Sony, Epson and Manfrotto. In fact there are around 200 exhibitors in total promised – so even if you’re not exhibiting yourself, the event will be well worth a visit to catch up with your peers and ‘take the pulse’ of the UK photo industry! See also the advert on page 31 for further ticket details and registration for trade as well as public. www.photographyshow.com

Lumix National Trust POS Description

©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

national trust iX FZ200 or FZ72

©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

Complimentary 12 month national trust membership with the lumiX FZ200 or FZ72

Tetenal team expands

to take a speCial piCture you need to go to speCial plaCes Now you and your family can discover hundreds of new special places with the National Trust and capture every stunning detail with the award-winning new LUMIX FZ200 or FZ72.

Promotional period: 22/08/2013 – 31/12/2013. Promotional terms apply, please see panasonic.co.uk/promotions *Leica is a registered trademark of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH. ELMARIT is a registered trademark of Leica Camera AG

T48046 Panasonic_A3_Poster.indd 1

21/08/2013 13:54

A3 Poster

©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

Complimentary 12 month national trust membership with the lumiX FZ200 or FZ72

• Complimentary National Trust Membership Campaign POS

to take a speCial piCture you need to go to speCial plaCes Now you and your family can discover hundreds of new special places with the National Trust and capture every stunning detail with the award-winning new LUMIX FZ200 or FZ72.

THE LEICESTER based photographic distributor has added German-born Lisa Scholz to its marketing team. She Wobbler arrives with an MA in Marketing Management, with Marketing Manager Craig Bird telling BPI News he is delighted to have her on board.

“Lisa brings a fresh dynamic to the team. We were very impressed Hang Tag with her analytical approach to

the marketing process and as a business it’s vitally important that we use the data we have to continue to drive the business forward. As a European company, with our HQ in Germany and subsidiaries in France and Poland, Lisa also brings extremely useful language skills to the business.

“We regularly engage with our European counterparts on a variety

of projects and the fact is that Lisa is not only a native German speaker with excellent English, she also speaks French and is currently learning Polish. Along with her marketing flair, I’m sure we will find these talents useful and she’ll be a great addition to the business.” www.tetenaluk.com

Promotional period: 22/08/2013 – 31/12/2013. Promotional terms apply, please see panasonic.co.uk/promotions *Leica is a registered trademark of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH. ELMARIT is a registered trademark of Leica Camera AG

21/08/2013 13:56

T48046 Panasonic_A4_Cling.indd 1

21/08/2013 13:59

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Photographic British

Industry

Items shown are for reference only and are not to scale

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6 December 2015 / January 2016 | BPI News

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BPI NEWS BUSINESS BOOSTER

Fotospeed Festive Five For both extra in-store and online sales talk to Fotospeed’s Toby Herlinger about the products recommended here on 01249 671455

Foto Cards

A good all year round seller for personalised celebration cards or invites. SRP prices from just £11.99 for 25 pre-scored art cards with envelopes.

Easybooks

New Nedis UK boss eyes expansion

W

e’ve long featured the top picks from distributor Nedis UK’s thousands of product lines that photo retailers will be able to stock alongside existing camera gear to allow them to make a healthy margin – especially at Christmas time. Now, with new product bearing the Camlink and Konig brands on the way, news reaches us that there is a new face at the helm too: Country Manager John Goodwin (above, right), formerly with Hama, where he was Sales Director for 13 years. The appointment is part of the reorganisation and revitalisation of the key distributor by its Netherland based parent company. Arvind Patel has moved to the role of Senior Key Account Manager, whilst marketing is being handled by a department based in Holland.

With SRP’s from £5.99, these pro-style presentation portfolios are a great add-on sale if positioned next to photo kiosks.

Foto Blocks

Again these sell well if you have inhouse printing. Only £4.70 for 5x7-inch block.

Gallerie Wrap Either sell the kit....or offer a ready-made wrap service.

“That’s where our product managers are based as well, and we’ll be issuing marketing communications on a regular basis,” reports John. “We’ve got nine brands under our ownership plus a huge range of distributed brands. The independent retail trade is exceedingly important to us going forwards, so we’re in the

process of firming those relationships up and improving the methods of communicating as well as focusing on the national accounts. Really it’s about expanding our business; we’ve got brand new premises in Leicester, with a new showroom going in just the other side of Christmas.”

Speaking of which, Nedis’ Alastair Wilson has been able to provide us with five top Christmas stock tips from its range, as follows: • Konig Full HD dashboard camera (SAS-Carcam10) at £50 SRP • Konig 4K dashboard camera (SAS-Carcam20) at £69.99 • Konig Action Cam (CSACWG100) with GPS function (software linked to Google Earth) at £99 • Denver camera drones at sub£100 (2 models: DV-DCH-330 and 600) • Konig retro Bush-style DAB radio (should your customers wish to listen to ex-Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles, now on Radio X, suggests Alastair) at £59 SRP

Panoramic Paper Starter Pack Even if you don’t normally sell Fotospeed, this £29.95 starter pack not only saves the consumer 30%, but allows one off panoramic prints from a standard A4 printer.

To order stock or find out more, please get in touch on 01249 714555 www.fotospeed.com

The latest Nedis catalogues, featuring Camlink and Konig product lines, can be downloaded now via: webshop.nedis.co.uk/en-gb/brochures www.nedis.co.uk

BPI News is your mouthpiece to the industry. Send your news to info@bpinews.co.uk 8 December 2015 / January 2016 | BPI News

BOOST YOUR BUSINESS

Essential colour management via the DPS Group Print solution specialist the DPS Group is awaiting your call on 020 8466 7230; offering the trade Epson’s SureColor P series machines, plentiful great value consumables – plus colour profiling to match any inkjet media to any printer

O

ver the past two editions of BPI News we’ve introduced the Kent-based DPS Group to the trade (BPI News October), currently celebrating is 10th anniversary, and detailed its exciting new, large format Epson SureColor ‘P’ series printers (BPI News November).

For a follow-up, we’re focusing on yet another string to your potential printing partner’s bow – and one that is essential to the quality of your print output: colour management.

The boast from the DPS Group is that, via its on-site or remote profiling service, it can match any type of inkjet media to any type of printer – even third party papers – thereby ensuring top-notch professional colour management and consistent, accurate results. The promise is true-to-life colour, flesh tones, better

In-store or online, the DPS Group can bring its colour profiling expertise to bear with X-Rite colour management tools (www.xrite.com), matching any inkjet media to any printer – whilst a visit to its Beckenham showroom will also allow you to witness the magic for yourself

“For inkjet printers, we can create printer profiles for customers without visiting your premises. We can supply a set of instructions and a special test file containing over 1000 colour squares.”

– Maneesh Patel, MD, DPS Group neutrals, and improved highlight and shadow detail. Colour management also ensures that what is viewed on the monitor closely matches the resultant hard copy; so you and your customers alike know what you’re getting from the outset.

By visiting your store to carry out the profiling, the DPS Group’s expert team can ensure a smooth integration of your chosen printer into the wider workflow. It can provide advice on colour management then and there – setting you up for success, and saving valuable time, media and money.

DPS Group has it covered: in-store or remote The alternative to the above is a remote profiling service. “For inkjet printers, we can create printer profiles

for customers without visiting your premises,” explains DPS Group MD Maneesh Patel. “We can supply a set of instructions and a special test file containing over 1000 colour squares. Customers will need to read the instructions and follow them to output the test file on each printer and each paper that they require a profile for. Customers then post the print outs to us, and we will create the printer profiles using a top of the line spectrophotometer and profiling software. Finally, the profiles are emailed to the customer, with instructions that cover installing and using the profile with software such as Photoshop or Lightroom.”

Of course a successful print is the result of a harmonious marriage between printer and consumables – and on that very subject Maneesh

Patel has this to add: “Apart from Epson SureColor P series printers and inks, we supply the full range of consumables, from maintenance tanks and ancillaries to more than 15 of the key photo and production brands when it comes to papers in roll and cut sheet format. These range from high end Hahnemuhle and Innova fine art media, through to the very cost effective but high quality Indigo Inkjet range which

covers poster paper, photo, and general usage paper. All are available at great prices.”

Don’t delay – call DPS Group Technical Sales Manager Dave Harrison now on 020 8460 3690 for more details on the available in-store or remote colour profiling options, along with prices, to give your business an immediate boost for 2016. www.thedpsgroup.co.uk

DPS Group’s on-site colour profiling service at-a-glance On-site ICC printer profiling can provide customers with: • A bespoke ICC printer profile for any printer and media combination • More accurate prints with better neutrals, flesh tones, colours, and highlight and shadow detail • Improved results with 3rd party ink and papers • Reduced wastage of ink, paper and time • Consistency across different media • Consistency across different printers • Closer matches to computer monitors • Integration of the printer with any of the leading RIPs • Conformity to industry printing standards with compatible RIP, printer and media combinations • Integration of the printer into the wider workflow • Advice on colour management in the wider workflow • Remote profiling service also available (see main body text)!

Contact DPS Group Technical Sales Manager Dave Harrison on 020 8460 3690 for colour management info and a quote 10 December 2015 / January 2016 | BPI News

BPI NEWS EXTRA

Leica Store Manchester’s David Stephens (on right) and manager Richard Clarke (seated)

What’s ‘in store’ for Leica this Christmas

We talk to the owners of the Leica Store Manchester – formerly Stephens Premier – to hear the story of one retailer’s transformation to a single brand outlet, whilst Leica UK launches a ‘Solid Gray’ D-Lux & premium accessories in time for Christmas

L

ast month we covered the recent Leica SL, Leica S and Leica Q camera launches… and there’s no let up this issue, with the announcement of a silver and grey D-Lux compact – the most affordable member of its line up at £825 SRP. Not to mention a range of premium Leica-branded ‘0.95’ accessories in the run up to Christmas. If that wasn’t enough, we’ve also spoken with David Stephens, MD of the Leica Store Manchester, about his recent transition from local independent to officially Leica sanctioned outlet.

“I think it’s the best thing we’ve ever done,” David divulges. “Because, as a smaller independent store, we wouldn’t be able to market ourselves in the same way. Customers obviously recognise that you are part of the Leica brand, with all the back up and customer service that goes with it. We can use Leica branding

on our business cards and in our advertising. As a result of the change we’ve broadened our customer reach.

We’ve noticed customers coming to us from all over the UK, as well as from China, the Far East and America.

Ultimately, I think, Leica would like to have independent stores in every city in the UK.” David Stephens reveals that his family has been involved with Leica since the early 1960s, when his father started the business, with David joining him in the 1970s. “I’ve been a Leica fan all my life: at the age of five I was given my first Leica and taken to the factory,” he reveals.

David opened the present store in Manchester City Centre in the late 1990s, before moving to its current arcade-based location five years ago. “I decided to sell Leica because I could see the market moving to niche product. I realised that would

be the only expanding side of the retail business. I looked at people like Ferrari and Bentley, and a lot of the watch manufacturers like Rolex and Omega, starting up their own branded stores. I thought that was the way to go for expanding the business.

So about 18 months ago I approached Leica about becoming a Leica-only store.

“I’ve no sadness about losing the family name from above the door, as I have no ego to bruise at all,” David laughs. “We are Leica Store Manchester now; our Stephens Premier Ltd trading name is only on our paperwork. As I’ve been in the trade 39 years, I’m looking to my son Ben and my manager Richard Clarke, who joined us from Jacobs, as the future of the business. That said I’ve no retirement plans yet; I still love it and enjoy coming to work every day.

The product’s great and Leica – both

“Customers recognise that you are part of the Leica brand, with all the back up and customer service that goes with it. We can use ‘Leica’ on our business cards and in our advertising. As a result of the change we’ve broadened our customer reach.”

– David Stephens, Leica Store Manchester in the UK and in Germany – are great to work with too.”

In terms of Leica products that have done well for David, he singles out demand for the Leica Q as being ‘Phenomenal. That is the flagship at the moment. And because the SL has just been introduced, there is a lot of interest in the ‘T’ again, which is basically a mini SL. Therefore SL owners might also want a T as a back up.

“Another product we do extremely well with is the black and white image shooting Leica M Monochrom. That’s because a lot of our customers are true photographers rather than just equipment geeks and they like to take pictures.” uk.leica-camera.com

Going Gray The D-Lux ‘Solid Gray’ high performance compact is this month’s new launch – an alternative to the black D-Lux launched in 2014 – featuring silver lens barrel and controls plus grey enameled body. The camera comes with a Leica CF D flash unit and a leather carry strap with embossed branding. Key features to note remain the f/1.7 maximum aperture, 16.8-megapixel Four Thirds sensor (12.8 effective megapixels), 24-75mm focal length in 35mm terms, 4K video shooting, plus integrated Wi-Fi. Retail price is £825 SRP and it should be available now.

BPI News is your mouthpiece to the industry. Send your news to info@bpinews.co.uk BPI News | December 2015 / January 2016 11

BOOST YOUR BUSINESS

NEWS

Dealers heap praise on Ansmann

Tethered to Flaghead FLAGHEAD PHOTOGRAPHIC – featured in our page 14 trade article last issue – has announced that it is the exclusive distributor for Tether Tools in the UK and Ireland. As it sounds, US brand Tether Tools (www.tethertools. com) designs and manufacturers a wide range of products for tethered photography (camera attached to

computer for live shooting), which Flaghead’s Hardy Haase claims is ‘a growing market’, adding that TT’s orange tether cables have already established themselves as the industry standard. For more info or to place an order call 01202 733 123 or email info@flaghead.co.uk www.flaghead.co.uk

Still going strong: part 2 LAST issue we featured Peter Bowerman, working with Fotospeed whilst celebrating his 75th. The news prompted a couple of even more senior members of the trade still working to get in touch, starting with Gerald Greenaway (top left), 85, who handles the accounts of Seapro UK/Greenaway Marine Ltd, set up in 1985 to building housings for camera equipment (www.greenawaymarine.com).

A comparable youngster at 82 is John Wellband (top right) of photo independent Welec in Spalding (right), due to shut up shop at the close of 2015 after nearly 50 years

in business, unless he can find someone to take up a new 10 year lease and carry on. John wrote to BPI News to say he also celebrates his 60th wedding anniversary on December 28th, adding: “Please thank all the reps who have advised and supported us for so many years.”

Left to right: Ansmann’s Mike Barber, Paul Channell & Peter Turnell... ready and waiting to do business with the photo trade

CAMERA BATTERY and charger specialist Ansmann has been trading directly with photo stores for five months now, since parting ways with its partner distributor in July 2015. Product Marketing Manager Peter Turnell tells us the company is excited about the feedback received from new trading partners.

“Sales are growing continually and photo stores are increasing the product lines they stock,” he enthuses. “It’s all looking very positive.”

“Ansmann provides quality product with excellent margins,” the satisfied trade customer believes.

“They’re willing to work with you and provide all the tools required to maximise your sales and return on investment.”

Jason Mitchell of Camera World adds: “Ansmann have provided an exemplary service over the time we have been dealing with them directly. They are one of the most efficient, organised and pleasant suppliers that we deal with. Their products are also well packaged, highly reliable and very profitable.

“Ansmann “Having visited their provides quality offices in Essex, I can product with personally say that they are excellent margins” also the cleanest and tidiest – David Parkinson, supplier in the trade!”

If you also want to ‘clean Wilkinson Cameras up’ with Ansmann’s high The process of re-establishing margin products… and are looking relationships with key photo for great trade service and support, specialists has also been much get in contact with Mike or Peter aided by Ansmann Sales Manager now on 0870 609 2233 or email Mike Barber, who adds: “It is great info@ansmann.co.uk to see the interest in Ansmann www.ansmann.co.uk products increase and customers seem very happy “…one of the most efficient, with the quality organised and pleasant and service they suppliers that we deal with. are now receiving.”

Their products are also well A case in packaged, highly reliable point is Wilkinson Cameras MD and very profitable” David Parkinson.

– Jason Mitchell, Camera World

BPI News is your mouthpiece to the industry. Send your news to info@bpinews.co.uk 12 December 2015 / January 2016 | BPI News

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See the Bounce Wall for yourself by contacting your Tetenal Sales Team and arranging for a demonstration.

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NEWS

80 million EOS users can’t be wrong CANON has announced a production milestone – that of its 80 millionth EOS camera, which the manufacturer tells us was the 5DS R. The DSLR boasts the highest pixel count in its class, with the 5D series also happening to be celebrating its own 10th anniversary. As

longstanding members of the retail trade will be aware, production of the EOS series began way back in 1987, and rapidly increased with the uptake of digital photography in the 2000’s. From 2003 to 2014 Canon adds that it maintained the number one market position

for interchangeable lens cameras. Another recent milestone was the production of its 110 millionth EF series lens for EOS cameras in June 2015. www.canon.co.uk

Register early for the Convention

Post Focus firmware for Lumix WE FIRST wrote about the fact that ‘post focus’ technology – first witnessed via the likes of the Intro2020 distributed Lytro camera – was being worked on by Panasonic too, back in our September cover issue. Now the electronics brand has made its own Post Focus technology available via firmware updates for its GX8, G7 and FZ330 Lumix cameras – the most recently introduced models in its line up. Direct your customers to the following site for updates: panasonic.net/avc/lumix/

RELATIVELY early in the New Year the UK trade show season gets started with another annual Convention and Trade Show hosted by The Societies – more commonly referred to in the trade as its leading body, the SWPP. Although the main event kicks off on January 20th with its usual batch of big name talks and masterclasses, those reading BPI News will want to focus on the Trade Show dates, which this coming year are January 22nd to 24th. The organisers promise that the ‘big guns’ will be present among the exhibitors, whilst the venue once again is the classy Hilton London Metropole Hotel in London’s Edgware Road.

The essential info you really need to know though, is that if you preregister before January 15th 2016 then entry is free to the Trade Show; otherwise it’s £10 to gain entry thereafter. Head now to the below URL to do so: www.swpp.co.uk/convention

Panasonic 4K TV ad airs

As it sounds, this new feature allows photographers to alter the focus point of their images after photos have been captured. On the Panasonic Lumix cameras, users have to first activate the Post Focus function and take their picture, and then, at the point of reviewing images, touch the point of the image they want to bias focus to. A new image with the selected area of focus is then produced as a separate photo to the original.

For further info, a video can be viewed at the URL below: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WCmPSEMiEA

THE BIG name electronics manufacturer is currently running a TV advertising campaign which it describes as ‘brightly coloured and fast moving’, espousing the virtues of the 4K capture facility of its Lumix camera line up.

The advert specifically highlights that after capturing 4K footage on the Lumix G7, your customers can simply scroll through 30 frames per second of video to select the exact image they had in mind.

The advertisement was shot in South Africa by Thomas Bryant, who directed the ‘Love the Coast’ advert for National Trust, and is voiced by actress Sarah Alexander, best known for her roles in TV comedies Coupling and Green Wing.

The advert was due to run for four weeks at the time of writing, and started broadcasting on November 16th. It can also be viewed on YouTube at the following URL: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmhZVhw1B00

BPI News is your mouthpiece to the industry. Send your news to info@bpinews.co.uk BPI News | December 2015 / January 2016 15

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16 December 2015 / January 2016 | BPI News

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PMA NEWS & ANALYSIS

Pathways to renewed consumer relevance … and finding them is what it’s all about as we enter 2016, according to Photo Marketing Association (PMA) CEO Georgia McCabe and consultant Scott Brownstein

W

hen PMA visited photo trade show PIX2015 in Seattle in October we took the opportunity to survey attendees about their photo habits and activities, writes Georgia McCabe (pictured right).

With 31 percent describing themselves as ‘hobbyists’, 20.7 percent as ‘amateur/pro’ and 17.2 percent as ‘pros’, it was unsurprising to discover that our respondents were prodigious image collectors, with nearly 30 percent saying they collected 1,500+ images per month.

That’s about 50 per day; more than even the most ‘selfie’ obsessed.

Some of the responses help explain how – even among photo enthusiasts – the traditional models and attitudes towards imaging have been heavily disrupted by smartphone photo apps. At PIX2015, smartphone ownership stood at 89.1 percent, and over three quarters of respondents had a photo app of some sort on their phone, with over half using photo apps on a daily basis.

Here’s the kick-in the-teeth though: When asked ‘how many photo-related apps have you paid for?’ – 54.9 percent said they had never paid for a photo app. So there we have it; photo enthusiasts are more likely to own a smartphone

than general consumers in the US, they’re extremely likely to have a photo app on their phone, which they use on a daily basis, but which they, generally speaking, have not paid for. And that’s the enthusiasts!

Smartphones with fantastic camera technology, combined with free to use mobile apps and free (automated) storage have transformed attitudes towards photography. We live in a world where people click, collect and forget. Just one person said they owned and used a film camera.

Of our respondents 64.1 percent store their images on a PC/laptop, while 62 percent store in the cloud.

I suspect over time the cloud will come to dominate, with PC/laptop falling away.

The good news though is that 73.6 percent of our respondents said they printed photos – with 29.4 percent saying they printed on a weekly basis. The industry needs to find innovative ways to encourage more people into moving images from the cloud and onto physical products in the real world. Because mobile usage is only ever going to grow and cloud storage is only ever going to get cheaper, and general consumers are otherwise only going to become more disengaged from the traditional imaging businesses.

“Digital photography changed forever this year.

Photos are not going to languish on a phone any more – they’re going into the cloud” – Scott Brownstein

Potential for market growth People only put their cameras away when they go to sleep, suggests industry expert Scott Brownstein.

Virtually nothing in life goes unrecorded and most cameras are less than two years old, because they come with your cellphone.

Consumers are sharing three billion images a day on social media, and the classical photo business – our business – is about half the size that it was in 1995. Digital photography changed forever this year. Photos are not going to languish on a phone any more – they’re going into the cloud. Images will be automatically shared for posterity – not just the ones you posted on Facebook but also the ones you took when you parked your car at the airport. Everything you’ve ever taken will be there. Images are going to get curated automatically.

Photos in the cloud are only valuable if they’re curated.

Cloud storage has tremendous appeal to the consumer because it’s easy and it doesn’t cost much. In fact, Amazon, Google and Apple are basically now going to provide that for the consumer for free – and no one in the photo industry has had anything to do with that.

We are not in control anymore and have become ancillary suppliers to our own industry.

The market potential is astounding however, in our terms. If you look at the organic growth of the business, we’re doing about 16 million prints, and by 2020 that will be 40 million. Digital technology creates opportunity for entrepreneurs, and we need to invite them to play rather than locking them out.

Flexible and open solutions provide innovations – we need to learn from the digital world, not the photo world.

We desperately need interoperability. In the old days you could buy a roll of film from anywhere, put it in any camera and have it processed anywhere. You want zero friction, from the moment of inspiration to the finished product – and we’ve got a long way to go to achieve zero friction. We have made this complicated and we could make this so much easier, but that requires us to get together and do something.

We know consumers still want a print of this, a print of that. Either we provide an easy pathway for those portals to us, or they will invent their own and go their own way. We need open solutions and we need to be able to adjust to ever changing business environments.

That’s where we are today. www.pmai.org

For all matters relating to PMA, and to stay abreast of latest developments, direct your browser to www.pmai.org 18 December 2015 / January 2016 | BPI News

The network that continues to grow and develop As featured in the last edition of BPI, the merchandising based make over of the KODAK EXPRESS network continues apace and combined with the activity around the new KODAK MOMENTS App is giving established and new stores a raised level of confidence.

BESPOKE SOLUTIONS The team at Tetenal are continuing to work with individual stores to offer bespoke solutions within the exciting new brand guidelines based around KODAK MOMENTS. Large eye-catching Header Panels are going up in-store allowing business owners to zone their stores, ensuring customers are fully aware of all the great products and services offered throughout the KODAK EXPRESS network.

Added to the external features such as new Flags and Swing Signs, stores are capturing the attention of busy timed starved consumers.

HAND-IN-HAND SUPPORT The network is also continuing to prove an attractive proposition for stores looking to join the network and even new start-up businesses such as the City Business Centre in Luton who have added a photographic arm to their business under the name of Klickshow.

As managers of the KODAK EXPRESS network Tetenal will work hand in hand with you to make the brand work for you.

The latest addition to the KODAK EXPRESS network, Klickshow in Luton, found the help offered to them by Tetenal invaluable.

"Thank you to Tetenal for all the help and support you have given us to date and your continued support in helping us to establish ourselves.

The KODAK EXPRESS signage is already attracting attention and it's really adds weight and validates us as a business."

Print direct from mobile using the latest KODAK MOMENTS App

Tariq Hussain, Klickshow.

Contact Tetenal now and join the network that continues to grow from strength to strength.

Manager of the Kodak Express network in the UK & Ireland

The Kodak, Kodak Express and Kodak Moment trademarks and Kodak trade dress are used under license from Eastman Kodak Company

TEL: 0116 289 3644

| e-mail: marketing@tetenal.uk.com | www.tetenaluk.com

BPI NEWS PRODUCT FOCUS

Return of the MAC(Group) Fresh from a ‘phenomenal’ reception at the Salon de la Photo exhibition in Paris, all eyes are now on distributor MAC Group’s showcase of new products – including Tenba Cooper bags – at The Societies Convention (stands K76 & K81/82) this January coming...

I

t’s been a while since we heard from the good folk at distributors MAC Group Europe – and, in the intervening months, there have been a couple of additions to its team, including Business Development Manager Andy Hargreaves, newly joined from JP Distribution.

“Andy’s wealth of experience and industry knowledge means he has become a key addition to our business,” explains MAC Group Europe’s Brand Manager Mark Hoskins. “The increasing demand from our customers for our products led us to look for an additional sales person capable of fitting in with our ethos of delivering first class service. It was very fortunate that we were able

working with was Phottix – which will be showcased on stand K76 at The Societies Convention this coming January. The result is that it also has a new Brand Manager for Phottix in Tony Dudley, formerly of lighting specialists Interfit.

“In the last five years Phottix has become a dominant force in the photography industry,” suggests Mark. “A holder of 40 patents, Phottix achieved acclaim for its award-winning Odin TTL Flash Trigger - the first to feature full TTL and Manual Power and flash zoom control, plus the new Indra 500TTL and the 360TTL Portable flash systems, which can be used with if you’d like to book a Phottix demo. battery or mains power. Given this, Alternatively contact Andy Hargreaves Tony’s experience with lighting is very on 07495 304549 or email andy@ macgroupeu.com.

“Colourful tripods are in demand and the overwhelming feedback we get from the retailers is that MeFoto is the best. Naturally at this time of year it’s the perfect gift idea for the photographer in the family.”

– Mark Hoskins, MAC Group Europe to find someone of Andy’s calibre to fulfil this role.”

One of the brands MAC Group took on back in July and started

important to us, and crucial to the growth of the Phottix brand.”

Get in touch on 07496 243693 or email tony@macgroupeu.com

‘A phenomenal response’ from the trade to MAC Group’s recent product showcase at the Salon de la Photo exhibition in Paris…. you can see for yourself at the Societies Trade Show and Convention in January!

Plenty to offer at the shows The fact that the MAC Group team had just returned from five days exhibiting at the Salon de la Photo exhibition in Paris at the point we spoke mid November – see the stand images on this spread – reveals the kind of investment they are making in aiming to reach an audience far and wide.

“The show was phenomenally

successful for us. It really helped to cement our role as distributors of Benro, Induro and MeFoto tripod brands as well as Phottix and Tenba.

We oversee distribution of these brands in the UK, France, Germany and Ireland and have great teams working with us. From here in Wolverhampton, we’re providing them with the assistance required for the growth of their markets.”

Following on from MAC Group’s great success at the show in Paris, all eyes are now on the show season in the UK, kicking off early 2016 with The Societies Convention in January (20th-24th, free Trade Show dates 2224th), The Broadcast Video Expo (BVE) in February (23rd-25th) and then The Photography Show in March (19th22nd). The distributor will be displaying its latest line up to the trade at all three.

“We were at the Photography Show in March 2015, but we have learned so much about our brands since… so for the 2016 show we will have a more concise product range on display,” Mark Hoskins reveals. “For instance, from the extensive Benro product families, we

For further details on all the products shown here, chat to the MAC Group Europe team at The Societies Convention, 20 December 2015 / January 2016 | BPI News

BPI NEWS PRODUCT FOCUS

Cooper 8. Next up are the Cooper 13 Slim at £165 and the Cooper 13 DSLR at £180, whilst the range topping Cooper 15 is £210. All four bags should be available by the time you read this.

For more, visit www.tenba.com/uk

and outdoor use. Legs are constructed from nine layers of carbon fibre, which maximises the strength to weight ratio.

Travel Angel tripods – which, as they sound, are designed for travel photographers – feature either aluminium or carbon fibre leg construction, making them both lightweight and robust. The fully featured reverse folding tripods combine magnesium castings and twist locks to provide a performance described as ‘uncompromising’.

The Benro Versatile tripods meanwhile feature the addition of a quick switch centre column that can be easily adjusted from vertical to horizontal positions, as well as anywhere in between. Versatile is said to provide exceptional value when compared with other products in the market offering this function.

Don’t forget: Your first chance to set eyes and hands on the latest MAC Group distributed products will be at The Societies Show, London, this January coming, with the Trade Show element running from the 22nd until the 24th. For this, MAC Group will be in the Monarch Suite, with Phottix displayed on stand K76, plus Benro and Tenba shown on K81 / K82.

Benro & MeFoto too!

www.macgroupeu.com

“With the Tenba Cooper, we wanted to build a luxury bag that can be used in all environments without compromising the protection of the photographer’s camera kit and while still looking good.”

have identified the three key ranges that appeal to the UK market, so we will be focused on promoting these products.”

Bags of ideas from Tenba At the time of writing, MAC Group’s newest photo-related products for trade specialists to stock include are a quartet of Tenba ‘Cooper’ messenger-style bags. Suitable for housing cameras from mirror-less models to digital SLRs, the pitch to your customers is that these are weather resistant waxed canvas exterior bags with full grain leather base and top quality trim to suit all comers. The bags also feature a reversible silver and black rain cover plus Tenba’s exclusive ‘Quiet Velcro’ fastening. By pulling down on the flap before pulling it away from the bag, the Velcro is promised to disengage without a sound, therefore allowing photographers and videographers to access the bags’ interiors without drawing undue attention.

Tenba is a brand that has been

in existence since 1977, and the new offerings blend quality with a suggested ‘timeless elegance’, as well as being available in four sizes, to accommodate everything from a compact system camera plus iPad Mini up to a full-blown DSLR with a 15-inch laptop in tow.

For example the Cooper 13 Slim is designed for a pro-level mirrorless camera whilst also providing space for video accessories including microphones and an external sound recorder. Other key features of the bags to note are their rear laptop/ tablet pocket, removable padded camera insert and smart interior organisation system.

“Today’s photographers and filmmakers demand bags that not only look great, but will also stand up to the rigours of day to day use,” confirms MAC Group’s Mark Hoskins.

“We wanted to build a luxury bag that can be used in all environments without compromising the protection of the photographer’s camera kit and while still looking good.”

Prices start at £125 SRP for the

In terms of popular additional products that are doing well for retailers, Mark singles out the MeFoto brand. “At the moment we are seeing huge success with this brand,” he enthuses. “Colourful tripods seem to be in demand and whilst we have many imitators, the overwhelming feedback we get from the retailers is that MeFoto is the best. Naturally at this time of year it’s the perfect gift idea for the photographer in the family.”

Best-selling Benro supports meanwhile are singled out as the Benro Mach 3 (top right), Travel Angel and Versatile (immediate right) ranges.

The Mach 3 collection is the most advanced range of traditional tripods in the Benro line up, fit for both indoor

BVExpo and The Photography Show in 2016. Or ring 01902 255 500 or simply visit www.macgroupeu.com BPI News | December 2015 / January 2016 21

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH

ADVERTISEMENT

In the Club

Canon PowerShot G5 X

C

ustomers seeking a fully featured compact camera this Christmas on which they don’t have to alter the lens in use to frame a wide range of subjects, but which handles a bit like the EOS DSLR they’re familiar with, should be directed to the PowerShot G5 X (£629.99 SRP), released this November. An immediate draw is the larger than average for its class one-inch 20.2MP CMOS sensor.

BPI News got to have a play with both the retro styled G5 X – smaller in reality than its blocky tank-like looks make it appear in press shots – and the equally new EOS M10 compact system camera.

Part of the reason why the G5 X looks as much constructed for warfare as photography, is its centrally positioned turret-like viewfinder. It’s actually an OLED EVF that, in boasting a high resolution of 2.36 million dots, is barely

indistinguishable from the optical alternative. Of course we’ve also the option of using the larger LCD screen below for composing and reviewing images. Said 3-inch display provides a 3:2 ratio; this is the default image capture ratio for stills too.

Whilst perfect for achieving noise-free shots in gloomy interiors if coupled with a steady hold by its user, on a bright sunny autumn day the f/1.8 maximum aperture proved almost a bit too generous on occasion; luckily there are a lot of manual adjustments available on this camera – including the ability to manually dial down the exposure by a couple of stops. We found the G5 X’s rangefinder-like top plate control knobs enjoyably tactile to use.

In short, there’s enough here to satisfy both the traditionalists who began their love of photography in the film era, and the modernists now associating cameras purely with digital capture. www.canon.co.uk

T

Matthew Pierce, Future’s Head of Content and Marketing, reveals details of its new membership club for photographers

his month we’re excited to reveal a brand new membership programme for enthusiast photographers: PhotoClub.

Photography clubs have, of course, almost always existed in some shape or form – allowing like-minded enthusiasts to share their work, learn from each other, and even take advantage of club discounts and offers.

And it’s these same types of added benefits that we’re keen to offer to our most loyal readers. As such, we decided to reward our subscribers by automatically making them members of PhotoClub for free.

So from now on, existing subscribers to Digital Camera, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine and N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine, also become PhotoClub members and enjoy all the added benefits for no extra charge.

As well as their magazine subscription, they will receive free gifts, access to a members-only online portal, which offers extra digital content, ebooks and video tutorials, plus regular offers and discounts from relevant retailers and manufacturers.

New or existing Members can also choose to upgrade their membership to two more tiers: Member Plus or VIP. Each of these adds more benefits, including digital magazines, extra gifts, discounted entry to The Photography Show, portfolio critiques and more.

We’re always looking for ways to increase our audience’s loyalty to our titles, and we think PhotoClub is a fantastic way of offering added value to our readers, as well as an innovative new opportunity for partners to reach our audiences via discounts and bespoke offers.

We’ll be marketing PhotoClub to a wider consumer audience across our technology and creative titles in print and digital, as well as using our huge social media channels to attract new members.

To join Photo Club and see the full list of benefits and tiers, go to: myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/ All-Magazines/Digital-CameraPrint.html To find out more about working with the PhotoClub team, to offer our Members discounts or benefits, contact Charlotte on 01225 442244 or email: charlotte.lloyd-williams@ futurenet.com

Plenty of scope with the G5 X for capturing everything from expansive landscapes to the editor in a funny hat

BPI News is your mouthpiece to the industry. Send your news to info@bpinews.co.uk 22 December 2015 / January 2016 | BPI News

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BPI NEWS EXTRA

Gray matter still firing after 30 years

L

ong-serving trade figure Gray Levett is what we’d term an ideal interviewee: plenty of stories to tell, and full and detailed answers given to each enquiry. You can’t help but imagine his customers receive similarly comprehensive responses. Indeed, as a young camera shop assistant Gray recalls being routinely drilled for technical knowledge by an army sergeant-like employer – resented at the time, but appreciated as invaluable training later on.

Many in the trade will already know that Gray was inspired to first pick up the camera to photograph rock and blues bands at club nights as a student in Bournemouth – subsequently getting a job at local camera shop N Hartle Photographic so he could buy equipment at a more reasonable rate. “I was taking pictures of bands like Jethro Tull on their first tour of the UK, The Who, Black Sabbath, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers – groups like Ten Years After went on to play Woodstock and become huge stars,” he recalls.

“You have to be a professional in whatever you do in life if you want to succeed. Far more importantly, your knowledgeable professionalism will be communicated to the customer and you will be listened to.”

Nikon-only specialist Grays of Westminster – supplier of cameras to A-list movie stars and Hollywood directors – is celebrating 30 years in business this year, with a commemorative book released this January. BPI News speaks to owner Gray Levett about surviving and thriving through three decades

Moving to London and taking jobs at the London Camera Exchange and Fox Talbot (“the number one shop for the Nikon man”) in an effort to broaden his career, a love of music and imagery also stood him in good stead when he and his camera later spent five years in Los Angeles in the late 70s/early 80s, epicentre of the music and movie business. Naturally he has many stories to tell from this time and the years leading up to it too – including fielding phone calls from Kate Bush, who he’d fortuitously met pre-stardom through a mutual friend. The tale of him listening to a teenage Kate playing piano in the next room whilst he does the washing up is charming and fascinating in equal measure, as are visits to his present emporium by likes of Stanley Kubrick, David Suchet and ‘off the record’ A-listers.

‘Grays of Westminster – The Legend and the Legacy’ by Gillian Greenwood, marking 30 years of trading, 24 December 2015 / January 2016 | BPI News

Yes, Grays is not your average camera shop and Gray Levett is not your average proprietor. So, in some ways it’s not so surprising that he’s managed to weather the highs and lows of 30 years in business – the last 23 as a ‘Nikon only’ specialist.

He puts the longevity down to hard work – having begun as a mail-order specialist in a spare room at his late sister’s (“good margins and very low overheads”) – along with, of course, exceptional customer service.

“You have to be a professional in whatever you do in life if you want to succeed,” Gray believes. “And if you know your subject and can think with the information and have manual dexterity with your equipment, any professional in that field will recognise you as professional too. Far more importantly, your knowledgeable professionalism will be communicated to the customer and you will be listened to.”

From small acorns… to copper plates From a humble start in 1985 fuelled by a £100 start up and tiny adverts in the back of Amateur Photographer, Grays in Churton Street, Pimlico, has grown into a destination store with a global customer reach, producing its own Nikon centric magazine, and last year gaining a Royal Coat of Arms (see our previous feature in BPI News Dec 14/ Jan 15).

“As customers became more interested in visiting us, it became imperative to move from the spare room into shop premises,” Gray recalls. “Originally the business was just called ‘Grays’, but I realised that by association with a location – ‘positioning’ as it’s called – it would gain something that is known and well thought of. I thought I’d need to give people the impression that

my business had been established for a long time – hence going for the copper plate design style, like bankers Messrs. Coutts & Co. I wanted to give it a sense of heritage, that wasn’t there to begin with.”

The Grays of Westminster logo is therefore based on Gray’s personal signature and the copper plate style of Coutts. The former barber’s shop in Churton Street was also given a facelift to deliver an experience for customers akin to entering a jewelers rather than a high street camera shop. “I never did developing and printing and selling films because you could get that in your chemists,” he reasons. “So why not do the things that you can’t get elsewhere?

Because we’re in very much a secondary retail location that doesn’t get much passing trade, we don’t have cameras in our windows at all – instead we have beautiful pictures of equipment. Initially we did all the major camera brands, but looking through other store adverts I saw that we didn’t particularly stand out in any particular way from any other dealer.”

As regular readers will be aware, the solution of going ‘exclusively Nikon’ was inspired by a chance visit to the all-year-round Christmas Shop that used to be located near London Bridge – an improbable success at the time. “I thought that if you could run a business selling products that would only be in use for three weeks per year, would it not be possible

Gray reveals his store’s traditional signage was inspired by old cheques from bankers Coutts - this example signed by Charles Dickens and in Gray’s ownership!

“When we announced we were going to go exclusively Nikon, a lot of people in the trade thought we were insane. Now when I bump into certain of the original naysayers they tell me: ‘Gray, I always knew it was a good idea.” for Grays of Westminster to offer a specialist service just selling one brand and be equally successful?

Nikon had always been the camera I’d wanted when I was a student but couldn’t possibly afford. Funnily enough I had owned a Canon before and thought they were well made, but back in the 1970s it was the Nikon F that captured my imagination. I loved the lenses and liked the philosophy of the company, in that everything was based around the lens mount, and so there was a degree of non-obsolescence. I was also a fan of the movie ‘Blow Up’, which featured a photographer played

by David Hemmings shooting on Nikon and Hasselblad.”

This romantic view carries through to the way Grays of Westminster now sells us the ‘romance’ of owning a Nikon.

“I used to stare in the windows of camera shops at Nikons and Hasselblads and think ‘oh my God, I’d love to own one of those’. But when we announced we were going to go exclusively Nikon in 1992, a lot of people in the trade thought we were insane and wouldn’t last. But it just occurred to me that there were a lot of camera shops and you had to stick out. Nikon UK also liked the idea very much.

“Now when I bump into certain of the original naysayers they tell me: ‘Gray, I always knew it was a good idea.’ It hasn’t been without its share

of blood, sweat and tears over the past 30 years. But for anything in this universe to be successful, you’ve got to work hard. Nothing can be gained without that learning curve.

Persistence is also, absolutely, the key to longevity.”

The book by Gillian Greenwood (Features Editor of Nikon Owner magazine) commemorating 30 years of Grays of Westminster – subtitled ‘The Legend and the Legacy’ – is published January 2016, with a forward by Mr. Kazuo Ushida, President of the Nikon Corporation. www.graysofwestminster.co.uk

is published January 2016, with a forward by Mr. Kazuo Ushida, President of the Nikon Corporation BPI News | December 2015 / January 2016 25

BPI NEWS FIELD TEST

Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM lens New ‘Art ‘ series wide-angle optic out now from the third party lens manufacturer available in Nikon, Canon and Sony fits at £849.99 SRP. BPI News was granted the opportunity to play with the Nikon version late November…

B

eing gifted a wide 20mm wide-angle lens for a full frame DSLR obviously means that we’re being provided with an ideal option for street photography, landscapes and interiors. In fact, just about any subject, including videography – for which your photographer customers want to squeeze more into the frame or, if shooting subjects up close (minimum focus distance is 27.6cm), go for the visual dynamism of a sharp subject and attractively defocused background.

With Sigma’s promise being those self same sharp images and a high contrast performance, the ‘Art’ series tag attached to this lens feels creatively justified.

Frame coverage and price point aside, the other key selling point is naturally the ultra bright/fast f/1.4 lens aperture, not only for subtle bokeh-type effects but also pulling more detail out of the shadows without the need to resort to flash. The lens barrel features a built-in lens hood to reduce any possible instance of flare or ghosting – along with the Super Multi Layer Coating on the surface of the lens itself. There is a slip-on lens cover provided in the box along with a zippered bag to keep it snug in, though a metal lens cap (LC907-02) is an optional extra.

Robust build, solid performance The lens feels reassuringly hefty and well constructed in return for the outlay being asked of your customers when held in the palm. Admittedly at 950g it weighs more than most consumer level DSLRs. The rubberised surround to the focus ring also provides a commendably firm means of grip – we were using the lens on a Nikon D810 body – and prevents fingers slipping.

Construction-wise, the 20mm features two FLD (F Low Dispersion) and five SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements to minimise chromatic aberrations around the edge of the image – an otherwise common issue in large aperture ultra wide-angle lenses. Whilst there is the option of manual focusing naturally, the auto focus deploying the HSM motor is so quiet that, unless you’ve deliberately defocused the image beforehand, it’s hard to notice it’s actually in use. Hence it’s a real option for anyone shooting video, not just stills.

Picture-wise, in combination with our top-flight Nikon body the lens delivers contrast rich images that pack plenty of punch and detail from edge to edge, with shots taken up close and personal delivering some lovely soft bokeh effects, immediately drawing the viewer’s eye to the intended subject. Obviously if you are using the lens for close ups or portraits, its properties demand that you have to get very close to the subject – and often by that very virtue image composition is all the better for it.

This is a big meaty lens to suit a big meaty camera, and in that respect and more the 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM lens and pro-grade DSLR feel well suited.

For further information on the 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM lens, the Sigma Imaging (UK) team can be contacted on 01707 329 999 or via sales@sigma-imaging-uk.com

All lenses ordered via Sigma Imaging UK Ltd, designed & and manufactured to exacting Japanese standards, come with 3-year UK warranty 26 December 2015 / January 2016 | BPI News

Fujifilm Fujifilm Imagine Imagine FUJIFILM DIGITAL IMAGING SERVICE

“Christmas “Christmas Photo Photo Gifts Gifts ASDA” ASDA” 20sec 20sec Animated Animated TVTV Commercial Commercial

dea?” for

mas

“Look inside your Smartphone!”

We are in a wonderful FUJIFILM Imagine Photo Gift factory. We see Mr Appy in front of a large machine, all whirring cogs and pistons.

Mr. Appy looks on happily as an array of unique Photo Gifts move by on a conveyor belt in the foreground.

“With FUJIFILM, you can make the perfect photo gift just in time for Christmas.”

Mr. Appy looks on happily as an array of unique Photo Gifts continue to move by on a conveyor belt in the foreground.

Fujifilm Imag

“Christmas Pho

“Looking “Looking forfor thethe perfect perfect Christmas Christmas Gift Gift Idea?”

Idea?”

“Look “Look inside inside your your Smartphone!”

Smartphone!”

Mr.Mr. Appy’s Appy’s sitting sitting room room is is allall decked decked outout forfor Christmas.

Christmas.

Snow Snow falls falls outside outside thethe window. window.

A puzzled A puzzled Mr.Mr. Appy Appy looks looks through through a Christmas a Christmas sock sock brochure. brochure.

We We areare in in a wonderful a wonderful FUJIFILM FUJIFILM Imagine Imagine Photo Photo Gift Gift factory. factory.

We We seesee Mr Mr Appy Appy in in front front of of a a large large machine, machine, allall whirring whirring cogs cogs andand pistons. pistons Mr.Mr. Appy Appy looks looks on on happily happily as as an an array array of of unique uni Photo Photo Gifts Gifts move move by by on on a conveyor a conveyor belt belt in in theth foreground. foreground.

nvas

“It’s easy - Call into your local ASDA or FUJIFILM store,”

“Go online,”

“or download the FUJIFILM Imagine App.”

s the veyor fts.

Mr. Appy collects a roll of personalised photo wrapping paper in his local FUJIFILM store.

Close up on the FUJIFILM Imagine home page on a laptop screen. Show cursor selecting the gifts option and choosing a photo.

Close up on the FUJIFILM Imagine App interface Mr. Appy’s hand selects the gifts option.

Onscreen text: Available at participating stores.

Onscreen text: Available at participating stores.

Fujifilm £1/4m TV advertising spend spreads good cheer to retail partners

Onscreen text: Available at participating stores.

1 of 2

“Or“Or go go large large with with super super sized sized photo photo andand Canvas Canvas Prints.”

Prints.”

“It’s “It’s easy easy - Call - Call into into your your local local ASDA ASDA or or FUJIFILM FUJIFILM store,” store,”

A new 20-second national TV advert, airing on Sky TV until December 15th, promotes printing from mobile phones Mr.Mr. Appy Appy collects collects a roll a roll of of personalised personalised photo pho TheThe Photo Photo Gift Gift factory factory is is in in full full swing, swing, as as thethe via the Fujifilm Imagine software ‘app’ – aiming to boost revenue for FDIS members in thewrapping crucial Christmas run-up wrapping paper paper in in hishis local local FUJIFILM FUJIFILM store. store. array array of of Photo Photo Gifts Gifts areare joined joined on on the the conveyor conveyor

by by large large Photo Photo Posters Posters andand Photo Photo Canvas Canvas gifts. gifts.

Mr.Mr. Appy Appy looks looks on on in in delight. delight.

Onscreen Onscreen text: text: Available Available at at participating participating stores. store ujifilm UK first introduced its of year in which most photographs ‘Mr Appy’ character animation are taken.

– developed to help sell the Backed by a quarter of a million idea to the public that they could be pounds worth of airtime, the idea making prints of the images stored behind the new promotion is to on their mobile phones – at encourage customers to download The Photography Show back in the Fujifilm Imagine app to their March 2015. mobile phones, via which they will Until now, the character has then be able to order a host of print appeared in promotional videos aired and photo gift products, for collection on YouTube, and at special events at their local retailer or minilab. The held at the stores of Fujfilm Digital alternative is simply for customers to Fujifilm’s not-so-secret retail weapon this Christmas is its previously introduced ‘Mr Appy’ Imaging Service (FDIS) members. place a print order in-store or online. animated smartphone - the star of a new £200K TV ad campaign on Sky to get families to print Activity has stepped up a gear The voiceover for the more pictures from their mobiles however with Fujifilm’s first-ever Mr advertisement introduces Fujifilm’s Mr Appy-fronted national TV campaign, Appy and the concept of customers of all those hundreds and possibly the perfect Christmas gift idea? Look getting their mobile phone in airing now on Sky and during the run thousands of stored photographs. inside your smartphone. With Fujifilm up to Christmas – traditionally the time shape by freeing it from the ‘bloat’ It runs as follows: ‘Looking for you can make the perfect photo gift

F

BPI News | December 2015 / January 2016 27

FUJIFILM DIGITAL IMAGING SERVICE just in time for Christmas. Or go large with super sized photo and canvas prints. It’s easy – call into your local Adsa or Fujifilm store, go online, or download the Fujifilm Imagine App. Christmas is all wrapped up with Fujifilm Imagine. Download the app today.’

“We are very excited about this campaign and really want our participating retailers to take advantage of the additional business this will surely bring to their stores. It’s all about getting more potential customers to download the Fujifilm Imagine app and promoting printing in general” – Fujifilm Marketing Manager Peter Wigington

This selective targeting has been possible thanks to around 90% of all Sky contracts now having Sky’s HD box, which in effect acts a digital ad server. This enables Sky to run a particular advert on one box that is different to the advert being run on another box, and do so when the ‘right’ audience demographic is Cleverly targeted watching – enabling specific groups advertising to be targeted dependent on age, sex, interests and even by postcode.

With Fujifilm Imagine software This facility prompted Fujifilm installed on kiosks in 134 FDIS to submit the postcodes of the member sites and, since November 190 Adsa stores and 134 FDIS store 9th, in 190 Asda stores across the members to Sky, asking them to UK, Fujifilm carefully discussed the filter by households with families best way to maximise its £250,000 with children aged 11 or under. ad spend with its media agency, MJ Sky came back with a total of 1.3 Media. The answer was to make use million households for the chosen of Sky TV’s AdSmart marketing service demographic – explaining that for the budget available the average viewing to avoid a scattergun approach and instead cleverly and effectively target frequency would be 3.4 – with the ad to ensure maximum return on anything above three considered a good reach. Sky AdSmart channels investment.

For more information on FDIS membership or to request a brochure 28 December 2015 / January 2016 | BPI News

“Looking for the perfect Christmas gift idea? Look inside your smartphone. With Fujifilm you can make the perfect photo gift just in time for Christmas. Or go large with super sized photo and canvas prints...”

– New Fujifilm Imagine software TV spot are Sky One, Living, Atlantic, Sports, Movies, History & History 2, Challenge, Pick, Lifetime, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild and Crime & Investigation.

For those who want to read up more on Sky AdSmart marketing, direct your browser at: skymedia.co.uk/sky-adsmart/aboutsky-adsmart.aspx

Mr Appy in-store POS makes the connection To complement the message behind the TV advert, the proactive Fujifilm has produced a set of in-store point of sale material. FDIS members will

already have received one POS pack – containing Mr Appy floor stander, 2x Mr Appy double-sided hanging mobiles, 2x Mr Appy strutted counter cards and 500 Mr Appy flyers – plus a set of 50 Mr Appy phone charms to utilise as a promotional give away, an A2 poster and an A4 counter stand.

“We are very excited about this campaign and really want our participating retailers to take advantage of the additional business this will surely bring to their stores,” enthuses Fujifilm Marketing Manager Peter Wigington. “It’s all about getting more potential customers to download the Fujifilm Imagine app and promoting printing in general.”

The pro-active Fujifilm has produced a comprehensively featured set of point-ofsale material and in-store giveaway items for FDIS members, in order to maximise the impact of their seasonal Sky TV ad campaign featuring the ever smiling Mr Appy smartphone

For more details, or to enquire about become a Fujifilm FDIS member to get 2016 off to a roaring start, Peter can be reached on 01234 572138 or via pwigington@fuji.co.uk To view the ‘Mr Appy’ Christmas advert discussed here meanwhile, point your browser at: http://fujifilmimagine.co.uk/mobile/

please contact Peter Wigington on 01234 572138 or email pwigington@fuji.co.uk BPI News | December 2015 / January 2016 29

BPI NEWS MINILAB FOCUS

‘The whole country’s going Green’ From John O’Groats to Land’s End, there is now a Noritsu machine fulfilling local print requirements, says PhotoXport MD Derek Fieldhouse, distributor of Noritsu Green dry labs for the UK. Isn’t it time you too went ‘Green’?

3 Noritsu Green dry labs to choose!

Satisfied PhotoXport customer Malcolm McDonald of Sutherland’s Photo Lab, Thurso, Scotland, with his newly installed Green II

F

or many a new year signals a fresh start.

Why not take that decisive first step towards boosting your business by either replacing an ageing wet lab with a sleek new digital ‘dry’ version? Or add a mini lab and the high margin revenue that can be gleaned from photo processing to your photo retail offering?

The number you need to call is 0116 2675907, and on the end of the line will be PhotoXport MD Derek Fieldhouse and his team, experts and distributors of the cutting edge Noritsu Green series line up.

“We’re covering the UK with Greens,” reveals Derek. “We’ve just put a machine in Cornwall, and at the time of speaking we’re putting a machine up near John O’Groats.”

The team at PhotoXport are making promo videos of each installation, with the aim being to have a compilation of all the installations from the last year on its website (www.photoxport.com) by the time The Photography Show takes place in March 2016.

As we’ve detailed in the past couple of issues of BPI News, there are three key Noritsu Green dry labs in the line up to choose from – the Green Simplex, the ‘standard’ Green and the rangetopping Green II – see our side panel for the breakdown of features. All are available now via PhotoXport.

Countrywide coverage To give an indication of PhotoXport’s countrywide reach, Robert Carne of Premier Photographics in Truro in Cornwall recently took out two Noritsu

wet labs and put a Green dry lab in their place, whilst Malcolm McDonald of Sutherland’s Photo Lab, based in Thurso, Scotland, counts himself another satisfied customer – having just taken delivery of a Gree n II himself.

“We had a Noritsu wet lab before – the QSS3212 – which has been running for the last 11 years, so was getting a bit old and tired,” Malcolm recalls. “We wanted to have something as close to our old wet lab as we could, so I did a bit of shopping around, found Derek’s website, phoned him and asked what he had to offer – which turned out to be an ex-demo Green II. I watched the videos about it and saw that it was getting great reviews – which prompted me to go for it.

And the print quality is fantastic!”

From initial discovery to having a machine installed took just three weeks, according to Malcolm. Indeed speed – and speed of output – was another consideration in choosing the Noristu Green II as Sutherland’s Photo Lab needed a heavy duty beast to fulfill its widespread print orders. “With the nearest alternative lab at Inverness 112 miles away, we have the whole of Sutherland and a lot of the Highlands as our customers; a vast area. Photo books are another service we wanted to add, so that was another factor in us choosing the Green II,” he adds.

PhotoXport MD Derek Fieldhouse concludes: “Please do browse the website for more details of the minilab solutions on offer – if you can’t find something or need assistance, feel free to contact us like Malcolm did and we’ll be glad to help.”

Get started with the entry-level Noritsu Green Simplex dry lab.

“It offers the same output capacity as a Fuji or Epson – but we believe it’s significantly cheaper,” Derek says.

There is also a duplex version that offers double sided prints and adjustable paper platen that can accommodate around 36 different paper types, including third party papers.

The next step up is the Noritsu QSS Green standard edition. This automatically offers duplex printing on different surfaces from different paper manufacturers, allowing for photo book production.

Watch a promo video at: youtu.be/0BPCnR5Zpvo Top of the range meanwhile is the Noritsu QSS Green II. With the industrial build of a wet lab, yet with a dry lab engine, it’s built for a hammering and to produce millions and millions of prints. This has all the key features of the popular D1005HR and over 3000 prints can be produced before new paper needs loading.

See the video at: youtu.be/0BPCnR5Zpvo

www.photoxport.com

Start your New Year with a new lab: Call PhotoXport MD Derek Fieldhouse NOW on 0116 2675907 for deals & offers 30 December 2015 / January 2016 | BPI News

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