BPI News July/Aug 2014

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JULY/AUGUST 2014 • £3

PUTTING THE TRADE IN FOCUS THIS SUMMER • WWW.BPINEWS.CO.UK

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EDITORIAL

W

elcome to what we’re loosely calling our BPI News 2014 ‘Summer Special’, in that this issue is a combined edition for July and August. Don’t worry, we’re back in late August with our September issue, hitting desks just before Photokina, and continue monthly thereafter.

You won’t have failed to notice that there has seemingly been plenty of polishing of CV’s going on in our industry this year. Back in March we announced a new boss at Canon UK and now, this month, also at Nikon UK and Sony UK, completing a changing of the guard at the ‘big three’. There’s also a new Director of the UK arm of PMA, as we exclusively announced last issue, and whom we meet again on page 29. Plus we ran an interview with the new CEO of Kodak Alaris in our May edition, joining from Motorola. This issue we also announce comings and goings at Tetenal and Photo-Me too.

The $64,000 question is to whether all these new faces in our trade will be able to solve the old issues. For example, how we get people printing more, how we combat or adapt to the ‘threats’ of smartphones, tablets and simply changing consumer lifestyles. Or are they even a threat? Perhaps they’re more an evolution of the photography genre. As they settle into their new swivel chairs in glass-paneled offices, we hope our new faces will be able to ponder such questions and provide a fresh perspective and, even, a few answers.

Toby Herlinger of Fotospeed also raises an interesting idea this issue: that of the big names in our business sitting down together to try and thrash out a plan of action that will help develop our industry. Rather than simply competing with each other and seeing the market dwindle, how about instead working together to try and grow it? Perhaps it’s one of those initiatives to file in the drawer marked ‘nice idea, but it will never happen’… perhaps. But fresh ideas and a positive, hopeful outlook is something that this industry could do with a lot more of.

Something to think about as the sun shines this summer and we’ll see you again late August/early September.

CONTENTS NEWS

BPI News is published monthly by BPI Partners Ltd EDITOR - Gavin Stoker Email: info@bpinews.co.uk Tel: 07990 974 367 Please direct all editorial requests, news and press releases to info@bpinews.co.uk

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PUBLISHER - Clive Insley Email: info@bpinews.co.uk Tel: 01344 625131 Tel: 07713 622 304 Please direct all advertising enquiries and sponsorship opportunities to Clive.

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A British boss for a Japanese company as former General Manager John Walshe settles into the MD’s chair at Nikon UK, and over at Sony there’s a new UK and Ireland Country Head in John Anderson, previously responsible for turning around its TV business. Meanwhile there’s a new 4K shooting bridge camera from Panasonic.

HOW TO GET TO PHOTOKINA 8 With barely a couple of months to go before Photokina 2014 opens its doors and Cologne’s bar district once again entertains the trade, we look at the various travel options and routes for getting there, so you don’t have to miss out on what the organisers are calling ‘the most important imaging show in the world’.

PUT SOME WIND IN YOUR SALES WITH INTRO2020 15 We spent five days being shown product with Intro2020 this month, on a press trip to Amsterdam and back. Quite a few new retail ideas and product offerings were hoisted up the proverbial flagpole, and our four-page centre pull out covers everything from Tamron lenses to Tamrac bags, Ansmann chargers, Hoya filters and more!

JOIN RETRA NOW TO AVOID COSTLY LEGAL PITFALLS 19 Our third feature on why photo specialists should consider joining electrical retailer organization Retra highlights its Business Helpline. Deputy Chief Executive Howard Saycell reveals how a £21.50 membership fee could avoid you falling foul of potentially costly new legislation you didn’t realise existed.

MEET THE NEW ‘DON’ OF PMA UK 29 This month we say hello to the new Director of PMA UK. Don Kennedy is the former owner and co-founder of Snappy Snaps, and brings a fresh perspective to his new role as Director of the Photo Marketing Association for the UK. As we discover, Don has been active behind the scenes at PMA since the beginning…

COVER: DOUBLE BUBBLE: Panasonic UK launches its new long lensed FZ1000 bridge camera this month with the ability to shoot 4k video and extract an 8 megapixel still from its video stream. Will this change photography forever?

NEXT COPY DUE DATE FOR SEPTEMBER BPI NEWS IS AUGUST 19TH…. ISSUE POSTED OUT END OF AUGUST. GET YOUR PRODUCTS IN FRONT OF THE TRADE IN TIME FOR PHOTOKINA…

Gavin Stoker, Editor

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NEWS

NAMES IN THE SPOTLIGHT IN THE PHOTO INDUSTRY

Two new faces at Tetenal Nikon UK gets British boss for first time IT’S ALL CHANGE in the industry’s top roles this month. After two years as Nikon UK President, Hidehiko Tanaka is moving to Nikon Germany, with current General Manager John Walshe stepping up to assume the new role of UK Managing Director this month (July). According to the manufacturer, it believes this is the first time that Nikon UK has had a non Japanese MD. The Managing Director role will now replace the role of President.

John, who joined as recently as September 2011, said: “Mr. Tanaka has had a tremendously positive influence in the UK, both with employees and trade partners. I look forward to building on his contributions as we continue to work with our trade partners to establish Nikon as the leading imaging brand in the UK and across Europe.” www.nikon.co.uk

TETENAL’S marketing team has grown with the addition of two new members.

Promotional Marketing Manager Mike Piggin (left) brings with him 20 years of experience, working with the likes of Dominos and Holland and Barrett. Mark Powell (right) also joins the distributor as its new UK Digital Manager, with responsibility for developing its online presence.

Mike Piggin says: “I am delighted to have joined Tetenal and look forward to working with the Kodak Express network, keeping you updated on new products and promotional opportunities that can make a real difference to your businesses. I have a lot of experience in marketing and sales promotion, which I feel will be of great benefit.”

Mark adds: “It’s really fantastic to join the team at Tetenal. I’ll enjoy the challenge of focusing, managing and directing a business’s digital pathway to ensure improvement of their online visibility and ranking, through effective SEO”.

Tetenal Marketing Manager Craig Bird is similarly enthused. “Being able to attract the calibre of personnel that we have in Mike and Mark is great news not only for Tetenal but also for our customers. Their experience and expertise will enable us to improve our levels of support both internally and externally.” www.tetenaluk.com

Anderson is new country chief at Sony

WITH CURRENT incumbent Chris Bowen departing Sony for a job in the travel industry late July, the electronics behemoth has appointed John Anderson as new UK and Ireland Country Head.

John has been with Sony since 1990, where he has undertaken a number of senior marketing, sales and operational roles at a pan-European and country level. After starting his career in Sony’s UK marketing team, he went on to be MD of Sony Austria, then Vice President of Customer Services Europe.

John’s most recent position was Vice President of Home Entertainment and Sound, where the manufacturer says he was responsible for turning around its TV business. John has an MA from Oxford University and an MBA from Warwick Business School. www.sony.co.uk

Fresh development at Photo-Me THERE IS a new body in the big chair at the UK office of photo kiosk, photo ID, laundromat and genetic profiling power players Photo-Me plc, following the departure of Olivier Gimpel after just over four years in his role of Chief Operating Officer, during which time he helped spearhead the PMA’s ‘Save The Photographers’ campaign. New boss is Steven Murray. Look out for an interview and more detail in our September issue. www.photo-me.co.uk

Samsung singles out ‘one to watch’ Lumix National Trust POS ©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

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DUBLIN based student Conor Clinch has been named the winner of Samsung’s ‘Launching People’ project, the prize for Complimentary 12 month national trust which saw him mentored by fashion and membership with the lumiX FZ200 or FZ72 celebrity photographer Rankin in the Sky Complimentary 1 TV show The Ones to Watch.12 month national trust membership with the lumiX FZ200 or FZ72 Conor’s project was a photography exhibition based around the idea of ‘lad’ culture in Dublin, which aimed to portray the subjects’ pride in their fashion and clothes. After learning he had won the ‘Photography’ category, Conor spent two weeks working with Rankin one-on-one on a unique project, as captured on the telly show.

A3 Poster “Everyone knows Samsung for launching products and every day we’re inspired by people who use those products to achieve amazing things,” says Andy Griffiths, President, Samsung UK and to take a speCial piCture you need to go to speCial plaCes Ireland. Now“‘Launching People’ you and your family can discover hundreds of new special is placesall about with the National Trust and capture every stunning detail with the doing just that – FZ200 launching people’s potential through technology, whatever their award-winning new LUMIX or FZ72. stage in life. We wanted to give people with passion, ambition and a hungry mind, a launch pad for their bright ideas and change their lives in a positive way.”

Conor’s Launching People submission can be found at http://www.launchingpeople.co.uk/project/conor-clinch 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.

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

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

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Visit www.bpinews.co.uk 4 July/August 2014 | BPI News

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Nikon swells brand ambassador ranks

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LONG-TERM sports photographer Bob Martin and lifestyle and portrait photographer Kate Hopewell-Smith – both pals of BPI News – have been snapped up by the photo stalwart to join its ranks of brand ambassadors.

The Nikon Ambassador initiative was introduced last year to celebrate class-leadWobbler ing photographers and encourage aspiring ones to reach their creative potential. The Ambassadors work with Nikon on a range of activities from seminars at key events, to social media and PR campaigns, all with the ultimate aim of shifting units.

“The Ambassador scheme allows us to engage with our audiences on a new level,” raves Nikon UK’s Group Marketing Manager Jeremy Gilbert. “There’s so much more to photography than product specification. Through the ambassadors we are able to inspire our customers with engaging content and their experience at the cutting edge Hang Tag of technology. ” www.nikon.co.uk/nikonambassadors

NEWS

New mirrorless zooms

Kenro ’to go’, new trade list insert this issue SUMMER 2014

NEW ALBUM & FRAME COLLECTION 2014

Introducing our stunning new collection of quali All are available ty photo frames in the stated pack and designer album the UK and Irelan sizes or individual s. d. items, with fast delivery acros s

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Fuji resists weather in July Fujifilm has confirmed that its previously announced ‘X’ series Weather Resistant telephoto zoom in the XF18135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR lens goes on sale July, offering compatibility with its burgeoning retro system camera range. In 35mm terms the new lens offers the equivalent reach of 27-206mm and will retail for an SRP of £749.99.

In related news the photo stalwart has also announced firmware upgrades for its Fujifilm XQ1, X-M1 and X-A1 system cameras that allow for on-the-spot Instax printing utilising the Instax Share smartphone printer – making the latter device a possible add-on sale for switched-on retailers. www.fujifilm.co.uk

Canon EOS M gets telephoto zoom Canon has launched its first telephoto zoom for its compact system camera range, so far comprising just the EOS M launched in 2012, in the EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM. The new optic joins three existing lenses, currently offering a range between 11mm and 200mm, and is image stabilized to the equivalent of 3.5 stops. For shooting video, Canon says its STM technology ensures smooth and near silent focus transitions, while there is a manual focus ring for precise adjustment. Furthermore the lens is described as compact, lightweight and portable, with availability from July at an SRP of £329.99. www.canon.co.uk

Tamron enters dedicated MicroFourThirds market TAMRON has announced availability for its compact bodied 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III Micro Four Thirds camera compatible ‘super zoom’ lens, arriving in the UK this month.

This, its first Micro Four Thirds system lens, employs one LD (Low Dispersion) glass element, two AD (Anomalous Dispersion) glass elements, two moulded glass aspherical elements and one hybrid aspherical element. A stepping motor provides what’s claimed to be silent, quick and accurate auto focusing. Described as having a ‘high grade metal finish’ on the US website, the lens will be available in either black or silver.

Tamron also states that it hopes that the “epoch making compact and stylish, high power all-in-one zoom lens will further accelerate the attractiveness of the Micro Four Thirds cameras in the market.”

This lens joins the previously announced 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro and 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD (‘Piezo Drive’ ultrasonic motor system) back in March. Turn to page 15 now for much, much more from Tamron’s UK distributor Intro2020, including sample images taken on the massively popular 16-300mm zoom.

The UK suggested retail price is £389.99 inc VAT. www.tamron.com

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FEATURING most of the profit boosting product lines we flagged up in our interview with MD Paul Kench last issue, leading distributor Kenro has a new summer brochure for photo specialists and mini labs to digest, inserted with this edition. Choose from its City Series albums designed to help you catch the tourist trade with their depictions of London landmarks and skylines, or stock up on its self explanatory Holiday Album for an add-on sale when processing your customers’ vacation snaps.

There are plentiful frame options too for any occasion, with the Harmony Elegant series a particular stand-out if your customers want a frame with the wow factor to match a wedding dress or a shot of a summer christening.

Paul told us in our June issue: “People might assume because of digital photography there’s less demand for photo albums, but we’re finding that it’s a stable market that constantly sells. There’s quite a demand still for albums that mark an occasion. In terms of frames, square formats are becoming very popular because of Instagram and other social media.”

As ever, there are much better margins to be had on albums and frames than can be found elsewhere. So have a flick through the brochure and call the Kenro team on 01793 615836 or email sales@kenro.co.uk to place your orders. www.kenro.co.uk

SAMSUNG is running a new digital campaign in support of its camera phone/zoom camera hybrid the Galaxy K Zoom this summer, which it describes as incorporating a ‘professional grade’ camera. From June 18th Samsung’s ‘Speak Pictures’ hub started to document interesting and in some cases life changing events happening in the lives of 50 families this summer, told over 100 days through a series of photos and videos actually taken on the Galaxy K Zoom, originally introduced back in April. Apparently the participants have ‘traded in their smartphones and cameras’ in preference of the new model.

With 40 families already recruited, at the time of writing Samsung was seeking its final 10 participants. Interested parties could apply via Instagram using the #100DaysofFamily tag, or via the Samsung Speak Pictures hub (see URL below) until July 18th.

Ines van Gennip, Marketing Director, IT & Mobile Division, Samsung UK & Ireland says: “Our strategy with this campaign is to highlight the unique camera capabilities of the Galaxy K zoom. We know from our research that especially families are looking to combine the practicalities of a smartphone with the benefits of a very advanced camera that capture those special moments of their lives, like Father’s day, that they can share together. 100 Days of Family is all about bringing that to life in an interactive way that is relevant to that audience with the Galaxy K zoom.” h t t p : / / w w w. s a m s u n g . c o m / u k / speakpictures/100daysoffamily/

They think it’s all over… ...well it is ’til Sept 8 when Euro 2016 qualifying starts!

At least the Great British public can get back into buying mode for their summer holidays. However page 19 should be your first stop to make sure you are au fait with The Consumer Rights Directive that came into force on June 13th. Moving on... July is a key sales month for cameras and accessories, so scan this issue for sales ideas and then pick up the phone to the Distributors. There’s numerous Cashback offers being heavily advertised to drive punters to your doors and websites... so let’s all be pro-active and come up with offers on batteries, memory cards, filters and cases. Why not include a D&P voucher or incentive with all July and Aug sales? Valid until mid-September so the customers come back to your shop for print orders and albums.

For your news and views over the Summer, contact publisher Clive Insley via info@bpinews.co.uk or call 07713 622304.

See your big names in BPI News – send your press releases and pictures to info@bpinews.co.uk BPI News | July/August 2014 5

NEWS

Nikon hops to it

Sigma’s TIPA winner given price, availability THOUGH ALREADY a TIPA Award winner, Sigma’s innovative enthusiast camera in the dp2 Quattro has only just had its UK pricing confirmed. It will retail for a suggested £899.99, with July availability promised.

The bold looking magnesium bodied compact has been designed from scratch, with the quirky design, Sigma says, ‘seeming to give form to the air itself’. The main pitch to your customers however is images with a ‘full bodied’ 3D feel the ‘equivalent’ of 39 megapixels, thanks to a latest generation Foveon X3 direct image sensor and high performance 30mm f/2.8 lens. Further bells and whistles include simultaneous JPEG and Raw capture, 7fps continuous shooting, auto and manual focus options, and ‘True’ (Three layer Responsive Ultimate Engine) III processing engine.

Optional extras to piggyback on sales include a dedicated cable release CR-31, LH4-01 lens hood and dedicated 58mm DG filters. See page 24 for more info. www.sigma-imaging-uk.com

1000 visitors for Calumet’s 6 open days LOOKING FOR inspiration for your own in store promotions? Retailer Calumet is claiming a thousand pairs of feet swept through its doors across six open days in May and June. Up for grabs were specialist seminars with photography experts, with eight taking place across the day, plus one-to-ones with experts from the leading brands in Canon, Nikon, Epson, Manfrotto, Bowens, Lowepro and Profoto. In addition, hundreds of visitors took advantage of free sensor cleaning on offer from Calumet’s photography professionals, whilst there were draws to win a Canon EOS 700D plus kit lens.

“Our open days are instrumental to what we do and provide a great opportunity for our suppliers to showcase new product launches to a very niche and captivated audience,” believes Calumet UK MD Jon Warner, modeling the new Pentax 645Z. “We have been really pleased with 12the turn-out Complimentary month national trust membership with the lumiX FZ200 or FZ72 at each of our spring open days and we can’t Calumet MD JonComplimentary Warner with12the new month national trustfor the autumn ones now!” wait or FZ72 Pentax 645Z membership with the lumiX FZ200 www.calphoto.co.uk

Top left, Paul Newman, 1964. Top right, Hippie Girl Dancing, 1967. Above: Jane Fonda and Roger Vadim at Their Wedding in Las Vegas, 1965. All ©Dennis Hopper, courtesy The Hopper Art Trust.

©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

NIKON UK continues its promotional activity this summer by sponsoring an exhibition of photographs by late American cult actor Dennis Hopper, of Easy Rider, Blue Velvet and Land of the Dead fame. The exhibition, entitled Dennis Hopper: The Lost Album runs until October 19th at London’s Royal Academy of Arts. According to the organisers, the photographs were personally selected by Hopper for his first major exhibition at the Fort Worth Art Center in Texas in 1970, and the vintage prints only Lumix National Trust POS re-discovered after his death in 2010. This will be the first time that this work has been seen in the UK. Although not formally trained as an artist, Dennis Hopper creDescription • Complimentary National ated images throughout his career and during the 1960s dedicated himself to taking Trust Membership photographs with a Nikon F camera given to him by his future wife Brooke Hayward.

Campaign POS www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/22

Take a lunch hour, build your trial website IT’S AS EASY as that using theimagefile.com templates for a business website.

Winner of a BPI Product of the Month last year, we thought a timely reminder was in order for the 25% of dealers who still have no presence on the Net. Don’t worry, when we attended the Retra conference for independent electrical and TV A3 Poster retailers their figure from a survey was nearer 30% still off-line!

So put an hour aside and go to www.theimagefile.com/try You’ll need to register for a 30-day trial account, which costs just £1 + VAT to verify your ID. You then simply select a template and start to upload your logo and picturestoso you see an instant visual of what your site could look like. You can add take a speCial piCture you need to go to speCial plaCes Now youtext and your family can discover hundreds of new special places you’re happy to go live, and there’s assistance proand tweak and imagery until with the National Trust and capture every stunning detail with the award-winning new LUMIX FZ200 or FZ72. vided if needed via theimagefile’s UK Help Desk. Some dealers might need a separate ‘pop up’ website for a limited promotion or an offshoot to their normal business...like event photography during the Prom season for example...it’s a great way to start on the Web. And then, after the set-up 30 day no risk trial, you can either stop everything, or continue at only £5 per month.

A1 Poster A4 Cling 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

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Wobbler

©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

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

21/08/2013 13:54

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_A1_Poster.indd 1

Visit www.bpinews.co.uk 6 July/August 2014 | BPI News

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

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21/08/2013 13:59

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A couple of companies who initially trialled theimagefile.com and are still using it include Bradford Camera Exchange and Printson. co.uk Theimagefile.com are also looking to work in partnership with processing labs to help fulfil print orders from the 3000+ pro photographers regularly selling to customers through theimagefile e-commerce order system. For more info see the inside back cover or call 0845 118 0030 or email james@theimagefile.com Mention BPI News or use the code BPIN for an extended 60day trial.

NEWS EXTRA

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 declared‘epoch’ product

A

one inch sensor and 4K recording capability are chief among the attributes of the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000, described as a “premium bridge camera that pushes boundaries – an epoch product,” according to Panasonic’s DSC Product Manager Vic Solomon. At the UK launch at the Fox Talbot Museum in Wiltshire, BPI News was reminded that this is all the more remarkable for the fact that the Lumix brand is ‘just’ 12 years old.

Rather than the standard 1/2.3inch sensor, the FZ1000 features a 20.1 effective megapixel one-inch MOS chip, married to a broad focal range that stretches from an ultra wide 24mm to 400mm in 35mm terms. The lens here is a Leica branded 16x optical zoom with aperture of f/2.8-4.0, supported by a five-axis hybrid OIS system.

“We didn’t want to scrimp on anything – we wanted a lens that was best in class,” Vic enthuses. “It provides beautiful ‘bokeh’ without an onion ring effect and is a third of the weight of an equivalent DSLR kit.”

Posing the rhetorical question ‘who buys a bridge camera and why’, Panasonic’s answer to retailers is customers who are “male and middle aged, from a higher socioeconomic group and typically 45-years-old upwards. Some 69% of these customers are parents whose children have by and large grown up.

A lot of them don’t work, but want to be active in their leisure time.”

Another possible audience envisaged by its maker are bird watchers, alongside outdoor photographers and those looking to shoot family events; these are the three favourite pursuits of those owning a bridge camera, according to Panasonic.

The FZ1000 also features a newly developed Venus Engine processor, and is the world’s first compact camera with 4K video shooting to allow photographers to grab a frame from a sequence and export it as a still image, quality being comparable to a standalone 8 megapixel photo.

This obviously has potentially big implications for how future FZ1000 users choose to shoot with the camera. Time lapse and stop motion animation capability is also offered.

“Nothing else in our range is

The sensor is a one-inch – but the zoom is an eight-inch equivalent (400mm)

Solomon and Sykes – confident that the DMC-FZ1000 is going to sweep competition aside and zoom to the top

New advertisement series, above, will boost Panasonic DMC sales this summer.

Left, the FZ1000’s Leica zoom reaches its telephoto end with a single extension and captures 4K video.

at this level,” says Panasonic’s Vic Solomon. In terms of speed and response times the FZ1000 offers faster auto focus at the telephoto end of the lens, a quick start up time and high speed OLED display. It also features DFD (Depth from Defocus) technology, 49 area AF, both face and eye detection technology, seamless 1-area AF, pinpoint AF, and a new 1/4000 sec shutter speed. Also new is an electronic shutter facility, for when its users want to shoot in total silence and avoid distracting subjects.

Further features to pitch to punters include a 2,359K OLED EVF and 921K dot free angle LCD, plus in-camera Raw-processing and a Creative Control mode with 22 filter effects. Naturally Wi-Fi functions include NFC and QR code connectivity options, plus

remote shooting via downloadable Panasonic ‘app’ which includes a new photo collage function. Shots can also be geo-tagged, whilst 12fps burst shooting, as on the GH4, is another enticement.

Mid July availability is promised for the FZ1000 at £749.99 SRP. There is also a scheme running whereby those who pre-order the camera will receive a free battery and case. In addition Panasonic is rolling out a new major national ad campaign this summer based on ‘user stories’ along with cashback and free accessory promotions to drive trade to retailers. “We’re doing lots of activity, including roadshows, to get products in people’s hands,” adds Head of Imaging Barnaby Sykes. www.panasonic.co.uk

Panasonic summer promos promise ‘firm incentive’ THE ELECTRONICS giant is promising the trade a “summer of smiles” – in terms of the increased footfall that several of its key promotions covering mirror-less cameras that run up until August 31st aim to deliver.

The first carrot for your customers is the opportunity to receive a free battery grip (DMW-BGGH3E) and Leica DG Summilux 25mm f/1.4 (H-X025E) lens on redemption when buying a GH3 camera.

Alternatively if the punter purchases a DMC-GX7 or DMC-G6 they’ll get a free Lumix G Vario 45-150mm telephoto lens on redemption, which is described as ultra compact and lightweight.

Lastly, sales of the Panasonic DMC-GM1 camera come with the offer of a free leather case on redemption.

“These promotions are set to be a firm incentive for those considering purchasing an award winning Lumix G product,” says Head of Imaging Barnaby Sykes. The free products and are all claimed via consumer redemption to Panasonic up to 31st August 2014. www.panasonic.co.uk/promotions

Your Panasonic FZ1000 sales pitch: one inch 20.1 megapixel sensor, 16X optical zoom, 4K video capture BPI News | July/August 2014 7

TRADE SHOWS All transport routes lead to Cologne, Germany, this September 16th21st for the biennial Photokina, the world’s largest dedicated imaging show. But if you’ve been struggling to work out the best way to get there, let us enlighten you…

How to get to Photokina “A reason for the trade to attend is that you meet people at these shows that you’d never have the opportunity to meet online…”

Communications Manager Michael Steiner

W

e know what it’s like.

You’ve been considering attending Photokina and browsing all the goodies across its 11 halls this September, but there’s a thousand other things you have to sort out by then. So it’s been filed at the back of your mind for when you might have time to check out flights and hotels etc.

Fortunately, travel to Cologne from the UK is easy. There are direct flights to Cologne-Bonn with GermanWings from London Heathrow, London Stansted, Manchester and Edinburgh. There are also direct and relatively inexpensive Cologne Bonn flights with EasyJet from London Gatwick and Flybe from Birmingham.

Cologne is well connected for alternative transport links, with both Düsseldorf, only a little over 30 minutes away, and Frankfurt, just an hour away by ICE express train.

Another option is to travel by train: the journey from London St. Pancras is under four-and-a-half hours, with just one change in Brussels – plentiful time to grab a coffee and a croissant en route and plan your meetings for when you arrive.

Cologne has a huge choice of hotels to suit every budget: go to www.photokina.com to find details of partnered hotels, or simply use your preferred hotel search and comparison site to find suitable rooms and make a booking.

A warm welcome on arrival Members of the photo trade are being particularly well catered for upon arrival. We’re sure you read our extensive double page interview

Buy tickets online and save up to 40 %! photokina.com

By car, by rail, by air – all roads lead to the buzz of Photokina in September

with the organisers in BPI News June edition, but just to recap there are plenty of exclusive events and incentives being arranged for your visit. For example, there will once again be exclusive market briefings

from GfK and the opportunity to schedule your meetings in the International Buyers’ Lounge, which will open at 9am, an hour before the show officially starts. The lounge will stay open for business

until 7pm every day too.

“Another reason for the trade to attend is that you meet people at these shows that you’d never have the opportunity to meet online,” Communications Manager Michael Steiner told us last issue. “There is also the opportunity to enjoy matchmaking via our website, which is the fourth time we’ve offered such a facility, as it’s worked very well in the past. Trade members will be able to pre-contact exhibitors about items they are interested in, make a connection and set up a meeting place and a date. We’re always developing our offering to the trade, so what we can say is that this time will be much better than last time.”

As we noted, official figures attest that trade visitors make up sizeable 48% of attendees overall, with 42% arriving from abroad. “Hearing all the different languages and seeing all the different faces around you, you become aware of the incredible range of countries from which Photokina attracts its exhibitors and visitors,” adds Nick Fielder, Koelnmesse representative for UK and Ireland.

So, with Photokina’s reputation ensuring it is our industry’s ‘must attend’ event, make sure you don’t miss out. Grab a coffee and a notebook, and start booking your boat, train or plane today.

For travel options and updated news on exhibitors with regard to Photokina this September, head to www.photokina.com 8 July/August 2014 | BPI News

BPI PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

No margin of error, just great margins from SRB

I

t was this time last year that SRB Photographic moved into their new-state-of-the art Dunstable based production facility. So BPI News thought it would touch base again with ‘hands-on’ Directors James Condon and Terry Fogden, to see how both the engineering sides and distribution/sales sides of the business were doing.

With an estimated £1 million worth investment in high tech machinery, SRB is manufacturing a vast range of lens and camera adapters for both home and overseas markets.

As more and more photographers want to utilise their existing collection of lenses on new DSLRs and CSCs, selling adapters to your customers is a great money-spinner, as well as being an excellent sales tool to help dealers enjoy extra profit from used equipment sales. “Just keep page 12 of our Trade Price List open where we list the top 100 camera adaptors,” says Terry. “One call to us and you’ve made 25% - 100% margin, plus a lens sale!”

With just one call required to set up a trade account, BPI News discovers why every dealer should now be selling SRB’s top 10 lines…

An increasing amount of trade customers can be linked to SRB’s unique sales pitch: higher profit margins, excellent UK quality control – a better bet for your customers than them risking buying one offs from China on e-Bay – plus first class customer service and essential product knowledge.

Added to this, a further incentive for the trade to stock SRB’s product lines is that there’s hardly been a month where the British manufacturer hasn’t picked up a ‘Best in Test’ Award. Again dealers should start by selling these lines both in store and online. One choice suggestion is SRB’s four piece Close-Up Set (above) with an SRP of £19.95 (trade price £9.95 for all sizes 52mm -77mm). This won both Gold and Best in Test awards, along with the maxiumum 5 star rating in a recent group test in Digital Camera Magazine.

Another winner to sell from SRB is their ND1000 ‘big stopper’ filter (right). It won ‘Best Value’ award in PhotoPlus magazine’s group test.

Again there are great margins to be made by retailers, with SRPs starting at £19.95 for 46mm (on a trade price of £10.60), through to just £29.95 (trade price £16.50) for the 77mm.

Winning Digital Photo’s Gold Test Award April 2014 is no mean feat.

SRB’s new range of ND optical glass

ND 1000 Filters The award winning SRB ND 1000 Filter is a hugely popular 10 stop Neutral Density filter that can be used to cause a blurred or ghost like effect in pictures. trade from

£10.60

ND Fader Filter The SRB Variable ND Fader Filter has the ability to reduce the amount of light entering a lens at one time with a range of ND4 (2 stop) to ND400 (8 stop).

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£39.95 for the popular 77mm, with a trade price of £21) and ND Filters have been recently featured twice in Amateur Photographer magazine’s ‘Six of the Best’ with the reassuring conclusion “If you’ve been hesitant about investing in filters, SRB is definitely a good place to start.“ A copy of their 2014 Trade Price List (above) was inserted with BPI News March, but if you need another one email trade@srb-griturn.com The team at SRB are really keen to support and develop the trade side of the business, which is a useful (and profitable) service to offer your customers and generate extra sales.

Take the first step and call 01582 661878.

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Use BPI News as your mouthpiece to interact with members of the trade. Email news and opinions to info@bpinews.co.uk BPI quater page 2014.indd 1

14/05/2014 10:57

BPI News | July/August 2014 9

NEWS

Sony A7S & RX100 III pricing confirmed, features tweaked Video stars – the A7S promises to capture the 4K market and the RX100 MkIII will bring it to the consumer

Sony pitches new Action Cam

JUST BEFORE it goes on sale this July at a confirmed price of £2,100, Sony has tinkered under the bonnet of its A7S full frame, 4K video capturing CSC. Newly added since the original May announcement are a ‘silent shooting’ mode, an expanded ISO range for movie shooting that now stretches between ISO100 and ISO409600, plus dynamic range extended to 15.3 stops as sensor Raw output.

In addition, the recently announced RX100 III will start shipping in Europe at the beginning of July 2014 and will cost your customers approximately £700. www.sony.co.uk

‘TOUGH ENOUGH to handle all the thrills’ coming your customers’ way this summer is the pitch for the electronics giant’s latest action camera, the HDRAS20, featuring what’s described as a slim, low profile design. It features Full HD video shooting, an ultra wide Zeiss lens with 170-degree field of view, stereo microphone and aims to deliver vivid point-of-view (POV) videos and sound. The Exmor R CMOS sensor is back illuminated and built-in Wi-Fi can connect the Action Cam with Sony’s wearable RM-LVR1 remote control (right), available as an optional extra – so a chance here for an additional sale. Battery life is said to be longer than its predecessor – allowing for 130 minutes of footage with Wi-Fi on, or 150 mins with Wi-Fi deactivated. On sale availability for the AS20 is late June.

Contact your Sony rep and corner different markets with the HDR-AS20 action camera and A7S and RX100 III this summer 10 July/August 2014 | BPI News

NEWS EXTRA

C

onjuring up images of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or that infamous billboard featuring an enticingly attired Eva Herzigova, rapid framing solution Wunderbars – available to the trade via Fujifilm UK exclusively – is a product that sticks in the memory. You can either sell it to your customers in kit form, or offer it as a ready-made solution complete with a canvas print to add value to your own D&P services.

To re-cap briefly, the wonder of Wunderbars is that this is a fast and easy canvas framing/stretching solution that never goes slack.

Wunderbars come complete as spring-loaded corner blocks that simply snap into position, without the need for a mallet or screws. Then it’s a case of stretching the canvas around the frame and stapling it neatly into position, ready for handing or selling.

putting profit in the frame

Looking to add value to your D&P offering? The makers of the memorably named Wunderbars have a couple of new products in ‘Corner Frame’ and ‘Wunderframe’ to provide an up-lift to your profits

“As with most stretched canvas products, margins when selling to the customer should be high – especially for such a unique product as this one!”

Wunderbars MD Tim Jones

No need to cut corners...

Another innovative and unique profitable product from the Wunderbars’ team is the Corner Frame (right). These have been designed to brighten up dull corners of your customers’ homes, with both an inner corner frame and an outer corner frame option available.

The inner corner frame is designed to slot into the inside corner of a room or office, is constructed from Obeche wood, and available in natural wood, plus black or white. The added beauty is that thanks to an interchangeable insert, corner frames are designed to work just like a switch frame. In fact switch frames can be use alongside the Corner Frame to create corner triptych displays (top).

As regards the second option of the outer corner frame, these are designed to fit an outer protruding corner, and are available in the same material and same colours as the inner corner frame..

“Whether a retailer or mini lab is thinking of presenting this option to their customers ready-made to add value to their D&P services, or simply sell the kit direct, the frames are very easy to assemble,” Wunderbars’ Managing Director Tim Jones explains. “They’re pre-made, so attaching the canvas to the inner insert of the frame is all that’s required.”

Instructions on how to do this

In-corner, out-corner… and clever corner frame packaging box, below.

size on each face of the corner, so in effect we’re getting two 8x10, 10x12 and 12x16 in one frame.

From a retail perspective the fact that the frames come in a protective box that can be re-used to sell the finished canvas, so there is no waste, is further good news.

They’re supplied one frame to a box, along with everything needed for its assembly.

“All the retailer needs to do is supply the image,” enthuses MD Tim. “As with most stretched canvas products, margins when selling to the customer should be high – especially for such a unique product.

We know of no one else in the marketplace offering a self-made corner frame.”

Wunderbars Hangers can be slotted onto the rear of the frame in order to hang it on the wall. Once again no nails or screws are required.

Hangers come in boxes of five or 50.

Framing profits for you are shown via a ‘how to’ web page.

Once again, as with the Wunderbars, little or no prior canvas stretching experience is required. Images can then be removed from the frame and replaced with a new image without taking the frame off the wall.

There are three sizes of Corner Frames available: 8x10, 10x12 and 12x16-inches. According to Tim, these sizes represent the image

The second option covered here is the Wunderframe; an attractive floating frame in a beech finish compatible with the Wunderbars White product.

Again assembly is said to be simple, doing away with all the complicated and difficult canvas float frame techniques. Simply slot your completed Wunderbars canvas

print into the frame, slide in the specially adapted pins and you’re done. An added benefit is that the Wunderframe is not attached to the stretched canvas, thus allowing it to contract and expand in the typical Wunderbar ‘constant tension’ manner. The Wunderframe is available in natural beech, black or white, and again Wunderbars Hangers can be used in conjunction with this product.

“This is another unique product and one that can only be used with Wunderbars White stretcher bars,” confirms Tim Jones. “At Wunderbars we focus on the time equals money aspects of canvas stretching. All of our products save time and all of our products can be used and assembled by any retailer or customer with little or no experience of canvas stretching, thus enabling them to turn a healthy profit.”

See more by visiting www.wunderbars.com

To order please call Fujifilm Customer Services on 0333 0100200 or your authorised Fujifilm dealer BPI News | July/August 2014 11

TALK OF THE TRADE

Fast progress at Fotospeed With its Ilford replacement papers rapidly winning plaudits from press and public, Fotospeed’s Toby Herlinger suggests that not only does its own success build success for trade partners, but that we could achieve a fitter, healthier trade by the big names sitting down together…

H

ow we get people printing more is one of the best questions and it’s a conversation I have all the time. I don’t think anyone really knows but the main thing is to come up with lots of different things people can do with their prints, while keeping it nice and simple.

What scares people away from printing is that they think it’s complicated, and, because they can view their images instantly, they don’t need to. But if you can show the benefits – and we can provide retailers with point of sale to enable them to do so – and get a print into somebody’s hand, then that automatically makes them want to print. And standard inkjet media will give dealers no less than a 35% margin, with repeat business into the bargain. If people buy a camera from you they are going to take pictures so the natural thing is let’s get them printing.

It’s all very well telling people how good our media is, but proof really is in the pudding. Our partnerships with brand ambassadors including Charlie Waite are motoring along nicely and for his latest exhibition Charlie exclusively used our media. We also recently did the ‘Patchings’ art festival, which had a photography tent sponsored

by Outdoor Photography. That proved very interesting in terms of a different atmosphere, and our papers were very well received.

Our Ilford replacement papers – of which there are two at the moment in Photo Smooth Pearl and Platinum Baryta, which is a direct replacement for the Gold Fibre Silk, with gloss and heavyweight papers on the way for Photokina – have been particularly well reviewed. N-Photo gave us five stars for the Photo Smooth Pearl 290gsm, and our Panoramic papers got a five star full page write up in Amateur Photographer. Despite the social media age, people still notice a review from a respected source. The Panoramic test pack is our big seller, which is £29.99, so really good value for

money. Customers save 30% and get 4 x 210mm x 594mm cut sheets in six different paper finishes to try. Four additional A4 sheets are provided for profiling set-up. They sell well for us via the usual dealer channels because they’re aimed at people with a standard A4 printer, as well as A3 or A3+.

Paper aside we’ve just got the new Kaiser product and price list coming out for Photokina – with anything from a hotshoe adapter up to a ring light for a lens – so there’s plenty of good accessories and with all of them there’s no less than 30% margins. It’s nice and simple business with us, everything’s from stock and we’ll bend over backwards to help the customer where we can.

If somebody wants to book a meeting with us at Photokina simply email me at sales@fotospeed.com or simply turn up at the show.

In an ideal world I would like to see the trade pull together more, as the fashion industry does. The major fashion houses get together every year and talk about trends and how they’re going to grow and develop the industry

so that there’s an industry for the future.

As far as I see it, the photographic market is a constant internal fight between the major companies. Competitive business is fine and everybody needs to be competitive, but everybody also needs to realize that the industry is bigger than any one of us. Canon, Nikon and Sony etc should be getting together and inviting all the smaller companies to contribute to a discussion on how to sustain this industry. I’m not saying we should mirror the fashion industry, but we can take huge lessons from it.

Toby at Photokina 2012 with the Fotospeed historic process kits (top), plus new 2014 Photo Smooth Pearl 290gsm and Panoramic papers

Essential Best Sellers

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sales@fotospeed.com | 01249 714 555 Peter Bowerman - peter@fotospeed.com - Walter Wolfe - walter@fotospeed.com

- Dave Smith - dave@fotospeed.com

Want to be the Talk of the Trade? Drop us a line via gavin@bpinews.co.uk 12 July/August 2014 | BPI News

NEWS

Perfect charger ‘4’ summer holidays JUST IN TIME to sell to those customers heading off on the annual getaway comes the new Powerline 4 Pro battery charger from Ansmann, distributed to the trade via Intro2020.

Designed for charging one to four AAA and AAA NiMH or NiCd rechargeable batteries the Ansmann Powerline 4 Pro is a convenient desktop charger with an illuminated LCD display that can show the selected charging program for each slot.

The charging programs are Charge, Discharge (discharging, charging), Refresh (Cycle of charging and discharging to refresh old batteries), and Test (Fully charges battery, discharges battery and measures capacity, recharges battery).

The display will also show the individual monitoring of the cells as Voltage (V), Capacity (mAh/Ah), Time (hh:mm) and Current (mA).

The clever charger further offers microprocessor controlled charging and supervision of each cell, multiple over charging protection per battery, auto cut-off function, trickle charging, reverse polarity protection, alkaline and faulty cell detection.

In addition, the Powerline 4 Pro features a USB socket for charging a variety of devices, including smartphones and the iPad. A 100-240V AC power supply is included with UK and EU interchangeable plugs, plus a 12V DC adaptor for use on the road.

SRP is £36.95, it comes with a three-year warranty and it’s available now. www.ansmann.de

Get charmin’customers with Garmin

©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

the lumiX FZ200 or FZ72

©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

DISTRIBUTOR DIREKTEK has informed us that it is newly offering the Garmin range of action cameras, including the VIRB Elite (shown). The VIRB Elite is described as a true HD 1080p action camera that combines HD recording with WiFi Capability and advanced GPS functions. The display will let your customers easily setup/preview/playback video and adjust menu settings. Other features include 16 megapixel CMOS image processor, accelerometer and barometric altimeter and up to three hours recording at 1080p. Price for VIRB Elite starts at £219.

Garmin also offer a range of mounts and accessories to fit a Lumix National Trust POS number of sporting purposes.

To find out moreComplimentary about12 month thenational fulltrustrange of Garmin products, membership with the lumiX FZ200 or FZ72 Description • Complimentary National please call DirekTek (see page 3) now on 01494 471100 or email Trust Membership month national trust sales@direktek.co.uk Campaign POS

Canon hopes ‘irista’ is irresistible WHILE CERTAIN members of the trade may be accused of having heads in the clouds, Canon has taken things a step further by setting up a cloud-based image management system.

The aim is to encourage photographers to collate their images from various disparate devices in one handy location. Previously this idea of Canon’s was known in beta form as ‘Project 1709’ and first announced at Photokina 2012.

The final irista cloud-based platform has been created, it says, to fulfill four customer needs: namely that it is quick and easy to find any image in a photo collection, share pictures on Facebook and Flickr and keep track of likes and comments, learn new skills in interactive fashion and be inspired, plus be in control – with the ability to access all our images anytime, anywhere, from one secure storage location.

While it is free to upload 10 gigabytes worth of images, costs are incurred if customers want to stretch to 50GB (either £4.49 per month or £45 per year), or 100GB (£9.99 per month, or £99 pa).

“People are taking more photos on more devices than ever before, but it can be difficult to enjoy your images when they’re stored in different places,” says Alessandro Stanzani, Head of Consumer Imaging Group, Canon Europe.

“With irista, we’ve created a platform that solves that problem. It’s currently the only service of its type and is built entirely around the needs of the user – reflecting a lot of the feedback received during the beta phase. It’s an invaluable resource for those who love their images, and will only get better as we add more and more features over time.”

The full irista service is now live. Your customers can sign up by visiting: www.irista.com

Jessops clean up mucky holiday snaps LAST MONTH we reported on how the 28 store Jessops chain under the enterprising ownership of Peter Jones had taken to hiring out photo booths at parties. Now news reaches us that it is offering camera sensor cleaning to customers as an additional revenue stream – see also distributor Intro2020’s article and Sensor Klear product this issue. The thinking is that its customers’ holiday snaps won’t get ruined by a dirty sensor, with prices for its cleansing process starting at £30 for a two-day service.

Where there’s muck there’s brass, as some old duffer once noted. www.jessops.com/sensorclean

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 Wobbler ©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

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

al plaCes

places th the

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.

co.uk/promotions f Leica Camera AG

Hang Tag

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

A4 Cling

Items shown are for reference only and are not to scale

Supported by

Visit www.bpinews.co.uk BPI News | July/August 2014 13

NEWS

All aboard the Kodak Express

Let’s Par-Tee The Photography Show Golf Day & Dinner

Sponsorship Opportunities Available Sponsor a hole Suggested donation - £100.00 Sponsors receive:  Complete branding at chosen hole

For more information, and to book your place visit

photographyshow.com/charitygolfday

 Acknowledgement on event website  Thank you in the event programme

Let’s par-Tee!

For any queries, please contact Louise.Conyard@futurenet.com or 020 7042 4305.

photographyshow.com/charitygolfday

bpi inside back cover.indd 1

DISTRIBUTOR TETENAL, who supply Kodak Express hardware to the trade on behalf of Kodak Alaris, has announced that two more dealers have signed up to the network: Print Point, located just off London’s Oxford Street (left), plus the Print Centre Cardiff (right).

Tetenal’s Abbie Nichols is delighted to have the two new members as part of the re-energised network. “We are so happy to bring in both Print Point and Print Centre Cardiff as the latest additions to our thriving network. The high footfall position of both stores in their respective capital cities re-enforces the message that the Kodak Express network continues to go from strength to strength following the recent renaissance of Kodak under the Kodak Alaris name.”

Print Point owner Ender Ay adds: “Initially we considered several business options for our retail space.

We did lots of research and decided if possible we would like to open a photo specialist retail space.

We have a passion for photography and wanted, if at all possible, to combine this passion with our new business. Joining the Kodak Express network is, for me, a great way of receiving support from experts within the photographic industry. Of course being part of an internationally recognised brand doesn’t hurt either!

“Throughout our opening process we have been able to contact the Kodak Express Business Manager at any time. They’ve always happy to help with any questions we may have had, ranging from advice on the design of our retail space, to advice on what products to sell, promotional assets and point of sale. We have also had lots of help with technical advice and getting the most out of the machines. On the whole KEX membership makes you feel that you are not flying solo in your business endeavour. “ www.tetenaluk.com

JULY 16TH is the day for a round of holes organised by The Photography Show’s team at Future Publishing (see advertisement, left). Golf packages are to be had at £99, or there is a spa package from £59. Both packages include a sandwich lunch and three course dinner – not an offer the trade has been known to turn down! Sponsorship opportunities are available; for example sponsor a hole for a £100 donation (to the Disabled Photographers’ Society). Contact: Louise.Conyard@futurenet.com or 020 7042 4305 www.photographyshow.com/charitygolfday

Get your events and promotions in front of the trade – email us direct at info@bpinews.co.uk

14 July/August 2014 | BPI News

24/04/2014 13:52:51

NEWS EXTRA

Put some wind in your ‘sales’ with Intro2020

M

aidenhead based photographic distributor Intro2020’s 28-strong brand offerings include Samyang photo and video lenses, Tamron photo lenses and Tokina cine lenses.

There are also filters from Hoya, Kenko and Cokin, leading brands such as Velbon tripods and Metz flash, plus photographic bag ranges including Tamrac and Interceptor.

With responsibility for distributing all these in the UK, Intro2020 is constantly in touch with product developers in Japan and the Far East, and decided to share some of its current and future offerings with BPI News on a press trip to Amsterdam and back. Present were MD Jim Mackay, Marketing Manager Jane Nicholson, General Sales Manager Peter Mott and Tamron Manager Jeremy Martin.

We were given plenty of time to try out the new jack-of-all-trades Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 telephoto zoom lens designed for APS-C DSLRs, plus the likes of a Hoya Super Pro1 Revo Filter SMC UV(0) screwed onto the front, the latter with the aim of achieving sharper results in the early summer haze.

Intro2020 MD Jim Mackay, above, is unsurprisingly something of an evangelist for the products that make up his company’s offerings.

Of those he singles out, Samyang lenses are “a huge success. Some 50% of Samyang sales are also to video users, which will climb in future to, we believe, 30% of our total business.

As an industry then we cannot ignore the video market.” Mackay also believes that an increasing number of cameras offering 4K-resolution video – such as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 and Sony A7S – will also

Distributor Intro2020 has a veritable container ship’s worth of new revenueboosting products to offer to photo retailers. Over the next four pages BPI News jumps aboard to discover essential items you should be stocking to maximise current and future sales opportunities…

Flying the ensign – Jane Nicholson, Jim Mackay, Jeremy Martin and Peter Mott of Intro2020 with their flagship brand

have a notable effect. “That will have a hit on stills photography, because people will be just be grabbing their photos from the video feed.” In short, “there’s a hell of a lot more business going to come from the video market. If retailers want to increase their revenue think video – don’t just sell cameras, sell microphones, as the profit comes in selling accessories.”

Intro2020 teased that it would shortly be introducing its own CCTV product to the market, offering Full HD colour night vision and that inevitably “all the time we’re looking at new products.”

New Hoya REVO filter

A case in point is a new Hoya waterproof filter range, which in being ‘hydrophobic’ actually repels water, meaning that photographers don’t have to keep giving it a wipe.

“Some 50% of Samyang lens sales are to video users, which will climb in future to, we believe, 30% of our total business. As an industry then we cannot ignore the video market.

If retailers want to increase their revenue think video – don’t just sell cameras, sell microphones…”

Intro2020 MD Jim Mackay For obvious reasons Hoya is also said to be gaining interest from the broadcast market.

According to MD Mackay, Intro2020 sells more tripods to its network of re-sellers than anyone else in the UK, and has the notable Velbon brand on its books. “We sell thousands of those and very few come back,” he adds.

Other little tools with obvious appeal to your photographer customers include the Lens Pen (check out the instructional video at www.lenspen.com). Designed to clean greasy fingerprints and smears from camera lenses, it can also be used to buff up the LCD screen of a DSLR or tablet if so wished. The advantage here is that since Lens Pen is not a wet cleaning solution, it can be taken in hand luggage on planes.

It actually uses what Intro2020 refers to as ‘invisible carbon’ to clean, and as well as standard black variety there is a white pen version available, the

To get hold of all of any of these products mentioned for stock, contact sales@intro2020.co.uk or call direct on 01628 674411 BPI News | July/August 2014 15

NEWS EXTRA With BPI News having tried it out for a day’s shooting with a Nikon D4S it’s actually quite comfortable, even if your hand does eventually get a little warm and sweaty if you’ve secured it particularly tightly. Not only is the strap obviously adjustable in situ once it has been attached to the camera, but because of this it will continue to be workable even if an extra battery grip has been added.

Suggested retail price is £24.99.

thinking being that it will be easier for customers to find in their gadget bag.

Another cleaning product that Intro2020 markets is the Sensor Klear Loupe Kit, above. Now, self cleaning a camera’s sensor may be reasonably controversial in terms of voiding possible manufacturers’ warranties, but the team insists that it’s something your customers can do themselves at home – adding that you don’t need to clean all of the sensor all of the time. Also, for camera dealers, offering a sensor cleaning service is an opportunity to make real cash, especially with mirrorless product with a short flange back meaning that there is perhaps more chance of fingers accidentally touching the sensor when swapping lenses. Admittedly the product cannot clean oil or sand out of the sensor – if that happens it’s a call to the manufacturer instead – but for everyday grime, selling a sensor kit for around £50 or charging £50 for the same service, could be the solution. Canon or Nikon may never endorse such a product, but no less an authority than NASA apparently has.

“The manual aspect of Samyang brings people back to the core passion of photography and that dovetails nicely with the popularity of retro type cameras. We believe customers are wanting to get back in control of their cameras.”

Samyang’s movie move Photo enthusiasts may be even more enthused by the fact that Intro2020 is the official UK distributor for the Korean company Samyang, in particular its manual focus prime lenses. There are five new lenses to speak of, including a 35mm f/1.4 and 12mm fish eye lens coming August with more on the way (the other three being a 300mm f/6.3, plus 10mm and 7.5mm ‘cine’ lenses).

The company itself has been around and producing optics since 1972. The distributor suggests that Samyang lenses make good matches for photographers who also shoot video – or videographers – because manual focus and aperture rings on the lenses means no operational noise.

Incidentally, its Tokina lenses are also 4k compatible.

“We’ve been quite surprised how well video lenses have been selling in the market place and the core photographic retailers are now selling video product,” underlines Jim Mackay. “The focal lengths of the lenses are all quoted in full frame 35mm. The manual aspect of Samyang brings people back to the core passion of photography and that dovetails nicely with the popularity of retro type cameras. We believe customers are wanting to get back in control of their cameras.”

Game changers from Tamron, travel tripods from Velbon If, like us, your back starts to ache when you’ve been lugging around a DSLR and lens most of the day, an alternative is provided in the Cotton Carrier Hand Strap, above.

This is a simple strap that attaches to the screw thread at the bottom of a DSLR, the other end looping through the strap lug at the camera top and held in place using Velcro.

In addition there are two new lenses for summer 2014 from the Tamron

Masters of the lens – from top, Samyang’s ciné 7.5mm, Tamron’s 16-300mm and 28300mm. Jeremy Martin (left) and Peter Mott (above) explained their market potential.

To get hold of all of any of these products mentioned for stock, 16 July/August 2014 | BPI News

If your holiday travel allowance leaves you feeling a bit flat, the Velbon Ultimate Travel 63D tripod is the answer – from near ground level (right) to normal tripod height, it folds down to fit hand baggage or even a large pocket

brand, previously flagged up in BPI News, that Intro2020 is stocking and supplying to the UK market. These are the 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro for APS-C cameras, which we were able to try out and comes with an SRP of £529, plus the 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD for full frame 35mm cameras, for which the cost is still to be decided. Tamron is also famous for its products such as the super zoom 18-270mm, which is described as the world’s most compact 15x zoom.

These new lenses complement the existing range of Tamron lenses, including the 150-600mm, which is selling at less than £1,000, plus the 90mm macro/portrait lens, and a 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom with image stabilization. The full range of Tamron lenses can be seen at: www.tamron.co.uk.

Intro2020 called the Tamron lenses potential ‘game changers’ and described them as ‘SP’ Super Performance lenses in possession of VC optical image stabilization, USD Ultrasonic Silent Drives, full time manual focus ability, a drip resistant weather sealed design (with rubber seals both at the back of the lens and within the lens construction) and 9-rounded blade aperture. With customers seeking out lighter weight lenses when making their choice these days, according to Intro2020, further peace of mind is supplied via the fact that all Tamron lenses are protected by a five year UK warranty upon registration.

Another brand that Intro2020 markets in the UK is the CamRanger ‘camera control system’, which has been available since 2012, has

Below: the Camranger camera control system with motorized pan and tilt head, plus remote device viewing.

Lower right: practical and less obviously ‘photo gear’ the Intereceptor tote bag.

been achieving a good level of sales and offers Canon and Nikon compatibility. This unit plugs into your customers’ cameras via its USB port and offers Wi-Fi for remote control and viewing from up to 150ft away.

Added to the range and with immediate availability is a new CamRanger PT (Pan and Tilt) Hub and Head Kit, above, retailing for around £250 for which “sales have been exceptional” according to Intro2020’s Jerry Martin. This is being bundled with the CamRanger by certain dealers for £500 all in.

Velbon tripods were also covered

by Intro2020, the manufacturer’s ethos being a maximum amount of height from a minimum amount of gear. One of the newer items here is the UT-63D ‘ultimate travel’ tripod, top. This is an aluminium tripod with low-level capabilities, lockable legs, and is described by General Sales Manager Peter Mott as “pretty much all the tripod you’ll ever need.”

Another strong seller, according to Intro2020, the tripod also comes with its own travel case for an SRP of £199.

Also flagged up from the Velbon range is the V4 beam arm, which is sold as a separate item at retail for £84.99, a Velbon Super Mag Slider at £199.99 and an EX Macro tripod at £30.

Further accessories include the Hoya filter range mentioned at the outset of this article. Hoya is pitched as the world’s largest optical glass manufacturer, and a brand leader for filter sales (Intro2020 also has the Cokin and Kenko brands).

Unsurprisingly ND filters are a huge part of its market, and Hoya

markets its own under the ‘PRO ND’ filter brand. These are going from “strength to strength” according to its distributor, which believes that filters are important for the commercial aspects of the photographic (not to mention video-graphic) industry.

Regular BPI News readers will further be aware of the colourful and waterproof Interceptor shoulder bag range (above) , launched to the UK market at The Photography Show back in March this year, and for which Intro2020 told us that pink has been a big seller, followed by the orange variety. It has also been asked for further colours, including a deep green by photographers come bird watchers, one advantage of the Japanese designed, Chinese manufactured range being that they don’t obviously look like camera bags and that other products can be stashed in the bag alongside photographic gear, facilitated by adjustable and removable inner dividers. Prices range from £39.99 to £49.99.

New products in each of the categories they already have are being promised by yet another Intro2020 brand, Metz, in time for Photokina – and for which there is a range of LED lights available, that are not just ideal for video but also for macro close up stills work, because they are also dimmable.

There are several options in 480,

160 and 320 Lux products, at a suggested retail price of £90, £40 and £70 respectively. Additionally there are softboxes available for photographers to mount on their flashguns from £25 to £30 approximately.

Ansmann leads the ‘charge’, Steiner sees big sales Battery chargers are another useful accessory no selfrespecting photographer should be without, and fulfilling this requirement there is another of intro2020’s long list of brands in German manufacturer Ansmann. Key products here include a 3-in-1 Travel Adapter that retails for around £18, plus an LED torch. Intro2020 describes Ansmann chargers as “caring and sharing” in that they can closely monitor battery charging and can charge AA batteries in situ, or other devices via USB connection. See also BPI News June, page 13, for details of Ansmann’s ‘Powerline 8’, eightbattery charger.

More canny retailers will already be aware that high class Steiner binoculars are also supplied by Intro2020. In fact the distributor claims that they are the biggest seller of nautical binoculars in the UK. New here are the Steiner SkyHawk 3.0 binoculars (below), with prices ranging from £319.99 to £429.99. Described as ”the most attractive SkyHawk binoculars ever”, and as the name suggests aimed at birdwatchers and naturalists, each model comes with a soft carrying case, neoprene carrying strap, objective lens covers and a rain

protection cap.

With video making with a DSLR on the rise, as we have noted, Intro2020 has a few products on offer from Japanese manufacturer Azden. These include a stereo two-

contact sales@intro2020.co.uk or call direct on 01628 674411 BPI News | July/August 2014 17

NEWS EXTRA channel microphone and a shotgun one-channel microphone, which are popular with UK photographic retailers. With ‘SM’ indicating stereo mic, and ‘SG’ shotgun mic, they are designed for boosting the sound performance of a DSLR when recording video. The entry-level product is the SMX-5, which is described as a simple to use, basic stereo microphone at £69. The next step up is Intro2020’s biggest seller in the SMX-10, which is a stereo mic with built-in noise reduction that retails for £99, followed by the SMX-20 a smaller, shorter mic with anti shock mount – being pitched as a broadcast quality mic. These are joined by the SGM 990 DSLR shotgun mic, and a couple of wireless microphones in the WLMX Pro, a good option at £200 – in fact Intro2020 claims that “there is nothing else in the market place at this price” – and the “best option of the 41-frequency 330 UHF broadcast quality microphone, at £660 SRP. Further options for those wanting to get serious include audio mixers, with prices around £339 for a mixer that runs off four AA batteries.

“Shooting videos for fun is a growing market which has arrived on the back of the popularity of GoPro cameras. We need to bring sound back to retailers and give them a new revenue stream; imaging has to tie into sound,” believes Intro’s Jim Mackay.

Continuing this theme, Intro2020 is distributing Tokina video/cinema lenses, including a 11-16mm lens (above) that offers users the ability to enjoy a silent zoom and de-coupled aperture settings, as well as 4K video compatibility. Said lens is available for APS-C cameras, Canon EF and Micro Four Thirds fit, and comes with a suggested price tag of £1350. In addition there is a 16-28mm full frame lens at £4,200 that is more

cine video related and available for Canon EF mount.

Additional Intro2020 distributed products include exposure meters in the German manufactured Gossen, and the Japanese made Polaris (via the Apsen Corporation), which the distributor has recently brought back into the UK. The latter retails for around £150, and the company says that the “bottom end” of the meter market remains buoyant. The Gossen Sixtomat F2 digital meter (above) meanwhile comes with a promised quality finish and couple of extra features, namely that photographers can work according to f stops rather than shutter speed and can measure contrast. It’s also described as nice and small and easy to operate and sells for around £200.

shape of camera bags from Tamrac, recognizable for its logo that is based on a Californian pine tree.

Its UK distributor tells us that the bag market has slightly changed in terms of customer profile, due to the popularity of mirror-less cameras, meaning that there is greater demand for shoulder bag style product. New here are a couple of Mirage lightweight backpacks ideal for the SLR or mirror-less camera at £89 and £99 each. Its recently launched Apache bag range made out of sail cloth is also claimed to be doing very well, with the Explorer

the entry level DSLR bag. The bags are covered by a five-year warranty, which even includes the zips.

The final current product available via Intro2020 to outline here is the Snoot Boot – a bag/ pouch for lenses that is cylindrical in shape and retails for a suggested £26.99. This is manufactured using neoprene and is available in a whole range and variety of sizes (9 in total) to suit. Offering some sort of product symmetry, the WB XXL size also easily fits the new Tamron 150-600 zoom lens – as seen above. www.intro2020.co.uk

Phottix flash, Tamrac bags and Snoots to boot!

We’re on to the home run now, and among the last three products to flag up is the Canon and Nikon only Phottix Strato TTL 5-in-1 flash system. This is an off-camera full TTL system offering up to 1/8000th sec with wireless remote control, enabling the control of flash heads and various flashguns. This is available for around £124 as a kit including transmitter and receiver, or the receivers are available separately for £65. It has a 100-metre range and the technology is described as “reliable”. Alternatively there is the Canon and Nikon compatible, USB equipped Mitros+ flashgun from Phottix, which is being pitched as the “ultimate TTL flash system out of the box” by the distributor. And it comes with a nice bag!

The second-to-last product range to mention comes in the

Tamron 16-300mm tests – left, full ftrames at 16mm and 300mm, at full aperture; above and below, clips from Nikon D4S shots (APS-C crop) at 100% repro size showing the great sharpness and contrast of this new travel lens. © Gavin Stoker.

To get hold of all of any of these products mentioned for stock, contact sales@intro2020.co.uk or call direct on 01628 674411 18 July/August 2014 | BPI News

BUSINESS SUPPORT

Join retra now to avoid costly legal pitfalls

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ost of you will have seen the articles in BPI News about the benefits of joining Retra from just £21.50 a month and received our Members’ Benefits brochure inserted with the May edition. We are very proud of the breadth of benefits we’ve negotiated and I would urge you to compare what you are currently paying for services with the rates outlined in our brochure.

So what exactly is the Business Helpline? In a nutshell it is our free advice service to members that covers everything to do with your business. Main topics include Consumer Law and new legislation, Employment Law, Property Law, Weee compliance, FCA compliance (new legislation) and Health and Safety.

Members can call the Helpline five days a week and there are regular updates in our bi-monthly member’s magazine Alert. When a member gets a problem it does suddenly focus them on the fact that they need help. Many solicitors charge anything between £100 and £200 per hour. Our members get the Helpline and all the other services for £258 per annum. To give you an idea of what we do I thought I would give you some information on current changes to legislation and some of the ones just around the corner.

We’ll start with The Consumer Rights Directive. This came into effect on 13th June this year and covers both distance and offpremises sales contracts. In other words it covers anything bought via a website or by phone, where the customer is not present. Under this new legislation consumers should be made aware that they have 14 days in which to change their mind and must be offered a standard cancellation form to use if wished.

Surcharges for different payment methods are now banned, as are pre-ticked boxes for charges and premium rate telephone numbers for consumer helplines. The latter restriction applies not only to the designated Premium Rate Services but also to numbers with the 084 and 087 prefix. There are also time limits on delivery and refunds. If you don’t comply with any of the above I would advise you quickly amend your website or sales process in

For our third feature on why photo specialists should consider becoming members of electrical retailer organisation Retra, Deputy Chief Executive Howard Saycell reveals how its free Business Helpline will keep you better informed on important new legislation…

“There is a steady stream of new initiatives and acts from Parliament and we work hard to ensure our membership is kept aware of all the new developments” – Howard Saycell order not to fall foul of these new regulations.

Next year, likely in October, the new Consumer Rights Bill will come into force. This will replace the current Sale of Goods Act and will clarify the consumer’s right to redress if goods are faulty. For a 30day period, the consumer will have an automatic right to reject faulty goods. Good must be fit for purpose with the appearance and finish as described. They should be free from minor defects, safe and durable.

There will be a limit on the number of times a product can be repaired (once within the first 6 months) or again the consumer will be entitled to a full refund. There will be similar rights for both services and digital content. Consumers can make a claim against the retailer for up to six years from making a purchase.

Retra have been heavily involved with BIS (Department for Business, Innovation & Skills) in the process of consultation preceding these acts and have managed, along with other

members of the BRC (British Retail Consortium), to temper some of the new legislation. We lobby at the highest levels to try to ensure our members’ views are heard and fight for the rights of our retail members.

There is a steady stream of new initiatives and acts from Parliament and we work hard to ensure our membership is kept aware of all the new developments. Other pending legislation includes: a Directive on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), European Regulation on Online Dispute Resolution (ODR), Amendments to Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 (clarification of unfair), Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (right to compensation).

In addition, there are a number of changes that took place in April that you should be aware of if you employ

people: Pay rates were increased for SSP, statutory maternity, paternity and adoption pay. The annual increase in compensation limits also took place. Early conciliation was introduced by ACAS. For most types of employment tribunal a claimant must first go to ACAS, who will offer to mediate between the employee and employer.

Financial penalties have been introduced of up to £5,000 for employers found to have breached employment law where the employment tribunal consider the breach had “one or more aggravating features”. Other changes are the abolition of statutory discrimination questionnaires, increases in tribunal fees and the abolition of the employer’s right to recover statutory sick pay (SSP).

This is just a snapshot of the kind of information regularly given to our members as a small part of their benefits of being a Retra member. I hope you’ve found it interesting. www.retra.co.uk

Become a Retra member NOW: Call 01234 269110 or email retra@retra.co.uk BPI News | July/August 2014 19

BPI NEWS PRODUCT OF THE MONTH

Photographic British

Industry

news

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Celebration inspires promotion Future’s Group Publisher Matt Pierce fills us in on some historic giveaways with his titles to celebrate photography’s 175th birthday

I

Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DI II VC PZD Macro

f your customers are looking for a one lens fits all subjects solution, so they only have to pack the one zoom when they head off on holiday, you could do far worse than direct them to this, one of Tamron’s newest offerings.

We’ve never flagged up a lens before as a BPI News Product of the Month, but this jack of all trades, wide angle telephoto zoom for APS-C sensor incorporating digital SLRs from the third party Japanese manufacturer – distributed in the UK by Intro2020 – is a more than good enough place to start. Available in either Canon or Nikon fits, the 16-300mm was pitched to the trade on launch in March as a cutting edge high power zoom providing a reach of approximately 18.8x.

Although offering compatibility with DSLRs with APS-C sensors, we also used it on a full frame Nikon D4S, with no issues other than we were then automatically shooting with a Nikon DX crop factor, the frame within the frame helpfully indicated in the camera’s viewfinder. Jack-of-all-trades is a particularly apt description for this £529 lens therefore. According to Intro2020, this ‘mega zoom’ is flying off retailers’ shelves too.

Thanks to a built-in Piezo Drive ultrasonic motor system – the ‘PZD’ in the product name – the 16-300mm is both fast and quiet in operation when used in auto focus mode. Naturally there’s a ridged manual focus ring too, if you prefer that option. And ‘VC’ Vibration Compensation comes built in as standard too; useful as, infamously, neither Canon or Nikon feature inbody stabilization. We were able to shoot handheld with the lens and never encountered a soft shot when utilising daylight, even at maximum telephoto setting. A further plus is the relatively compact zoom is also splash proof, making it a no brainer for outdoor photography.

A final benefit of Tamron lenses is the fact that they come with a five-year warranty upon registration.

A

s BPI News readers will be aware, 2014 marks 175 years since the birth of photography. The story of its invention – and rapid popularisation – is a fascinating one. And at Future we felt this anniversary year was the perfect time to tell it to our audiences.

In order to do such an in-depth story justice, we decided it had to be something more than a single feature. So after much discussion, we decided on a specially commissioned 96 page History of Photography, to be given away for free in three parts. This trio of 32 page supplements will be inserted with the next three issues of Digital Camera, and builds into a definitive guide - the perfect way for us to tell this compelling story.

Part 1 of the series, The Pioneers: (1839-1924) explains the story of the key players in the birth of photography and their struggles for honour and commercial success. It highlights their crucial discoveries and inventions – and includes some of the most famous early images ever made.

Parts 2 and 3 cover The 35mm Film Years (1925-1988), and The Digital Era (1989-2014). They chart the incredible pace of change throughout those periods, highlight the century’s most important cameras and brands, and also shine a light on some of the world’s leading photographers and their images.

We’ll be taking the ‘175 Years of Photography’ story to an even wider photography audience during the rest of the year – telling it to readers of our magazines, websites and social channels, and ultimately reaching an audience of four million enthusiasts every month.

You’ll see content appear in our best-selling Nikon and Canon titles, N-Photo and PhotoPlus, as well as our market-leading weekly digital title, Photography Week. We’re also taking the story onto our leading photography tutorial and reviews sites: digitalcameraworld.com and techradar.com.

So do get in touch if you’d like to get involved. From the Camera Obscura to the Camera Phone (and everything in between!), there’s never been a better time to celebrate the past, present – and future – of this amazing industry. Contact me via matthew.pierce@futurenet.com Note: Part 1 of the History of Photography, The Pioneers (1839-1924), is available only with Digital Camera’s July issue, which went on sale Friday June 20th, priced £4.99.

To ensure you get your products under the nose of buyers in the trade contact us via info@bpinews.co.uk 20 July/August 2014 | BPI News

Discover Britain’s best-selling photomag…

NO.1 FOR GIFTS

Digital Camera is the definitive guide to SLR photography. Every issue is packed with in-depth advice and practical tips for better photos. We also publish the toughest tests around, helping you buy cameras and lenses with confidence

FREE DISC EVERY ISSUE!

Plus a host of other great gifts – see your local newsagent today

Subscribe today at http://bit.ly/digitalcameramagazine Join our friendly online communities at Facebook www.facebook.com/ Digitalcameraworld

Twitter @DCamMag

Flickr www.flickr.com/groups/ digitalcameraworld/

BPI News | July/August 2014 21

19 93 to

2014 – 21

years of

images , ins

piration and im aginatio n

ADVERTORIAL

April-Ju ne 2014

EOS magazine comes of age via print, digital and app versions The Canon EOS owners’ publication, ‘EOS magazine’, celebrates a milestone birthday this year, with the reach of the magazine extending beyond its 18,000 print readers to digital edition and app versions… here we provide details of how the trade can get involved

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ou may not have been aware, but EOS magazine is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year. At a ‘Big Birthday’ event held in June, over 300 readers stopped by for coffee and cake. A showpiece cake in the form of an EOS 5D Mark III camera took centre stage among other attractions organised for the visitors. EOS magazine is published and managed by a small team of 12 staff at Robert Scott Publishing, who look after the production, design and subscriptions in-house.

Publisher and Editor Robert Scott (robert@eos-magazine.com) reminds those of us in the trade that EOS magazine has come a long way since 1993. In addition to the quality quarterly print publication sent to over 18,000 Canon EOS owners, there is a busy accessories e-shop, active online forum and informative website. And the reach of the magazine has been extended significantly over the past few years with the introduction of the digital edition and app versions. Limited advertising space is available by contacting Brian Hall: brian@eos-magazine.com

Dovecote photo workshops The latest addition to the EOS magazine brand is a programme of EOS-specific photo workshops, hosted in a converted 400-year-old building adjacent to the magazine offices. The Dovecote plays host to expert training in the idyllic surroundings of North Oxfordshire countryside.

In 21 years EOS magazine’s typical reader hasn’t changed much – they are Canonites through-andthrough and have invested heavily in their EOS system. Over two-thirds of readers class themselves as

Celebrating 21 years of EOS publishing – Robert Scott and the team, right

As part of the digital library you will also get access to Everything EOS, a unique guide to the entire EOS system since its inception in 1987.

You will find lens hood compatibility, which batteries fit which EOS cameras and full lens specifications for the complete EF, EF-S and EF-M ranges, incredibly useful when making a Canon accessory sale.

The Dovecote, home to expert EOS training in Oxfordshire

experienced enthusiasts. Nine out of ten buy their cameras new and more than half prefer to go into a shop in person to make their purchase. They also tend to own quite a few lenses, with an average EOS reader owning 3.5 lenses each, mostly Canon brand.

The same trend is apparent with flashgun and printer ownership.

Free dealer access to EOS magazine If you haven’t seen a copy of EOS magazine recently, then now is your chance to reacquaint yourself. EOS

Profit from EOS magazine sales

magazine is offering Canon dealers free access to its comprehensive digital library that contains over 30 issues. Call on 01869 331741 or email hello@eos-magazine.com for more information and to set up your free account. It’s an opportunity to see what EOS magazine offers its readers and you might pick up an idea or two to pass onto your customers.

EOS magazine can also provide you with an add-on sale. It is re-launching its affiliate programme in July 2014 and you can earn commission from each subscription to EOS magazine, whether driven in-store or via your website. Contact Claire Barrett (claire@eos-magazine.com) or call 01869 331479 for more information on how you can be involved and earn some extra income for your business for very little work. www.eos-magazine.com

Become an EOS magazine subscription sales affiliate – call 01869 331479 or email claire@eos-magazine.com 22 July/August 2014 | BPI News

NEWS EXTRA New 30 and 14 sheet Test Packs launched by inkjet paper stalwart PermaJet encourage customers to print more…

PermaJet ‘packs’ a punch at retail

‘H

ow do we get people printing more?’ is a familiar refrain in our industry. Not only that, but how do you encourage your customers to try out the wide range of available media, so that they find one they love and will keep coming back to you for more?

PermaJet’s answer is in their 2 new A4 inkjet media Test Packs. These new packs will give photo enthusiasts and those in the trade the opportunity to try out a wide range of papers without having to invest in full packs of each.

PermaJet’s test packs have been a key product for the brand over their long history and naturally, as people print their own images, the test packs help them discover which surface will best suit their photographic style. To this end, each pack contains an A7 swatch of all available papers, which is a feature exclusive to PermaJet Test Packs.

There are two new test packs to choose from, both with an SRP of £11.95.

Test Pack 1 (code APJ20040) covers the Digital Photo range and contains 30 x A4 sheets.

Your customers get five sheets of Gloss 271 (gsm), Oyster 271 and Smooth pearl 280, and then three sheets each of: Titanium Lustre 280, Matt Plus 240, Smooth Gloss 280, Ultra Pearl 295, and Matt proofing 160 paper.

Test Pack 2 (code APJ20045) is the FB Baryta pack and contains 14x A4 sheets. This comprises two sheets each of: FB Gold Silk 315, FB Gloss 295, FB Gloss Warmtone 295, FB Royal 325, FB Matt 285, FB Photo Art Pearl 290, and FB Distinction 360.

There are three other PermaJet Test Packs for those interested in the whole range as well as the new ones – Smooth and Textured Fine Art packs and an inkjet Canvas pack too. www.permajet.com

As ever with inkjet media, there is a chance for retailers to make a healthy margin on each sale.

‘Jet into Cologne this September If you’d like to discuss adding PermaJet’s media to your retail offerings, the company will be offering the trade an opportunity to catch up in person and sample its wares at Photokina, Cologne, this September. It will be exhibiting in Hall 3, Aisle B No. 006 and in Aisle C No. 009 (an end unit, hence why two locations!). To book an appointment with Managing Director, Robin Whetton or the PermaJet team, please contact Sue Sedgwick via e-mail: sues@permajet.com

To book a meeting with PermaJet and MD Robin Whetton at Photokina contact Sue Sedgwick (sues@permajet.com) NOW BPI News | July/August 2014 23

NEWS EXTRA

Good things come in ‘2’s with Sigma S

igma’s long awaited, much discussed enthusiast camera in the dp2 Quattro, building on the success afforded the earlier DP2 Merrill, has only just had its UK pricing confirmed. It will retail for a suggested £899.99, with July availability promised. As regular readers will recall, the bold-looking magnesium bodied compact has been designed from ground floor up in an attempt to re-imagine the digital camera. The radical and innovative design, its manufacturer says, ‘seems to give form to the air itself’.

The main pitch to your customers however is images with a ‘full bodied’ 3D feel the equivalent of 39 megapixels, thanks to a latest generation Foveon X3 direct image sensor and high performance 30mm f/2.8 lens, the equivalent of 45mm in 35mm film terms. Further bells and whistles include simultaneous JPEG and Raw capture, 7fps continuous shooting, auto and manual focus options, a 3-inch and 920k dot resolution LCD display, plus ‘True’ (Three layer Responsive Ultimate Engine) III processing engine.

Optional extras to piggyback on sales include a dedicated cable release in the CR-31, a LH4-01 lens hood plus dedicated 58mm DG filters.

“Our friends in the trade know by now that we don’t go the conventional route when it comes to our cameras, and we don’t try to offer what everybody else is doing already,” beams Sigma UK General Manager Graham Armitage. “That’s ‘for the birds’ and not how we win our awards for innovation. The dp2 Quattro is a bold new step that will help us to re-define digital imaging.

A dp2 in your customer’s hands is worth two in a tripod bush.”

Digital photography reimagined The Foveon sensor at the heart of the fixed focal length camera is said to provide a performance similar to colour film, with its three layers of photo diodes – each at a different depth within the silicon – capturing all of the information that visible light transmits.

Moreover there is no low pass filter needed to correct the

The Sigma dp2 Quattro swoops in to stockists this July for £899.99 SRP, riding a headwind of critical acclaim that for once is not just hot air. Winner of the 2014 TIPA Award for Best Camera Design, no less, this exotic bird is sure to help your sales take flight…

interference caused by a colour filter array, unlike the data from other sensors.

For the new ‘dp’ series, Sigma re-thought and re-designed every aspect of the camera, including said sensor, engine, lens and body, “so each element would work in perfect harmony,” adds Graham.

The result of such optimisation of elements is pictures that are said to be more colourful, rich, deep and naturalistic than your customers will have experienced before. Although the default image ratio is 3:2, there are in fact five different aspect ratios to choose from, including 1:1 plus, more unusually still 21:9, similar to the ratio of a cinema screen. Specifics aside, the camera itself certainly feels good in the hand, manufactured from hardwearing magnesium alloy for rigidity and strength.

Exclusive Sigma Photo Pro software comes bundled with the dp2, making it possible to process Raw data instinctively, its manufacturer claims.

“This is a camera that needs to be seen to be believed,” adds Graham Armitage. “We’re able to provide dealers with all the materials they need to help make the proposition of a sale become a profitable reality.”

Graham Armitage – says dp2 is a real feather in Sigma’s cap

Stop Press: Sigma UK will be attending Photokina between Tuesday 16th and Saturday 20th September. Members of the trade who would like to take a look at the new products it tells us it will be launching should make a beeline for Hall 4.2, stand B020, where it looks forward to welcoming visitors. www.sigma-imaging-uk.com

This sample dp2 Quattro image is pin-sharp to the extreme – Ed.

Equipment imported by Sigma Imaging UK Ltd comes with the added benefit of a 3-year warranty. See www.sigma-imaging-uk.com 24 July/August 2014 | BPI News

Latest recruits to the Kodak Express network Kodak Express have continued to expand their network by adding two more stores in prestigious locations.

The network that's actively driving footfall and print sales.

It's an often over-used cliché but there really is no better time to look at joining the Kodak Express network.

No other photographic retail network is investing as much resource into actively seeking new ways to engage with consumers in order to drive awareness, footfall and print.

CREATING AN APP-ETITE FOR PRINT! Kodak Alaris have been developing a suite of new Apps which enable consumers to not only locate their nearest store but to also order prints and a range of other items to collect in-store at a convenient time.

The latest is the My Kodak Moments App which is available for mobiles and tablets as well as on PC and at Kodak kiosks. It can even be accessed through Facebook!

Whilst the Create@Home service enables consumers to do just that!

This simple to use software is downloaded by consumers who can then sit in the comfort of their own home and create photographic products such as Photobooks and Calendars. They can take as much time as they want to create the perfect photographic memory and then simply locate their nearest Kodak Express store to print and collect.

MARKETING SUPPORT There is also support for you to enable you to increase footfall and drive additional spend in-store.

As well as regular bulletins giving you the latest news and promotions you also recieve regular Promotional Packs around key purchasing events such as Valentine's, Easter, Mother's Day and Christmas.

These packs contain all you need to raise awareness of your product mix and help you attract customers.

Add to that a dedicated UK based Business Manager and there's even more reasons which should encourage you to take a look at becoming part of the Kodak Express family.

For more information call Abbie Nichols on 0116 2815742 or e-mail abbie.nichols@tetenal.com

E-MAIL: uk@tetenal.com

PRINT POINT - LONDON Located just off Oxford Circus in Central London, a few strides from the busy shopping thoroughfare and just a couple of minutes walk from the Getty Images Gallery.

Print Point owner Ender Ay spoke with great enthusiasm about why he chose to open a photographic business and then to choose to become part of the Kodak Express network.

"We did lots of investigating to see whether or not we could build a successful business within the photographic industry.

Kodak Express for me is a great way of receiving support from experts within the photographic industry. Of course being part of an internationally recognised brand doesn’t hurt either!

On the whole KEX membership makes you feel that you are not flying solo in your business endeavour. " PRINT CENTRE CARDIFF Another high profile site which will also be displaying the well established yellow and grey livery above their door, well positioned in the thriving Welsh capital.

Both of these enterprises show that there is still confidence in the photographic retail community if you can offer a wide range of specialist services to a receptive consumer audience.

Tetenal’s Kodak Express Business Manager, Abbie Nichols is delighted to have the two new members as part of the re-energised network. “We are so happy to bring in both Print Point and Print Centre Cardiff as the latest additions to our thriving network.

The high footfall position of both stores in their respective capital cities re-enforces the message that the Kodak Express network continues to go from strength to strength under the new management of Kodak Alaris. | July/August 2014 25 BPI News WEB: www.tetenaluk.com

Christmas Gifting Merchandisers 2014 Two options to suit your budget and maximise profit

Christmas Gifting Range 2014

Description

Merchandiser 1 Quantity

Merchandiser 2 Quantity

Normal NET/DDP Value EACH

SRP Each exc. print

Snowflake Ornament

27

45

£1.07

£1.99

Star Ornament

15

25

£1.07

£1.99

Round Ornament

12

20

£1.07

£1.99

Bauble Red

16

16

£1.39

£3.25

Bauble Clear

16

16

£1.39

£3.25

Seasons Greetings Cards 6 Pack x 10

10 x packs of 6

10 x packs of 6

£1.72 per 6 pack x 10

£2.99 per 6 pack x 10

Desk Top Calendar

25

25

£2.67

£5.49

6 x 8 Visionblox

5

5

£8.26

£13.99

4 x 6 Visioblox

5

10

£5.11

£8.99

Snow & Glitterblox

10

14

£2.71

£4.99

Glitter Blox

10

14

£2.71

£4.99

Snow Dome

14

14

£2.22

£4.89

Choose from 3 Christmas Merchandiser options!

Spend over £150 on mixed loose stock and receive 5% off!

Floor Standing Display Units create an in-store focal point and can have a positive effect on your photo gift sales during the Christmas period.

Please note that Merchandisers are available in limited supply.

Merchandiser 1 - DDP £299 ex VAT Contents Total SRP £661.77 inc vat Merchandiser 2 - DDP £399 ex VAT Contents Total SRP £833.23 inc vat We also have standard stock items from both Adventa and Shots2Go. so give us a call and have a chat about your specific requirements.

• Adventa • Shot2Go • Speciality Gifts & Frames

Call Mark Wilkins on 07860 240 244 for further information.

All prices shown are DDP and subject to change without notice and excluding VAT & delivery. E&OE 26 July/August 2014 |289 BPI News TEL: 0116 3644

E-MAIL: uk@tetenal.com

0116 289 3644

WEB: www.tetenaluk.com

uk@tetenal.com

NEWS EXTRA

Kodak Alaris iPad App makes printing easy

H

ow we get consumers printing more seems to be something of a loose theme this issue… adding its own innovative answer to the debate is Hemel Hempstead based Kodak Alaris, which has just announced a new Kodak Moments HD App, described as being a way for those with busy lifestyles to design and order professional quality photo books, prints and enlargements, collecting them either in store or having them delivered to their homes.

The App features a slick design, intuitive layout and Kodak Perfect Touch Enhancement technology to enable users to create their personalised photo products almost instantly.

“Building on more than a century of technology innovation, we’ve provided tools for people all over the world to easily capture and preserve their most important memories,” said Darren Johnson, Vice President and chief growth officer of Kodak Alaris’ Personalised Imaging. “With the enormous increase in images being taken and stored on digital devices and online, the Kodak Moments HD App uses our unique technology to make it easy and effortless for consumers to turn their photo memories into a story.”

Kodak Alaris is targeting iPad owners with a new Kodak Moments HD App, designed to make it even easier for your customers to create and print beautiful photo books, and order prints and enlargements, according to the manufacturer

Make memories via the iPad with Kodak Alaris Kodak Alaris says its newest app is specifically designed for tablets to take advantage of their larger touchscreen functionality, making the creation of photo books in various sizes and printing images easier than ever before. The Kodak Moments HD App features Smartfit Technology that claims to preserve the content of pictures no matter what the size, including difficult panoramic shots, and Kodak Perfect Touch Enhancement Technology for even better looking pictures.

Your customers can create photo books or select size, quantity, edit and/or apply effects to prints and enlargements on their tablet, or wirelessly connect to your Kodak Picture Kiosks if you’re a member of the Kodak Express network.

Accessing treasured favourite images, including those from the iPad or favourite social media site, including Facebook, Instagram and Flickr, is said to be fast and easy. The app’s intuitive layout and workflow takes consumers step-by-step from image

“With the enormous increase in images being taken and stored on digital devices and online, the Kodak Moments HD App uses our unique technology to make it easy and effortless for consumers to turn their photo memories into a story.”

Darren Johnson, Vice President, Kodak Alaris

selection to final product, so that even the newest iPad users will be able to effortlessly create photo memories, according to Kodak Alaris.

The Kodak Moments HD App will be available shortly for download on the Apple App Store on iTunes, with a version for Android devices released soon. Planned updates will feature a broad range of photo products, including customised greeting cards, photo collages and calendars.

So direct your customers to the Apple App Store on iTunes now to download the app for free, and get ready to reap the reward in increased print orders and turnover. www.kodakalaris.com

To sign your business up to the Kodak Express Network, contact distributor Tetenal on 0116 2893644 BPI News | July/August 2014 27

28 July/August 2014 | BPI News

THE INSIDE TRACK As reported last month, we have a new face and fresh blood in the Director’s seat at PMA UK – former Snappy Snaps co-founder and owner Don Kennedy. Although early days, BPI News met up with Don to learn more about his background and future plans to support the industry…

W

ith Nigel McNaught retiring from the role after 12 years of service due to ill health, the industry has a new Director of the Photo Marketing Association for the UK. Don Kennedy is coming out of the retirement he has enjoyed since selling ownership of the 120-store D&P chain Snappy Snaps to shoe repairers Timpsons two years ago.

This followed 30 successful years at the helm of the company he co-founded.

It transpires that Don hasn’t exactly been putting his feet up the past two years – far from it. He has continued to run his property business and has also undertaken an active front line role in the long-running ‘Save The Photographers’ campaign (see

Meet the new ‘Don’ of PMA UK back into education. In terms of member benefits there is also a PMA legal helpline, run by a specialist company of advisers that members can take advantage of. So if your membership of PMA has lapsed, it may well be worth getting back in touch with an organisation that has renewed motivation and, we hope, influence, over the direction our industry takes in the future. www.pmai.org

PMA UK membership benefits at a glance From left, Gavin Stoker and Clive Insley of BPI News meet Don Kennedy

www.savethephotographers. co.uk) pursued by the PMA alongside Photo-Me and Snappy Snaps. The group has sought to combat the possible threat of the Post Office enjoying a virtual monopoly over the photo ID business, because of the way that images need to be produced, supplied and authenticated.

By way of an update, Don informs us that the PMA is being increasingly recognised by the UK Passport Office and DVLA, so will not be cut out of future talks and legislation. In fact, Don believes that PMA UK will now help shape future government policy. Additionally there have been statements in the House of Commons indicating that the PO will not enjoy the monopoly

it once may have won if there had not been any outside intervention and pressure from the photographic industry.

With the industry currently preoccupied with how we get people to print more, and companies such as Kodak Alaris and Fujifilm placing increased importance on smartphone apps and wireless printing, with his Snappy Snaps background and the fact that he has been involved with the PMA ever since it set up an office in the UK, it would appear Don Kennedy may well transpire to be the right man in the right job at the right time.

It’s worth also re-iterating that the PMA is a non-profit organization, meaning that any monies made are ploughed

Members benefit from a wide range of services. Here are a few: Financial benefits include lower credit card rates and business insurance rates Commercial benefits include a free business support helpline for all employment, legal, health and safety issues as well as a contract of employment service.

PMA UK is active in the areas of compliance and regulation where it has worked with bodies such as the Passport Office to provide working guidelines for the new passport photo requirements and with the Department of Transport regarding the Waste Electronic ad Electrical Equipment laws.

Access to a wide range of market data, not just about the consumer market but also about specialised areas.

• •

•

Fujifilm Customer Service line for Photofinishing is changing The new number went live on 13th June 2014 So for information or to place an order for the following products:

• Colour paper, chemicals, Dry Lab paper/inks • Thermal (ASK) products, inkjet materials (media/inks) • Photobook Solutions, software, minilab consumables • Film, SUC’s and Instax

0333 0100200

the Photofinishing Customer Service contact details are now:

Telephone: 0333 0100200 (NEW) Fax No: 01234-217728 Email: admin.photofinishing@fuji.co.uk For information on PMA email pmauk@pmai.org, call 01438 840367 or visit the PMA UK blog at www.pmai.org BPI News | July/August 2014 29

TALK OF THE TRADE

Fujifilm’s FDIS inspires second business opening

W

e’ve recently installed a brand new Fujifilm DL650 Drylab, a 44-inch Epson 9890 wide format printer and three Fujifilm DPC10 Imagine kiosks in our new specialist photo retail shop and studio in Enniskillen, a town of 15,000 people. This expands a business I began in November 2003, when I bought and rebranded the PillBox Pharmacy just 15 minutes away in Irvinestown.

When I first opened the pharmacy I bought a Fujifilm PrintPix CX-550 for passport photos. A year later I bought a Kodak instant print kiosk. This got me interested in photography myself, so then I was looking for a quality minilab.

I knew that I didn’t want a wet lab as these were too expensive to buy and to run. So, in September 2009, I purchased the Fujifilm DL410 Drylab, a 24-inch Epson 7880 wide format printer and a Fujifilm DPC6 Smartpix kiosk. As time went on I realised that I needed a better quality lab with multiple load and a 12-inch wide print option, so in June 2012 I upgraded to the Fujifilm DL450 Drylab.

Community conscious I am an active member of the Enniskillen Photographic Society and I realised that there was a need for a high quality photo shop in the town.

Even though I offer this service in Irvinestown, it was clear to me that people wanted their photo services on the doorstep and did not want to travel. I had been toying with the idea for a couple of years but due to time constraints and the recession I

Specialist photo retailer and pharmacist Neil McConnell tells us how becoming a successful member of Fujifilm’s Digital Imaging Service (FDIS) inspired him, brother Justin and sister-in-law Sabrina to open a second branded store in Enniskillen, Ireland

Left to right – owners Neil Mc Connell, brother Justin Mc Connell and Justin’s wife Sabrina

was hesitant about going ahead.

After speaking to my brother Justin and his wife Sabrina about it, they said they would be interested in a partnership and giving it a go.

They’re both estate agents by trade, and so with their sales skills plus an intimate knowledge of the good folk of Enniskillen we were confident that a specialist photo retail and studio shop would be a great success. This was at the beginning of

“I realised that there was a need for a high quality photo shop in the town, because it was clear to me that people wanted their photo services on the doorstep and did not want to travel.”

September 2013 and by the end of that month we had a fantastic shop unit. Happily they both had a great vision for what we could offer from the store and were very focused on the store layout, gifting services and studio. Now they manage the store’s day-to-day running and we even have a resident photographic expert in Jerry Donnelly, once our teacher in the local school and now something of a Photoshop whizz.

We have a seemingly endless market for restoring customers’ old photos and Jerry’s expertise in this area is instrumental to its success within the overall business.

Looking ahead, once we get the time we want to market all of our services by means of Facebook and a website. It’s currently word of mouth and leaflets. There are a number of new services we want to introduce and especially tap into the mobile phone market for photo printing and gifting now that customers are beginning to place orders through Fujifilm’s Imagine mobile app. We also put in a portrait photo studio and so this is a service that we really want to push hard to get it up and running. There are a lot of local professional photographers in the area, and we need to let them know that we are a high quality professional store that they can trust with their printing needs. There is a lot more growth potential – all we have to do is tap into it!

Enquiries about benefits of becoming a FDIS member should be directed to Peter Wigington via 01234 572138 or pwigington@fuji.co.uk 30 July/August 2014 | BPI News

See page 6 for more details BPI News | July/August 2014

31

r fo 8 ils ge eta pa d e re Se mo

www.photokina.com

COLOGNE | SEPTEMBER 16–21

Buy tickets online and save up to 40 %! photokina.com

DISCOVER THE MANY WORLDS OF IMAGING. When the global leading industry fair opens in autumn 2014, the entire photo world will be casting its eyes on Cologne. photokina is the centre of attraction for experts from the industry and trade, for manufacturers, service providers, professional users and photo enthusiasts.

For good reason: This is the only show at which the many worlds of imaging are represented in all their facets – from taking photos to saving them, from processing to printing. When the worldwide business meets up to network, you shouldn’t be missing: Be there and discover new trends and technical innovations first-hand !

The must-attend event for professionals.

International Business Media Services Ltd. 42 Christchurch Road · Ringwood BH24 1DN Tel. +44 (0) 1425 48 68 30 · Fax +44 (0) 1425 48 68 31 info@koelnmesse.co.uk

32 July/August 2014 | BPI News