BPI News May 2014

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EDITORIAL

May 2014

Shopkeepers of the world, unite and take over

CONTENTS NEWS

W

ith the economy doing better than it has done in recent years, there are glimmers of optimism greeting the first shafts of summer sunlight.

At least that’s what the surveys would seem to suggest. Whilst business pundits such as the Beeb’s quick-witted Declan Curry, whom BPI News encountered at last month’s Retra trade conference (page 15 this issue), might qualify such statements by saying it could be a short-term ‘sugar rush’, and there is danger of repeated mistakes, it’s nevertheless predicted that the UK will grow faster this year. It may even eclipse Brazil for growth, World Cup fever or not.

BPI News is published monthly by BPI Partners Ltd PUBLISHER - Clive Insley Email: info@bpinews.co.uk Tel: 01344 625131 Tel: 07713 622 304 Please direct all advertising enquiries and sponsorship Lumix National Trust POS opportunities to Clive.

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 ©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

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The TIPA Award winners’ list for 2014 reads like a Who’s Who of the photo industry, Sony reveals its own 4K interchangeable lens camera, whilst Olympus and Nikon swell their line ups this summer with two new models a-piece. Elsewhere Canon rolls out a wintery white version of its most compact DSLR yet.

TALK OF THE TRADE Permajet 11 The paper and darkroom manufacturer’s MD Robin Whetton has been at the helm for over 30 years – an aeon in this business, which has witnessed seismic shifts in consumer habits and technology.

He tells BPI News why there’s still profit to be had in printing and why a screen can never produce the same ‘wow’.

TALK OF THE TRADE Olympus 13 You wait ages, and then along come two ‘Talk of the Trades’ at once. Head of Consumer Business Peter Duddridge steps up to our industry soapbox to deliver a first person sermon on where his brand currently sits in a market where premium product sales are on the rise. And yes, ‘retail theatre’ is mentioned.

Consumers have more cash in their pockets, prices aren’t rising as fast as they were (unless we’re talking the London property market), and wages are beginning to catch up (unless we’re talking freelance journalism). Improving consumer confidence looks set to continue at the time of writing and big sales increases are happening, but perhaps out of view of most of us as this growth is happening online. Let consumers shop on whichever platform they choose and devise an omni-channel strategy for your business is the experts’ view.

Yes, of course this strategy can include bricks and mortar retail. But a term I’ve heard uttered more than once this month is ‘in store theatre’, a memorable way of saying that you have to turn your interaction with your customers in the physical realm into an ‘experience’ – and an experience they’ll want to repeat. Your shop needs to be a destination in itself, worth making the trip for, rather than them simply clicking a mouse and buying online. But naturally your customers should always have that option. You’re probably already well aware of such wisdom and it may mean changing the way you operate, which is scary.

But there are trade associations, such as retra and PMA, which are there to hold your hand. And, more than that, subscribing to such groups should put us in a position to be able to interact with a great number of our peers, enabling us to share tips and tricks and learn from each other. As a nation of shopkeepers, we might have born the brunt of recent financial storms, but it’s not too late to unite and find strength in numbers.

Gavin Stoker, Editor

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RETRA 2014 CONFERENCE Report & Membership Drive 15 The Radio, Electrical and Television Retailers’ Association is looking to squeeze the word ‘Photo’ into its acronym by recruiting retailers from our trade. BPI News finds out why it may be well worth paying the modest annual membership fee, attending its annual London conference to discover the benefits first hand.

THE BIG INTERVIEW Kodak Alaris CEO Ralf Gerbershagen 22 There’s a fresh face at a new company in new CEO Ralf Gerbershagen, whilst the Chairman of the Board, Mark Elliot, is also a recent recruit. We find out what these developments mean for the future of Kodak Alaris, formed from Eastman Kodak’s old imagining businesses to forge a new path within a changing industry.

COVER: Sure to be a hit this holiday season, our Product of the Month for May, Canon’s newest consumer DSLR, is also this issue’s cover star. Don’t you just love it when a plan comes together?

NEXT COPY DATE FOR JUNE COVER ISSUE IS MAY 20TH…. ISSUE POSTED OUT END OF MAY. DON’T MISS THE BOAT, GET IN FRONT OF THE TRADE NOW! Publisher’s Office: 12 Holmes Close, Sunninghill, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 9TJ. BPI Partners Ltd accept no ultimate responsibility for accurate reproduction of digital artwork created by third parties.

Insurance and carriage of products submitted for inclusion in reports rests with the owner. News, data, prices, interviews and opinion are printed in good faith E&OE. Content including advertising artwork created by BPI Partners Ltd or its agents is ©2014 BPI Partners Ltd. ISSN: to be advised.

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NEWS

Top sales tips from TIPA Awards 2014 SEEMS LIKE five minutes since we were writing about the last batch, but a fresh array of Technical Image Press Association awards are providing an added incentive for your customers to make a purchase, if you too make the most of the potential marketing push.

Announced on April 23rd, those voting on and endorsing the best product offerings from the past 12 months came from 28 members of the photo press, spread across 15 countries. A sign of the times this year came in the shape of a Best Mobile Photo App for Photosmith 3.

Canon was once again very much in the spotlight, bagging four gongs, including Best Imaging Innovation for its Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology. Best Expert Compact Camera was the PowerShot G1 X Mark II, whilst the EOS 70D took home the Best Advanced Digital SLR award and Best Professional SLR Lens went to the Canon EF 200400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x.

Not to be outdone, Nikon also made four wins, inlcuding Best Rugged Compact Camera for the Nikon 1 AW1 – also BPI News Product of the Year for 2014. Best Entry Level Digital SLR went to the D3300, whilst the D4S took Best Professional Digital SLR and the ‘Df’ bagged Best Premium Camera.

Pentax meanwhile got the nod for its K-3 DSLR as Best Expert Digital SLR. Compact System Cameras also made a strong showing. Olympus won Best Entry Level CSC for its latest OM-D E-M10 (entry level only in relation to the rest of the OM-D system perhaps), whilst its M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ took Best Entry Level CSC Lens.

Panasonic received Best Hybrid Photo/Video Camera for its 4K video shooting Lumix GH4, and Best Advanced CSC went to Samsung’s NX30. Best Professional CSC was Sony’s Alpha 7R, whilst Best Expert CSC was taken by Fuji’s fantastic X-T1, the same company’s Fujinon XF10-20mm f/4 R OIS lens awarded Best CSC Expert Lens. Best CSC Prime Lens meanwhile went to the Zeiss Touit series.

Compacts weren’t forgotten as Best Easy Compact Camera was named as Samsung’s WB50F.

Canon G1X MkII Nikon J4 Panasonic Lumix GH4

Zeiss Touit lenses Olympus E-M10 Pentax K3

Sony A7R

Panasonic’s TZ60 travel zoom (above) was also recognised as 2014’s Best Superzoom Camera.

Previous featured products in BPI News continued to win big as Manfrotto’s new 190 tripod collection was celebrated by TIPA as simply ‘Best Tripod’. Nissin’s i40 was named Best Portable Lighting System, while the Profoto B1 Off-Camera Flash picked up Best Professional Lighting System, and Best Inkjet Photo Paper was in the experts’ opinion Hahnemuhle’s Photo Silk Baryta 310. Best Accessory and Best Storage Media went to SanDisk’s Connect Wireless Flash Drive and its Extreme Pro SDHC/SDXC UHS-II Memory Card respectively.

Sigma also did very well out of TIPA this year, winning Best Entry level DSLR Lens for its 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM optic, Best Design for its quirky dp Quattro cameras, and Best Photo Service for its Mount Conversion Service, likewise previously trumpeted in these pages.

As we note on page 19, Tamron bagged Best Expert DSLR Lens for its SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD ultra telephoto zoom. Best Photo Bag was the Thule Perspektiv series and Best Mobile Imaging Device was Sony’s revolutionary QX series ‘camera in a lens’, with its FDR-AX100 camcorder taking, you guessed it, Best Camcorder. For the full list of winners head to the official TIPA site. www.tipa.com

See your products featured in BPI News – send your 4 May 2014 | BPI News

NEWS Leica & Ricoh join

Kenro displays more Braun THE OFFICIAL UK distributor of Braun Photo Technik products has announced a range of essential camera accessories, plus new POS for Braun’s Master Action Camera, designed for image making whilst undertaking extreme sports. The new bits of kit include a DSLR microphone in the shot gun style – the Braun TopMic 119 – that sits on a hotshoe, records in stereo and has an SRP of £42.78, Professional Lens Caps in 9 sizes from 49-82mm between £3.36 and £6.24 each, camera batteries from £8.94 covering a selection of models including Fuji, Canon and Sony, plus a charger, the ‘Braun 1 for All Switch’. The latter is described as a universal charger with LCD display, and has an SRP of £22.26. “The Braun range of accessories opens up many opportunities for retailers such as bundle deals and other offers that will drive customers in and keep them coming back,” raves Kenro MD Paul Kench, who adds that dealers wanting the POS stand for the action camera should contact his firm direct. www.kenro.co.uk

TWO BRANDS absent from 2014’s inaugural event have been confirmed for next March’s bash: Leica, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, and Ricoh Imaging, which also markets the Pentax brand. In addition BPA Worldwide has finished auditing visitor numbers for organiser Future to arrive at a long-awaited attendance number of 30,003. This breaks down as 12,368 trade attendees and 17,636 public attendees. If you add exhibitors on top, the total is boosted to 31,785. This doesn’t include repeat visits however, which, if you were also to factor in, would leave us with a final figure of 36,365. Flick back to your BPI News April issue for an extensive report on 2014’s event and exhibitor and organiser interviews. www.photographyshow.com

Samsung’s ‘bot’ to boldly go…

Colourful memories from Samsung THE ELECTRONICS behemoth has unveiled an updated line up of colour coded removable camera media, comprising SD and microSD cards. These will be available in Pro, Evo and Standard categories, and in a wide range of capacities from 4GB to 64GB. The Pro and Evo products promise support for Ultra High Speed (UHS-1) Grade 1 level performance with fast read speeds of up to 90MB/sec and 48MB/sec respectively.

“Samsung plans to take the lead in the growth of high-density memory cards by strengthening our product competitiveness through improved performance, product quality, broad capacity options and sophisticated design,” enthuses Head of Business Development, Stefanie Sears-Black. “In the future, we will create next-generation memory cards that have even faster speeds and higher memory storage volume that will enhance consumer satisfaction levels.” www.samsung.com

WE’VE HEARD of remote controlled space exploration. Well, having already covered 10,000 miles, Samsung is again sending a Galaxy NX Camera equipped ‘camera bot’ out on its travels – it has already been to a Bayern Munich training session, an Icelandic fashion shoot plus a comics convention – and is asking Twitter users for ideas on where to send it next, by using the hashtag #NXRover.

As a marketing exercise designed to show off the camera’s 3G/4G compatibility and Wi-Fi abilities, up until now the public has had the opportunity to simply control the photos that it takes.

Once behind the lens other ways to control the NX Rover include up/down movement of the arm, 360-degrees pan and tilt/pivot of the camera, as well as focus and zoom. Blue LED lights on the head of the camera flash indicate that the photos are being taken. For the chance to go live behind the lens, and book a slot in its events schedule, visit: www.samsung.com/nxrover .

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NEWS

Sony’s first 4K Alpha is low light star

CUSTOMERS want to shoot high-end video, not just stills? Hot on the heels of Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-GH4 comes the second compact system camera with the ability to shoot ultra high definition 4K video. The added bonus with the Sony A7S is undoubtedly the fact that the new model, like the previously introduced and widely acclaimed A7 and A7R, features a full frame sensor for stills capture.

Its manufacturer claims that this enables the A7S to offer dramatic artistic possibilities in the world’s smallest body of any interchangeable lens full frame camera. The A7S is further said to feature a specially developed new sensor with a 12.2 megapixel effective count. This has in part allowed a wide sensitivity range from ISO 50 to ISO 409,600, dramatically boosting low light performance according to its maker. Shared with the two other A7 cameras are a high contrast XGA OLED viewfinder, Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity and compatibility with Sony’s PlayMemories apps. It also tells us it has a new full frame E-mount 28-135mm f/4 power zoom in development and is actively working with third parties to support pro quality 4K video workflow. An optional XLR Adapter Microphone kit is an optional extra.

Availability for the ‘S’ version of the A7 is promised this summer. Pricing is still to be confirmed officially, but is expected to be in the region of £2,500 body only. www.sony.co.uk

Sony sponsored awards a world apart ANOTHER ANNUAL Sony World Photography Awards exhibition and ceremony is almost upon us. And whilst we dust off our tuxedo in fervent anticipation of an invite, details of recipients and attendees are already slipping out. A weekend of talks and how to workshops at London’s Somerset House to coincide with the opening of this year’s exhibition was due to be taking place across May 1st to 4th, featuring appearances from world class photographers including William Klein, portrait and street photographer Zackary Canepari and Mary Ellen Mark (also announced as the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Photography award – above, Ram Prakash Singh with His Elephant Shyama, Great Golden Circus, Ahmedabad, India 1990) – as well as the introduction of Sony’s new Global Imaging Ambassadors. An exhibition runs at Somerset House until May 18th. Keep up to date with all the latest news and revelations by visiting the official URL below. www.worldphoto.org

Dive in with Fuji

©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

IN TIME for sales this the summer, Fujifilm has announced an underwater housing for its XQ1 compact camera that allows it to be used at depths of up to 40 metres. Constructed from transparent polycarbonate the sturdy housing protects the camera whilst Complimentary 12 month national trust providing enough external wheels and membership with the lumiX FZ200 or FZ72 X100/S buttons for all its features to be conaccessories Complimentary 12 month national trust tinued to operated in the wet.

As the membership with the lumiX FZ200 or FZ72 camera features wireless image transfer, this can take place without the camera needing to be removed from the housing. An XQ1 dive kit is also being made available via Digital Distribution who can be contacted on 01442 230022.

The brand has launched a TCL-X100 tele-conversion lens specifically for its select the ‘tele-conversion lens’ option X100 and X100S, which attaches diin the camera’s menu and the camera A3 Poster rectly to the camera/s and multiplies must be updated with the latest firmthe fixed focal by 1.4x, converting a ware for this to happen.

23mm focal range (35mm in 35mm Also new this month are accessories terms) to a 33mm (50mm in 35mm for Fuji’s X-T1 camera (BPI News Product terms). The 10cm macro distance still of the Month last issue), including small to take a speCial piCture you need to go to speCial plaCes you and your familyMay can discover hundreds of new special places applies. Now With availability, this and large handgrips (MHG-XT), a grip with the National Trust and capture every stunning detail with the new LUMIX FZ200 or FZ72. is Fuji’saward-winning second conversion lens for strap (GB-001), extended eyecup (ECthe camera, following on from the XT) and a cover kit (CVR-XT) to protect WCL-X100 wide conversion lens, and its sync terminal, hotshoe and vertical is Japanese manufactured. When atbattery grip terminal. tached your customers will need to www.fujifilm.co.uk 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

T48046 Panasonic_A3_Poster.indd 1

©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 May 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

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Canon gets Cross for charity

Large format results for ‘Sure’

THE PHOTO stalwart is seeking out aspiring young photographers in partnership with the British Red Cross, as the charity marks the 10thTrust anniversary of its Lumix National POS awards recognizing youths’ humanitarian work.

The competition winners are Description • Complimentary National Trust Membership naturally being offered a host of Canon Campaign POS goodies.

There are two age categories: 17 and under and 18 to 25, which sadly rules out the BPI News team. The overall winners in both categories are promised a EOS 700D with a 18-135mm lens worth £800, whilst four runners up will find themselves clicking away with a Canon PowerShot G16 worth £450. The theme this year is ‘What makes a hero?’

“Canon Europe has been sponsoring Wobbler Awards since the Humanitarian Citizen 2005 and with the awards now in their tenth year, it’s extremely exciting to see how this competition will encourage budding photographers to explore how images can help tell a truly inspirational story,” says Hasse Iwarsson, Managing Director, Canon UK & Ireland.

Hang Tag www.redcross.org.uk/ youngphotographer

RENOWNED printer brand Epson has launched a new line up of roll-fed high speed, four colour, large format printers – bringing the total to nine models, aimed at providing a variety of applications. First going on show at the Sign & Digital UK 2014 event at Birmingham’s NEC this April/May, the new kids on the block are the SureColor SC-T7200 (44inch), SC-T5200 (36-inch) and SC-T3200 (24-inch). The first two models feature double paper rolls with auto paper loading and auto switching between rolls, according to Epson. Versatility is further increased via the fact that all three printers also include a 36-inch wide colour scanner, providing the facility to digitize large format hard copies.

They can also print on paper and board up to 1.5mm thick. www.epson.co.uk

NEWS EXTRA

Tamron’s TIPA winner is by experts, for experts Distributor Intro2020 is riding high on the news that Tamron’s ultra telephoto zoom the SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD has just won ‘Best Expert DSLR Lens’, voted for by the experts at TIPA. BPI News focuses on the facts…

A

re your Full frame and APS-C sensor DSLR-owning customers looking for one lens that goes further for less, and is ratified by industry experts for doing so? Then you’ll want to consider stock of the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD ultra telephoto zoom, which has not only been recently announced but has also just bagged top honours almost instantaneously as ‘Best Expert DSLR Lens’ in the prestigious TIPA Awards 2014. With a recommended retail price of £949 in the UK, this Japanese lens – distributed by Intro2020 in this country – is clearly a heavyweight in many respects, but manageably so, weighing just under 2kg.

Whether your photographer customers choose to use it on a full frame digital SLR or one with a slightly smaller APS-C sensor – whereby they will need to take into account a 1.5x magnification factor – they should benefit from what the TIPA experts referred to as ‘exciting bokeh effects’.

“We’re absolutely thrilled that Tamron has once again been recognised as the crème de la crème when it comes to optical excellence,” enthuses Intro2020’s Marketing Manager Jane Nicholson.

Victory in its sights Even before this latest public victory, the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/56.3 Di VC USD had been winning plaudits from the photo press, with website PhotographyBlog giving it a Highly Recommended rating while describing it as ‘excellent and effective’, Amateur Photographer magazine calling it ‘a specialist optic that doesn’t break the bank,’ and online reviews site ePhotozine raving that Tamron offered ‘pretty much the only option for photographers looking for a 600mm lens for under £1000.’

The full statement from the TIPA website announcing the 2014 award read as follows: “The Tamron 150-600 mm lens, for full-frame and APS-C DSLRS (with 1.5Xmagnification

The new 150-600mm offers a unique range to DSLR users

factor) incorporates VC (Vibration Compensation, Tamron’s image stabilization technology), a fast USD (ultrasonic silent drive), and eBAND (extended bandwidth and angular dependency) coating, for flare and ghosting reduction.

The lens employs 20 elements in 13 groups, with the front group containing 3 ED glass elements.

The circular, 9-bladed diaphragm provides exciting bokeh effects and maintains the circular shape even at 2 stops down from maximum aperture. The included SILKYPIX Developer Studio for Tamron uses optical data to correct any distortion, light fall-off and chromatic aberrations.’

Judged by experts For anyone in the trade who has been living under a rock and is not aware of the annual TIPA

‘We’re absolutely thrilled that Tamron has once again been recognised as the crème de la crème when it comes to optical excellence.’

(Technical Image Press Association) Awards, these are perhaps the most prestigious gongs in the photo and imaging industry. TIPA is comprised of editors and technical experts from 28 camera and imaging related magazines across 14 countries, including not just Europe, but also Asia, America, Canada and South Africa.

“This is an expert lens, made by experts, for experts,” concludes Into2020’s Jane. “For those customers looking for a great reach, great value and, ultimately, a great performance, this year’s TIPA winner has got to be top of any wish list!”

To get hold of stock contact Tamron’s UK distributor Intro2020 now on 01628 674411 or email sales@intro2020.co.uk

Visit the Intro2020 website – www.intro2020.co.uk – to see Tamron and all Intro2020 product lines BPI News | May 2014 7

NEWS

Canon 100D & kit lens are ‘all white’ on the night

JVC joins Micro Four Thirds, shows 4K prototypes JVC KENWOOD (the two companies merged in 2011) is the latest to declare support for the Micro Four Thirds camera system instigated by Olympus and Panasonic back in 2008, and follows on from the recently joined Kodak, which has launched its first CSC in Asia, but is yet to find a UK re-seller.

JVC announced a new product line up at the 2014 NAB Show in Las Vegas, described as the world’s largest event for filmed entertainment, which included two Micro Four Thirds mount prototypes of a 4K mini camera system equipped with a Super 35mm image sensor (slightly larger than the sensor in a regular Micro Four Thirds camera).

As the originator of the Micro Four Thirds system, Olympus put out a joint press release to the effect that it will also continue to develop and enhance its own interchangeable lens line up, plus that it feels Micro Four Thirds is the superior system when recording video. The reasoning is that since the depth of field is not too shallow, it can offer a clear image even when shooting in 4K. www.jvc.co.uk www.four-thirds.org/en/

More big name Canon brand ambassadors THE PHOTO giant has announced a new white body and matching EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM kit lens version of the smallest DSLR in its range, the EOS 100D. With the body measuring just 116.8x90.7x69.4mm, the pitch to your customers is that here is a DSLR that you will always be able to carry with

CANON has expanded its line up of brand ambassadors with the addition of what it refers to as a ‘third tier’ of big names, or ‘the Masters’. According to the manufacturer the hallowed few don’t just come from the world of photography but also include those who simply have ‘vision and experience’ to share.

Whilst French aerial photographer and conservationist Yann Arthus-Bertrand might be familiar, the Imperial War Museum’s Curator of Photography Hilary Roberts, photojournalist Gary Knight and National Geographic’s Editor at Large Michael ‘Nick’ Nichols may be less immediately obvious choices.

Canon hopes its four newly appointed Masters will embark on a programme of influence and opinion sharing – all, ultimately, designed to drive trade to dealers.

It has also appointed eight new ‘Explorers’ to do similar, including the UK’s wildlife photographer Andy Rouse and cameraman, director and filmmaker Phil Coates. www.canon.co.uk

you – not just bring out on special occasions. Availability for the snazzy white 100D and kit lens combo is from May with a suggested pricing of £499. www.canon.co.uk

DirekTek guides the trade

©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

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THE DISTRIBUTOR has launched its spring/summer 2014 product guide, with audio and consumer electronic products sitting alongside its renowned photographic category to appeal to retailers who like to follow current advice and think ‘outside the box’ when it comes to expanding their product offerings. Featured within are the 2014 line-up from brands including Canon, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony.

All of DirekTek’s digital imaging products can be bundled with an extensive selection of accessories including bags, tripods SD cards and software. Get in touch on 01494471100, email sales@direktek.co.uk.

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Another Max 5 Star Winner from SRB 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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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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Complimentary 12 month national trust membership with the 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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AS WE went to press, Leica announced a new mirrorless camera system with a optional GPS-equipped EVF to fit its accessory shoe, a new lens range with a 23mm f/2 standard and 18-56mm zoom as the first offerings, a body machined from solid aluminium, HD 1080/30p video, control via a rear touch screen, a 16.5 megapixel sensor and 16GB of onboard image storage. A body with lens will cost under £3,000 when the range goes on sale in the summer. www.leica.com

Make it an Amazing May…

to take a speCial piCture you need to go to speCial plaCes

©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

YOU MAY recall the latest 2014 SRB Trade Price List, inserted in March BPI News. More and more dealers are realising the excellent profits and margins to be had from selling SRB’s award winning lines including Close-up lens sets and ND Faders. Now their ND 0.9 square glass filter – with an SRP of just £29.95 – scored a maximum 5 stars in all categoto take a speCial piCture you need to go to speCial plaCes ries in aNowDigital Magazine you and your family Photo can discover hundreds of new special places group with the National Trust and capture every stunning detail with the award-winning also new LUMIX FZ200 or FZ72. test, which included Cokin and Hitech. In fact SRB’s resin version with a SRP of £12.50 picked up the runners-up spot as well. Call 01582 661878 or contact trade@srb-griturn.com

UNTIL AUGUST 31ST anyone purchasing a new Samsung camera or lens included in the brand’s spring/summer promotion, and trades in their old camera in working condition, will be eligible to claim up to £200 cashback. Your customers need to fill in an online claim form at Samsung.com within 14 days of making their purchase to be eligible, and having done this will receive a prepaid postage label within two days via Lumixthey’ve Nationalpacked Trust POSup and sent email. Once off their older model within 30 days of Descriptionpurchase • Complimentary National claims the original qualifying Trust Membership will be fulfilled Campaign via direct bank transPOS fer. Cameras in the promotion include the newest NX Mini, Galaxy Camera 2, WB350F, NX300, NX30, and others. www.samsung.com/uk/cameracashback

Leica launch model T

…not with two bank holidays in the month of May we hear you scream back ! However all the signs from official figures are that the High Street is claiming back the lion’s share of footfall over Wobbler out-of-town retail parks during bank holidays. Whether it’s the wafting aroma from all the coffee shops in town centres… the challenge is to get that increased high street traffic past your doors. Email your customers with special offers – or remind them of any cashback deals that might be ending. How about follow-up calls to see if everything is OK with the customer’s last purchase? Anything that reminds them of the good service and advice you’ve given them! Not rocket science, but every littleHang helps!

Let us know how you fare and what ideas you have yourself. Call Clive Tag Insley on 07713 622304 or email info@bpinews.co.uk

TRADE SHOW NEWS

Book space now at…

THE DIGITAL IMAGING SHOW

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ll roads lead to Birmingham this October as a fantastic new event sets out its stall for the first time in the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel, located on the familiar site of the National Exhibition Centre (NEC). The Digital Imaging Show is being organized by The Societies, the umbrella organization for photographers of all levels, of which probably the bestknown component is the SWPP (Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers). As the trade will be aware, The Societies already run well-attended Digital Imaging Roadshows at locations all over the UK, throughout the year, as well as the ‘biggie’ of the annual Convention each January, but this is the first time its mix of master classes and trade exhibition has been held over a three-day period.

The dates for your diary are Saturday October 4th until Monday October 6th inclusive. As with membership of The Societies, both professionals and aspiring photographers are equally welcome, and expected to attend.

“We’re putting on a three day Digital Imaging Show because we had an available gap in our calendar, but moreover a show of this size and duration is something our members have requested for a long time,” enthuses The Societies’ MD Juliet Jones, who directs parties interested in exhibiting to contact Ad Manager Sam Scott-Smith (sam@ adpointmedia.co.uk). “But you don’t have to be a member to attend, as the master classes are open to members and non members alike, at a fee. Entry to the trade show is however free of charge, and members of the trade who wish to attend can register in advance online.

“Since the imaging market is continually evolving, we felt it was essential that professional and aspiring photographers have access to the leading products and services, along with prime

educational opportunities,” adds Juliet. “As anyone in our trade recognizes, we are extremely passionate about the photographic business and endeavour to support photographers and the industry alike as best we can.”

With 65% of available exhibition space already sold at the time of writing, it could pay to give Sam a call before it’s too late. Conventions such as this provide the perfect opportunity to catch up with your customers face-to-face, while at the same time welcoming new ones who have been drawn to the show to get advice on kit from experts such as yourselves.

A venue on the site of Birmingham’s NEC was selected so that the majority of photographers throughout the UK would be able to

There’s a major new photo event on the calendar for trade and public alike this year in the shape of three days of free-to-attend exhibition, plus big name master classes – all organized by The Societies (SWPP) and taking place from October 4th-6th at Birmingham’s Hilton Metropole Hotel

benefit from the region’s easy access transport links. Doors for The Digital Imaging Show open each day at 9am and close at 5pm, with trade show opening hours running from 10am to 4pm on the Sunday and Monday.

Education, education, education… and trade The bold new event, which is in addition to The Societies’ annual Convention, kicks off with a full day seminar on the Saturday. This is hosted by acclaimed weddings and lifestyle photographer Brett Florens and entitled ‘Just who do you think you’re shooting for?’ The first day of The Digital Imaging Show will also witness the judging of Qualifications.

On the Sunday 5th October, the trade show will also open its doors to attendees from 10am to 4pm, with exhibitors given the opportunity to display and sell their wares alongside

the master classes taking place. The second day will culminate with a Sunday party, providing an excellent opportunity to mingle, and for which tickets are just £35.

The next day the trade exhibition again runs from 10am until 4pm, with more master classes taking place on the Monday to motivate and inspire your customers. Suitably enthused, they will undoubtedly be in the best frame of mind to part with their cash.

The photo trade can register in advance for free entry by heading now to the official website at www. thedigitalimagingshow.co.uk.

Those interested in discussing the opportunity of exhibiting at the show should contact Sam ScottSmith via the details below, as noted.

“We really value the trade’s support at events such as this – especially when it’s an inaugural one for us – and in return will always do our best to support the trade’s own needs,” adds The Societies’ Chief Executive Phil Jones. “Come for the trade show on the Sunday and Monday, or for all three days, and you’ll find a warm welcome, and customers ready to spend!”

To exhibit at The Digital Imaging Show contact sam@adpointmedia.co.uk, call 01279 815 575 or see www.thedigitalimagingshow.co.uk BPI News | May 2014 9

NEWS

Three more Nikon newcomers Kenro can do from either aluminium alloy or eight-layer carbon fibre. The new versions have a height range of 53cm to 161cm and can support a maximum load of 20kg, while SRP’s range between £71.88 and £143.88. Kenro also stocks two monopod heads specifically designed for this range in the BRDJ80M and the BRDJ90.

The fourth new item is the German made Reflecta x8-Scan, aimed at 35mm film users and described as extremely fast: two seconds per slide in 1800 dpi (3600 dpi interpolated) and with a colour bit depth of 24 bit. Described as simple to use it features a one-touch button and is compatible with both Macs and PCs. SRP is £54.04 from May.

Next up is another addition to Kenro’s product portfolio in the Braun B-Box T3; a video camera designed to be attached to the interior of any make of vehicle to record journeys. A suction cup mount is provided for positioning the device whilst the camera’s battery can be charged via the vehicle’s cigarette lighter. Key specs are a Full HD 1080p resolution and a 120° wide angle lens, along with a 2-inch LCD display and up to 32GB of storage via MicroSD card. SRP is £69.95.

(above) that can cover every imaginable shooting situation yet won’t weigh down your customers’ camera bags.

Therefore it is claimed to be perfect for travel, amateur sports or wildlife photography. Like the S810c the Vibration Reduction equipped optic with weather sealed lens mount went on sale late April, this time at a suggested £629.99.

In related news the manufacturer recently announced that its full frame D800 and D4 DSLRs are being used as the main live broadcast studio cameras for new digital TV channel London Live, the first 24-hour entertainment station Complimentary 12 month national trust devoted to the capital. membership with the lumiX FZ200 or FZ72 www.nikon.co.uk

©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

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

Lumix National Trust POS

©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

THE PHOTO stalwart is setting dealers up for the summer with two new compacts plus a telephoto zoom for its APS-C sensor DSLRs. A June on-sale date at a price still TBC has been given for the Nikon 1 J4 (right), which offers the same new 18.4-megapixel sensor as the V3 model launched last issue, an ISO160-12800 range, Expeed 4 image processor and 171 auto focus points, 105 of which are phase detection points. Its manufacturer describes the aluminium-bodied update of the J3 as ‘game changing’, and points out that its features such as 20fps continuous shooting are faster than a DSLR. The J4 compact system camera, which also features Wi-Fi and a touch screen, will be available body-only in black and white, come as a kit including a new 1 Nikkor VR 10-30mm f/3.55.6 PD Zoom in black, silver, orange or white, or as a twin zoom kit adding a 30110mm lens in black or white.

The second new camera in the similarly Wi-Fi equipped Coolpix S810c (above) hit the shops as soon as it was announced, and now boasts an RRP of £249.99, with availability in either black or white. This is the manufacturer’s latest compact to feature a mobile phonelike Android operating system; here the ‘faster and smoother’ OS 4.2.2 ‘JellyBean’ according to Nikon. It also comes with backlit 16-megapixel CMOS sensor and a 12x optical zoom. Amateur photographers can enjoy instant access to the likes of Google+ and 20GB worth of free online storage via Nikon Image Space.

The third new product in the AF-S DX Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR extends its maker’s zoom lens line up with the pitch that here is a single lens

DISTRIBUTOR Kenro continues its new product blitz this month with the launch of Marumi’s highest grade UV camera filter: the ‘Exus’ filters, designed for DSLR camera lenses and sporting a special anti static coating to prevent the adherence of even microscopic dust. As it sounds the filter blocks ultraviolet rays and replicates the view as seen by the human eye whilst also operating as a lens protector into the bargain. Pitched naturally at outdoor photographers the filters are available in a range of sizes from 49mm to 82mm with SRP’s ranging from £58.32 to £138.

The Benro monopod range now also • Complimentary National has a Description larger variety of monopod in the Trustseries, Membership ‘New Generation’ manufactured Campaign POS

Finally there is the Kenro distributed VisiLux StudioKit 300, a new studio flash kit that boast a compact size when packed away in its sturdy carry bag plus a weight of 8.5kg. Two 300 watt flash heads feature an LED display, stepless controls, protection against over heating and five synchro flash modes. Each flash head features a continuously adjustable modelling lamp with four level controls. SRP is £543 with immediate availability. www.kenro.co.uk

We specialise in the manufacture and sale of photographic equipment to the trade

ND Fader

UV Filters, CPL Filters Camera Adapters 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.

Achieve longer exposure and blurring motion with our fantastic ND Faders that give infinite adjustment from ND4 to ND400.

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

NEW!

©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

to take a speCial piCture you need to go to speCial plaCes

you and your family can discover hundreds of new special places All sizes Now from 46mm to 77mm with the National Trust and capture every stunning detail with the award-winning new LUMIX FZ200 or FZ72.

Trade prices from £14.00

UV trade prices from £2.60 CPL trade prices from £6.50

We stock a FULL RANGE of camera adapters for ALL MAJOR BRANDS and lenses at trade prices.

Call: 01582 661878 for trade prices Hang Tag Visit our retail website at www.srb-photographic.com 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.

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We have the full range of Multi Wobbler Coated UV and CPL filters.

UV sizes from 27mm to 105mm CPL sizes from 27mm to 82mm

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

A1 Poster

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Cleostr ead Se Upe Le prns iceSe list t Tr ad inseertPr edice ly inon £9 this iss.9 ue5

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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TALK OF THE TRADE

Jet powered proposition Paper manufacturer PermaJet’s MD Robin Whetton (left) tells us how he has survived 30 years of trading and continues to thrive in a challenging market PermaJet was first to market with its replacement papers to plug the gap left by the demise of Ilford Switzerland, and allow dealers to continue to sell likefor-like media

S

ince I co-founded the business in 1983 the industry’s changed dramatically, particularly the sector that we’re in. We designed and manufactured a piece of darkroom processing equipment, grew that into the ‘Nova’ brand and exported it quite heavily. When you start exporting you find that the world’s a small place and lots of people have the same issues and ideas. Once you create market demand you can go back to that market and launch other products into it.

We haven’t found the market is contracting for us. You’ve got to take things like Ilford Switzerland going bankrupt as an indication that there is less paper being consumed, but then there are less players, so we’ve been able to plug the gaps. Plus, we’ve diversified. Traditionally we’d focused on the amateur enthusiast and small professional market.

But four years ago we moved to a much bigger factory and took on some guys who were more knowledgeable about the lab and wide format printer sector. So that side of our business has grown quite dramatically in the UK. We also took on Ilford’s UK Sales Manager and got him focusing on education: educating lecturers and teachers in schools and colleges about PermaJet, and promoting our new Print Academy, so we can teach people here in our factory about how to get the best from their printer.

Educating the public about how easy it is to print is how we get people to print more in my opinion.

When people talk about a reduction in printing, yes our sales of fine art paper to amateur enthusiasts have declined during the recession. But those sales have been replaced by people printing on our Oyster and

“A hard copy has to be something that young people get educated about. It’s easy for us to think it’s an electronic world, why the hell do I need a copy?

But if you want an image that somebody is going to really appreciate, you’ve got to print it.”

Smooth Pearl product. So we’ve seen a swing away from the more expensive product rather than people printing less.

With the demise of Ilford Switzerland, people are looking

for a replacement and see us as a key provider. When we knew Ilford were in difficulty some time ago we started talking to them with a view to buying that side of the business, but they umm’ed and ahh’ed and faffed about. I know two ex Ilford employees who told me that the brand is good and there’s nothing wrong with the quality of the product, it just need to be marketed in a different way. I think the business probably suffered in the way that Agfa and Kodak suffered, who were slow to change and felt somewhat invincible.

In terms of maintaining customer loyalty, you can’t expect the customer to come back if you don’t treat them well. We get hundreds of letters saying: ‘I just had to write to you because your staff are brilliant.

They’ve sorted out my problems. I always get a call back, they’re polite and courteous, and they talk sense.’

That’s just the philosophy we’ve always had. I’m also a great believer in going to see customers. Email is great but nothing beats talking to them face to face.

In terms of general trends I hear things about how people aren’t buying cameras and that will mean the demise of everything that follows, but I don’t think that’s true.

Manufacturers might be trying desperately to sell inkjet printers, but does that stop the ones who have already got one from printing? No. We’re in a position where photographers think they don’t need to produce a printed portfolio, because they can buy an iPad. But if they don’t leave something with a client then they get forgotten.

Because the next person who does leave a portfolio is the person the client’s going to be thinking of. A hard copy has to be something that young people get educated about. It’s easy for us to think it’s an electronic world, why the hell do I need a copy? But if you want an image that somebody is going to really appreciate, you’ve got to print it. When somebody’s taken the time to select the right paper for the right image, it just blows people’s minds.

Use BPI News as your mouthpiece to the trade via our ‘Talk of the Trade’ features. Email info@bpinews.co.uk BPI News | May 2014 11

NEWS

Stylus gets into the groove

OLYMPUS has taken the wraps off two new cameras for spring/summer 2014.

The Stylus SH-1 is described as the world’s only compact to feature 5-axis optical image stabilization for both stills and movies. It also comes with the same retro styling and premium construction that has made the Olympus OM-D and PEN cameras a success for the brand.

A TruePic VII image processor also inherited from the OM-D range combines with a 16-megapixel resolution, a wide-angle 24x optical zoom – with a 25-600mm equivalent focal range in 35mm terms –plus Wi-Fi connectivity options. The classic textured synthetic leather and metal design should ensure the SH-1 looks and feels the part; just demo the device and it will sell.

this 16-megapixel model (above, and rear view in red, below) help your customers achieve first class pictures and video in conditions hitherto untenable, its super bright f/2 lens should ensure they also look great. Other key features include a 4x optical zoom with a focal range the 35mm equivalent of 25100mm, Wi-Fi to enable image sharing with a smartphone, GPS and e.Compass for accurate location data plus the fact that it’s waterproof (to a depth of 15m), shockproof (to survive a drop from 2.1 metres), crushproof (withstanding a weight of 100kg) and freezeproof down to -10°C.

Above, Freckled Boy by Alecsandra Racula Dragoi; top right, Water of Life by overall winner Jasper Wilkins; right, Jessa by Elliott Gunn.

Olympus rewards next generation photographers

The second new Stylus is a ‘Tough’ series model in the TG-3. Not only will

In related news there is now a Version 3.1 Firmware upgrade available for the E-M1. The chief benefits of the latest tweak are expanded dynamic range when using an external microphone; there are now 21 levels of sound adjustment. A Volume Limiter can now also be turned on or off. www.olympus.co.uk

STUDY hard and you’ll get rewarded, as your mother used to say. Olympus has put that mantra into practice by dishing out awards for its People and Portraits competition, launched October 2013, to three student photographers. Winning a Stylus 1 camera were the two runners up: Elliot Gunn from the University of Gloucestershire and Alecsandra Raluca Dragoi of Portsmouth University, for their images ‘Jessa’ and ‘Freckled Boy’ respectively. Overall winner was Jasper Wilkins, a student at the University for the Creative arts, for his shot ‘Water is Life’, which was judged as epitomizing the power of photography. His top prize was an OM-D E-M5. www.olympus.co.uk

Panasonic’s ready to wear collection

Lumix National Trust POS ©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

ACTION CAMERAS are a big draw, so are 4K televisions. So why not take advantage of both emerging markets? Panasonic has, and is launching the water-proofed HXA500, which it is claimed to be the first 4K video-shooting wearable camcorder, with a frame rate of 25fps. The device is described as lightweight, compact and easy to attach to your body or head. Comprised of two body parts connected via a cable, the main operating unit weighs 119g and the camera section a mere 31g. A colour 1.5-inch LCD is incorporated into the HX-A500’s main body, whilst the device is NFC Complimentary 12 month national trust equipped. Available May at £379.99 SRP, the HX-A500 joins Panasonic’s existing A100 membership with the lumiX FZ200 or FZ72 wearable device.

Complimentary 12 month national trust The second new Panasonic product is the f/1.7 Leica Summilux 15mm lens – promembership with the lumiX FZ200 or FZ72 viding a 35mm equivalent focal range of 30mm – and aimed at photographers with a reportage style who love creating sharp images with defocused backgrounds, according to the brand. The new lens is available as a standalone item or in a new bundle deal with Panasonic’s GM1 compact system camera in black for an all-in SRP of £999.99.

Not too shabby a deal considering the lens alone, available in black or silver, is priced at £549.99. www.panasonic.co.uk 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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©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

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.

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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Description

• Complimentary National Trust Membership Campaign POS

Northerners David Warner, left, and Karl Pilkington, right, by Rory Lewis

Tetenal deemed certifiable

Calumet’s northern soul

THE LEICESTER based photographic and print distributor has been awarded the prestigious ISO 9001 certification for another year. This follows a recent assessment. “The ISO 9001 certificate is well established around the world as an invaluable quality management system,” enthuses Tetenal’s Mark Norman. “It will Wobbler help our organisation to improve management processes to compete locally and globally. To achieve ISO 9001 certification we had to demonstrate that we can meet the regulatory requirements and apply the system effectively to be of real benefit to our customers. It is the result of our continuous efforts to refine Hang Tag and improve our systems and services.” www.tetenal.com

PUTTING WOES in the US behind them, the photo retailer is proving that it’s anything but grim up north by supporting an exhibition of, simply, ‘Northerners’ by photographer Rory Lewis, also a speaker for its Calumet Academy (www.calumetacademy.co.uk). Calumet UK is providing him with use of both Hasselblad equipment and its Drummond Street exhibition space in London. The aim is to raise £10,000 for UNICEF. “We are delighted to be working with Rory and supporting his exhibition,” says Calumet Marketing Manager, Sian Hamer. “He is a very exciting photographer and his unique take on well-known actors will make for a popular exhibition.” www.calumet.co.uk

TALK OF THE TRADE

Olympus – a ‘Trip’ worth taking Olympus Head of Consumer Business Peter Duddridge (right) has been with the company 18 years, so who better to highlight market trends and the brand’s place within it…

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remium looks, and premium technology to go with it; it’s fair to say Olympus has always been a style brand. All our products are ‘premium’ for 2014 and it’s already proving successful; the consumer has noticed we’re ‘back’.

OM-D in particular has placed us in the limelight. With the introduction of the E-M10, we’re catering for a wide range of photographers’ needs.

We had big expectations for it and it’s not failed us. It’s very chic, very retro, very David Bailey-esque, if we recall the 1970’s adverts.

Our prime focus now is to get products in people’s hands, so they can ‘touch and try’. When a consumer handles our products they’re sold. We over-engineer our cameras recognizing that it’s a super competitive market out there and value for money is essential. The fact that our camera systems are portable is key. These days if you fly via budget airlines you can get massively stung in terms of baggage allowance. But an OM-D and two or three lenses will easily fit in your hand luggage and make your travel experience all the more enjoyable.

In terms of getting products in consumers’ hands, a key element is our brand ambassador, photographer Damian McGillicuddy, who is a huge fan of the OM-D range and at the forefront of our ‘touch and try’ events. We’ve also got our new ‘Image Space’ gallery site in London’s Bishopsgate, which we’re using for training events and product launches. And on the back of that we’re selling a greater depth of lenses. More than 60 lenses are compatible with the OM-D and Pen ranges, including 16 Micro Four Thirds lenses that will direct mount, plus Four Thirds and old OM lenses attachable via adapter. That’s a comprehensive list, and more will follow soon.

We’re not going to get complacent because there are some fantastic products out there. But we’ve got a big fan base of people who have lain dormant for years waiting for Olympus to come back with something that would excite them. And the OM-D range has

ticked that box. As for other trends, the ‘Tough’ category is, for us, superb, with the TG-3 just launched. But I think as an industry we haven’t necessarily communicated what can be done with these toughened cameras. If you jump in a pool with a Tough camera on holiday people are still amazed….it’s all about education. It’s key to differentiate between cameras and smartphones, and Tough cameras have much, much more to offer.

OM-D E-M10 – smaller, very chic, very retro, very Bailey… and now a TIPA winner!

Olympus Stylus SH-1 – recalling the Pen yet more of a modern Trip equivalent with its compact body and fixed (but zoom) lens. Below, the Tough TG-3 can be dropped, dunked and dived with when it’s not safe on deck.

“In-store theatre now is paramount.

We should take a leaf out of the jewelry business model for presenting products in store. We have lots of premium cameras and we’ve got to think differently about how we present them.”

We have two grip offers running until the end of June to drive footfall to retailers. If you buy the E-M5 you get the HLD-6 grip free. And on the E-M1 you get the HLD-7 grip free. Although OM-D is flying at the moment, we still plan to put a lot of emphasis on the Pen brand and that will continue. It’s a different consumer to the OM-D. In Asia, Pen has been massively successful, targeting primarily a female market, and the ads there have had a definite female tilt. Could we learn a few things from the Asian market? I think the whole CSC category could, as CSC in Asia has been ahead of the curve.

In terms of compacts I believe the Stylus SH-1 is going to be one of the most successful compacts we’ve ever launched. I’ve handled the product, and it does very much look like the classic Olympus Trip. There’s some fantastic accessories available for it, and it’s going to look incredible on the shelf.

Share your pearls of wisdom with your peers in the trade. Contact info@bpinews.co.uk and we’ll do the rest!

BPI News | May 2014 13

Jill Furmanovsky and Mark Thackara bring you Olympus in association with rockarchive.com a whole new gallery/showroom experience in the City.

Come and see stunning rock and roll images and buy prints.

Try out the latest award winning Olympus cameras and join regular workshops and talks by top photographers.

199 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3TY (entrance on Primrose Street) The gallery will be open daily from 10.30 - 19.00 (Monday to Saturday) and 12.00 - 19.00 (Sunday) with special events detailed at olympus-imagespace.co.uk

© Jill Furmanovsky

For print sales: rockarchive.com @rockarchive

14 May 2014 | BPI News

© Jill Furmanovsky

© Colin N. Purvor

© Jill Furmanovsky

© Jill Furmanovsky

For news, events booking and hardware: olympus-imagespace.co.uk @OlympusUK

RETRA CONFERENCE 2014

Embrace change – become a retra member In challenging times there’s strength in numbers, and, by becoming a member of electrical retailer association ‘retra’, your business will find that strength – and much more besides. With monthly membership starting from just £21.50, BPI News learns how this could be one of the most valuable business investments you make…

retra

E

lectrical retailer association retra is continuing to show a commitment to support the independent channel and is reaching out to the photo trade via BPI News in a fresh drive to recruit new members.

“Our commitment is to the independent retailer, to represent you at the highest political level, whether at the tables of banking, Government or industry,” outlined retra CEO Bryan Lovewell in his introduction to its annual Conference last month, revealing that it employs four full time staff and another three staff part time. “Being an independent retailer presents challenges. We seek to provide members with stimulation as well as inspiration.”

This year retra’s Conference had the forward thinking theme of ‘Embracing Change’. Some 320 delegates gathered at London’s Riverbank Plaza Hotel on April 8th for

The Power Behind Retailing invaluable networking opportunities and to enjoy an invigorating and inspiring day of motivational talks and panels, as well as a trade show with 23 exhibitors, including Hama, Nedis and Samsung. BBC business presenter Declan Curry played Conference Chair and noted: “Change may be frightening but it’s also an opportunity. It’s something to be embraced.”

Naturally BPI News was there to report the highlights – and in doing so reinforce the fact that joining retra is a way in which to do yourself and your business a favour. The great majority of advice handed could be directly applied to the photo trade.

Conference host, BBC business commentator Declan Curry, opens the event.

Top: packed house for a line up including (above) the manufacturers’ panel – l to r, Roy Dickens, Retail Director, Sony UK and Ireland; Robert King, Vice President of Consumer Electronics, Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland; Robert Scholes, Sales Director, Panasonic; Paul Tyler, Retail Director, BSH; and Owen Watters, Chief Executive, Roberts Radio; and below, retailers’ panel, l to r, Paul Adcock, Owner, Adcocks & Sons; Mike Davis, Managing Director, Davis Television Services; Jason Digwa, Director, RGB Hi-Fi & Video; Paul Giles, Managing Director, RC Snelling; and Tom Hayes, Managing Director, T C Hayes.

Left, retra CEO Bryan Lovewell meets BPI News publisher Clive Insley.

Clive and editor Gavin took advantage of the event to present Nedis UK with their BPI News Awards finalist certificate, above: from left to right, Alastair Wilson, Nedis Chairman Arvind Patel holding the certificate, Area Sales Manager Peter Johnson, Dale Marriott.

Read this together with the 16 page Membership Benefits brochure inserted with this issue BPI News | May 2014 15

RETRA CONFERENCE REPORT & MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

F

ollowing Bryan Lovewell’s intro, retra President Shaun Barrett told Conference delegates that the demise of Comet and Best Buy had largely bypassed the independent as their business was taken up by DSG, JLP (John Lewis Partnership) and Amazon. However he noted that he had to admire the big names’ multi channel retail policy.

In a plea to manufacturers, Shaun asked: “Why are you selling direct via the likes of Amazon? Please do not compete with us directly.” He also mused: “If we were to see DSG and Carphone Warehouse merge that would create a new monopoly overnight and falling prices for the goods we’re selling.”

Rob Welsby (below) Director of Search & Insight at digital marketer Further, sought to answer ‘is online your land of opportunity?’ Admitting “digital marketing seems like a constant battle to get any visibility,” Rob stated that “online is hugely important… as 64% of customers will use search engines to research product before they go in store and buy.” He also noted that if a Google search places you top of their page then you are attracting 30% of all the searches for that term.

Shaun Barrett of Barretts Digital World, retra President, took ‘Embracing Change’ as the theme for his keynote presentation.

DON’T MISS OUT!

retra membership benefits • • • • • • • • • • • •

FREE business and legal advice Extended service plans with attractive profit margins Great credit card processing rates Competitive consumer finance rates via Barclays Partner Finance EXCLUSIVE Electracare Insurance for commercial property, vans & public liability Subsidised training Industry events such as the annual retra Conference FREE members magazine and e-news bulletins EXCLUSIVE access to the retra members website Utility bill savings (i.e 40% telecom charge discount) FREE house clearing scheme Benevolent fund

retra Council (Board of Directors) member David Parkinson of Wilkinson Cameras adds: “Photo dealer a member of an Electrical retail trade body? Some eight years ago I found that the constant changes in both the retail environment and government legislation were difficult to deal with, due to the lack of an active trade body acting on behalf of the photo trade. I was introduced to retra who instantly solved so many of the outstanding issues. Since then the ongoing support and benefits of the membership have made the cost of membership probably the best ROI for the business I’ve ever made.

“For example, as a retra member we have one voice direct to a body to which the Government listens. As the debate on illegal imports rages on, a subject both manufactures and HMRC appear happy to side step, Bryan Lovewell CEO of retra is taking action. Bryan sits on the board of the BRC (British Retail Consortium), one of the only organisations both the Government and EU seem to listen to.

It’s my belief that Bryan is happy to bring this fight direct to the BRC on the behalf of all retra member retailers. Only EU and government legislation will end this unfair practice.”

Further retra wisdom came via ‘Alternative Business Guru’ Geoff Burch (above) who removed his literally rose tinted spectacles to deliver one of the most entertaining and thought provoking Conference talks. “We must give customers love and cuddles but never forget that we must make money from them,” he opined. “One of the things about change is that we need to respond to it fast to hold onto our customers.

[That said] everyone detests change.

We find change very hard. It’s like you’ve been hit by a train. Some people say you can survive by doing nothing. No you can’t. What a caterpillar calls death we call a butterfly. As a retailer you have the opportunity to carry people with you.

Once you’ve won my trust all you’ve got to do is tell me what to buy.”

Steve Scogings, Sales Director of Stellisons Sales & Service, suggested change helped to invigorate staff and revealed: “if they come up with a good idea we pay them for it. It helps the company stay in touch.” He added that his own business had effected change by re-developing its website and that the site now had dedicated brand areas “because that works well in store.”

Google is looking to promote websites that offer the absolute best in that particular category in terms of SEO. But it’s not just about good content, you have to show your website is important via links.

Links help rankings. You can improve your online presence and monitor how well it is doing by using Google Analytics.

Retail success secrets A retail panel discussion followed that threw out more valuable tidbits to retra members. For example: We should all be looking to improve the customer experience, create ‘retail theatre’ in store, and even make a follow up phone call to the customer within 48 hours to get feedback on said experience.

Don’t be embarrassed about asking customers to recommend you to their friends and advise customers as you would your own mother.

Responding to Mintel research reckoning 35% of people who come through your door will subsequently go and buy online, the panel also suggested manufacturers needed to reward retailers who add value to their products. Host Declan Curry noted that: “The big sales increases are online, on phone, on tablet.

Omni channel is where the growth is. Let customers shop on whatever platform they choose.”

With 30 years trade experience under his belt, GfK’s Nigel Catlow (with super-wide conference projection screen, above) was able to drill into

To become a retra member and start enjoying the benefits call NOW on 01234 269110, 16 May 2014 | BPI News

retra

the numbers, noting products targeted at the ‘grey pound’ were doing well. In terms of photo, ‘falling less fast’ was the most positive spin to put on the figures, with growth all at the top end of the market.

Online sales remain very important.

“37% of photo products being sold directly online is probably something of an underestimate,” he told us.

“We can probably add another 10% to that total.” For any retailers looking to expand their stock, coffee makers, connected audio products, headphones, soundbars and 50-inch TV sales were all on the up.

The day’s manufacturers’ panel was eye opening. Sony gave the reason it sells direct to customers online as being down to the broad range it has; it couldn’t possibly expect retailers to stock everything.

“But actually our online prices are going to help you; we don’t broadcast it but we use some of that profit to underpin Sony Centres,” revealed Retail Director Roy Dickens, whose straight talking appeared to win over an initially sceptical audience.

“The most difficult part of our job is pricing,” said Panasonic’s Sales Director Robert Scholes, responding “All we can do is try and support you guys as best we can,” to a quick audience poll that revealed 41% of the retra members thought manufacturers could do more to

support the independent. “If there are any better ways we can support the independent channel then we want to hear them,” reassured Samsung’s Robert King. In terms of advice, Sony’s Roy offered: “You need to have multiple reasons why consumers will come to your store. I’d encourage retailers to invest in other categories in order to survive.”

The more proactive dealers tend to get the support from manufacturers, so demand more from your manufacturers!

Encouragingly the panel also noted that premium products will have a challenging time in the future without the expertise of independents and that they are constantly looking at ways to create and retain margin to allow independents to survive.

To enable you too to tap into such sage advice, it’s clear there has arguably never been a better or more important time to become a member of retra. And we haven’t even mentioned the golf days throughout the UK!

Membership Benefits brochure Together with the 16 page inserted brochure, see our blue side panels for the many advantages of retra and retracare warranties – and if you have any further questions then get in touch direct, via details below.

retracare

taking care of business

retra also offers independent retailers the chance to benefit from selling the extended warranty care enjoyed by the multiples via ‘retracare’. There two fixed term service plans to sell: a Gold Service plan and a Silver Service plan.

Key features of the Gold Service plan include: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Accidental damage SEE PA Market leading prices G Trading online OF INS ES 9-11 E New for old BROCH RTED URE Full parts & labour cover No depreciation Unlimited repairs No minimum levels of business Cover provided at the end of manufacturer’s guarantee Up to 5 years comprehensive cover Net pricing – you choose retail pricing Comprehensive training support National retail network Retrospective rebate

The Silver Service plan meanwhile offers all of the above apart from accidental damage and retrospective rebate.

For full details on retracare and how you can add it to your own profit boosting list of services call 01234 245900, email serviceplans@retracare.co.uk or visit www.retracare.co.uk

email retra@retra.co.uk or visit www.retra.co.uk. Don’t delay, reap the rewards today…

BPI News | May 2014 17

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member is approved, a major benefit they provide is to

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advantage of.

18 May 2014 | BPI News

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www.retra.co.uk The power behind retailing

all of this...

for n o i t lu e o so e | mobil t o h p lin re less tore | on m instl o a oto h s e P n s i a r igita

from just this...

fe D to of jifilm ur Fu figuration up-sell/ o y f o n eart n co . Use cts. the h your ow products ss produ ds t a is p ro d un Set u ns ac agine adde ckgro l m Im ) kiosk. nd value promotio rders, ba ad digita il f ji u C F e a lo o P t n t b ic a t D , ( cre prin ma re nts Dow Cent range of tions and ditional fo projects. . Get auto agen c s e d d a n e a id e it u m f s s es sav aw sk and n sale ing tools ccess to ia storag mote kio romotion . o d d p e it s A e r ad d n d . m e e s n io ent ga rful cat cial . Us Powe mbellishm your so updates cts, pricin ultiple lo e rom sm du are and files f ne softw age pro or acros onli t to man gle site mobile sin men at a A dedicated mobile phone application linked to your store that will help drive even more prints to your lab. Set up different products and pricing to your instore or online kiosk if required. Orders placed securely. Pay through a PayPal account or with a credit or debit card.

A seamless photo solution for instore, mobile and online.

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All the benefits of your instore DPC kiosk available to all your customers that have access to the internet. Add a link to your own web site. Your customers can start a project at home and easily store it for editing or printing later on. Projects can be shared and added to by family and friends.

For more information please call 01234 572138 or visit www.fujifilm.eu/UK

BPI News | May 2014 19

ADVERTISING FEATURE

DigitalCameraWorld.com The story behind the fastest-growing photography website, from its editor, Jeff Meyer

O

ne of the most powerful ways to grow your brand is to have an engaging website.

One that gives readers information they value, in a way that they want to consume it. That much is pretty obvious.

Less immediately obvious is how to get there. How to create, curate and deliver content that readers want – as well as making sure that they find it in the first place!

Future’s photography website, www.digitalcameraworld.com, is a good case study in how to grow all key metrics of a site organically.

Launched in December 2011, the site now boasts 1.3 million monthly unique visitors, delivering nearly 5 million page impressions per month.

Around 75% of this traffic is driven by organic search, and as such the brand’s web presence has grown to boast more Page 1 ranks on Google than many of its direct competitors.

A key part of our growth strategy is Search Engine Optimisation. Our SEO approach involves analysing our most readily available content, determining the top searches within the subjects we cover, and tailoring our editorial appropriately. We aim to deliver content in response to what we can see photographers searching for – responding to audience and sector trends as dynamically as possible.

You could say we have an unfair advantage given that we already create more photography advice and tutorial content than any other publisher across our five awardwinning print and tablet titles. By adapting this for use online – and also commissioning extra content specifically for the website – we’re able to deliver a large volume of content daily. The result is that we now compete for photography search terms with the likes of Argos, Amazon and Wikipedia rather than traditional photography publishers.

In adopting this approach, we have had to break free from the ‘old’ ways of thinking – specifically we had to get over the oft-held fear that giving away printed magazine content online would harm magazine sales. In fact, in our experience the

contrary is true. Not only has our strategy resulted in exponential website growth, but over the same two year period, Digital Camera grew to become the UK’s best-selling photography magazine in print.

Similarly, without any direct investment, our social audiences for the Digital Camera brand exploded: from 7,000 to 111,000 Facebook fans in the same two year period. And as an early adopter of Pinterest, the brand has already become the biggest UK photography magazine brand on the platform, helping to drive thousands of new followers to our site and our brands.

Better yet, these consumers are a growing audience of highlyengaged, photography enthusiasts who are committed to their hobby.

We see fantastic response to our email newsletter, and regularly drive thousands of competition entries and comments from these digital channels.

They might well already be your customers. But if there’s a chance that they’re not, or just if you want a chat about how you might get involved with the site, drop me a line at: jeff.meyer@futurenet.com or on 01225 4422244.

Above – 1.3 million monthly unique visitors and 5 million page impressions make Digital Camera World one of the world’s leading photo websites.

Left – on-line use of content does not reduce the sales of printed magazines, and if anything builds their circulation.

Below – using Pinterest for bite-size technical tip pages has proved a successful early adopted strategy.

See for yourself: visit www.digitalcameraworld.com – or gb.pinterest.com and search for Digital Camera World 20 May 2014 | BPI News

THE WORLD’S LEADING PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO

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BPI News | May 2014 21

THE BIG INTERVIEW

All change at the top for Kodak Alaris BPI News is granted an exclusive audience with new Kodak Alaris CEO Ralf Gerbershagen to learn of his plans to shape an imaging company on which the paint is still wet and at which there are several new faces in senior leadership roles…

I

t’s been all go in the world of Kodak lately, kicking off September 2013 when Eastman Kodak’s imaging business was bought by Kodak’s UK Pension Plan to form the new Kodak Alaris. We interviewed newly appointed UK General Manager and Vice President Lee Palmer, a youthful 36, just before Christmas, and now there’s another name at the top in 51-year old Chief Executive Officer Ralf Gerbershagen, joined by equally new Chairman of the Board Mark Elliot, who has been coaxed out of retirement after a long career at IBM and succeeds interim Chairman of the Board Steven Ross. With all this fresh blood in the company, BPI News was granted an exclusive interview with Ralf – in the job just under a month when we spoke – to find out how his and colleagues’ recent appointments will impact on Kodak Alaris, how he plans to grow the business in his new role, and what it all means for retailers and the trade.

Having begun his career with 10 years at Siemens in the components business, Mr Gerbershagen joins Kodak Alaris from Motorola Mobility, currently part of Google, where he held several senior positions over the course of 20 years.

Interestingly, given that most of Kodak Alaris’ s media push of late has concentrated on news of its new mobile phone apps to encourage more smartphone prints, Ralf’s expertise includes responsibility for several product portfolios including network infrastructure equipment, smartphones and accessories. It would seem therefore, that his appointment is very much ‘on message’. Added to this he holds a degree in general electronics and computer science, his personal interests include photography (always a bonus), and, as Kodak UK always was, he is currently based in the UK at Hemel Hempstead, though when he spoke he’d had a hectic induction involving travel to Brazil and his native Germany.

BPI News: What skills do you think are transferrable from your previous role with Motorola to where Kodak Alaris sits in the market presently?

Ralf Gerbershagen: I think there are similarities here. Kodak Alaris is UK owned now under KPP, but for 125 years it has been an American company. It’s also one of the most iconic brands like Motorola. I’ve done business around the world for the last 30 years so this feels very familiar to me. I think that my skillset which comes from working in one of the most dynamic industries – telecom communications – and the mobile handset market, will add nicely to the Kodak culture. With the kiosk business we can tap into the Internet and the mobile world. This makes it very interesting with regard to the future plans that we have.

Q: And in terms of those future plans, when we last spoke to General Manager Lee Palmer there was a lot of talk about mobile applications and that seemed to be very much the direction that Kodak Alaris was going in. I guess your own appointment would appear to underline the fact that that’s where the future is for Kodak?

A: I would say we’re doing a couple of things. We have 110,000+ kiosks around the world and have strong retail partners who drive this business, so our first priority is to make sure that we continue to develop a successful business case with these retail partners. On top of this we can now start to scale the business. There are three categories we’re looking at, one of which is obviously online – how can we get into the smartphone world with our apps, which will immediately allow us to address several million people?

We have My Kodak Moment Apps at the moment and projects running already looking at application

development. One of the ideas is that we don’t only want to be the touch point for people when they print – we also want to be the partner in people’s lives and experiences.

When they do something with pictures they should have Kodak in mind. The other two areas are that we want to create a stronger web presence online, plus to tap into the huge social network potential and find some way to bring the millions and millions of pictures on social networks back into people’s lives.

Q: What are your plans in terms of supporting bricks and mortar retail and growing the kiosk side of the business, especially when we keep getting told people are printing less?

A: The suggestion is that people aren’t printing that much, yet when you look at the figures for how many pictures are printed there’s still a huge potential. In Germany at the moment we have a really strong business and retailers who really believe in the category and want to actively drive it forward. Once the proposition, pricing and user interface is OK, you have created visibility for customers and you have someone who frequently advertises this side of their business then it’s up and running and people will come along and print. We’re looking around the world and seeing where the strongest business is and how we can develop these partnerships and then we will continue to invest in the kiosk business.

Q: You mentioned Germany there Ralf. I understand Germany was an early adopter of digital imaging and the printing of photo books compared with the UK, as well as being where you’re from. Could that help you bring another unique perspective to Kodak Alaris?

countries at the moment, but yes, absolutely. We’re looking into the UK business already to see how we can become stronger there in what we’re doing. But there are different business models for different countries. We will not try the same business model in every country. We have a strong business in Brazil and South America. In the US it varies a little bit, but generally it’s also strong.

Germany is probably the strongest business case that we have at the moment and we believe there is huge potential in Asia and China.

A: Ha! I’m having to take my German perspective into more than 22

Q: There have been major changes as regards the Kodak

To join the Kodak Express network you need to get in touch with Tetenal in the UK 22 May 2014 | BPI News

operate in. There will be a strong part that is digital, and in order to re-fresh the brand you have to engage with it, whereas more traditional users may prefer to come in store and use the kiosk. We want to make sure that when people come to use the kiosk they feel good about it and it’s really user friendly. Or if they want to use a mobile app, then they should be excited in the same way as people who walk up to the kiosk.

The aim is to widen the consumer segment a little bit. The minute you stop changing, you lose your competitiveness in the market. In the telecoms industry you can only survive if you change constantly.

Change for me is the norm. The minute you stand still you lose share.

We need to be flexible and agile.

Q: How well have you settled into your Kodak role, seeing as it’s only been three weeks? Sounds like it has been a baptism of fire.

brand recently. Obviously there were the well reported financial problems, but we’re now coming out of these – and out of that was born Kodak Alaris. Do you think the brand is as strong as it was?

My understanding is that the Kodak Alaris branding remains in the background and what the customer sees is purely ‘Kodak’?

A: Yes, that’s the case going forwards.

We have two parts to the business.

The enterprise part is where the branding relevance to Kodak isn’t that important and could be changed, and we primarily use Kodak Alaris as a bit of a differentiator to

tell people that we are a separate and independent company now, but from a consumer perspective we are so fortunate to have one of the strongest brands that exists in the world. So here we will absolutely keep our focus on the Kodak brand.

We did research and the brand is absolutely intact, people connect the brand to certain Kodak moments in their lives. What an unbelievable position to be in, and what a huge potential.

Consumer research tells me that everything is OK with the brand and that people love it. Our challenge for the future will to re-fresh it a little bit and make it a bit younger so we can

address a bigger consumer audience out there.

Q: Beyond phone applications, are there any other means by which you can take the brand to new markets? Do you think it is really very much about making connections over social media, or are more conventional means of marketing and advertising still valid?

A: There is a significant shift into digital media. However it varies a little bit country by country, so we’ll be using the media message that is right for the countries that we

A: Yeah, it’s almost non-stop. We started in Brazil and I spent a couple of days with the teams down there.

We flew to Rochester in the US to meet the teams, last week I was in the UK and this week I’m in Germany looking at the business here. Next week I’m again in the UK and then out to Asia. But I think it is really important to see as much as possible, because every customer I talk to turns out to be an opportunity.

I’m meeting extremely motivated people in this company who are very dedicated to making it work and I’m extremely excited to be here. It was absolutely the right decision to join Kodak Alaris. And if you look at the ownership situation with KPP we have a long-term partner in the business that is very stable. The time of uncertainty is over. There’s a unique opportunity to do a lot of development as a $1.2 billion start up company with no debt, we will become faster and we will become closer to the customers, and become more visible to them.

That’s also proved to be successful in the industry I’ve worked in. And if any customer wants to get in touch direct with any ideas, they can via ceo@kodakalaris.com – being an approachable CEO in this business is exactly where I come from.

by calling 0116 2815742 or pay a visit to www.kodakexpress.com/united-kingdom BPI News | May 2014 23

NEWS EXTRA

Sigma’s nifty ‘50’ set to thrill the thrifty

E

ager beavers in the trade may have enjoyed a first hands-on with Sigma’s new 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens at The Photography Show back in March, where the manufacturer benefitted from a busy stand (we also featured the lens in last issue’s pictorial round up of the show). With it finally going on sale this month (May) at a VAT-inclusive £849.99, there will initially be Canon and Sigma fits available, with a Nikon fit following in June and Sony sometime thereafter. Supplied in the box are a case, plus petal-type hood.

Though at the time of writing it was too early for us to have been able to snag a review ourselves, initial reports have been promising. The US website SLR Gear.com suggests that the brand spanking new lens delivers ‘smooth and pleasing background blur’ thanks to its ultra bright f/1.4 aperture and that ‘it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that this is one of the most anticipated products of the year.’

Sigma UK’s General Manager Graham Armitage is similarly excited.

“We’ve enjoyed watching the anticipation build for this optic since samples went on show at CES and The Photography Show – and now it’s finally here we’d advise our retail partners to make sure they have sufficient stock to meet the expected high level of demand.”

Sigma UK has announced pricing and availability for its new ‘benchmark’ 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM ‘Art’ series lens, said to provide your photographer customers with high resolution and beautiful ‘bokeh’. It’s already winning rave reviews from the experts…

‘It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that this is one of the most anticipated products of the year.’

Sigma offers retail partners precious arty-facts With a made-in-Japan construction comprised of 13 elements in eight groups, and incorporating a brass bayonet mount, the 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens’ minimum focusing distance is 40mm. Dimensions are 85.4x99.9mm, and it weighs 815g.

SLR Gear says that the performance either meets or exceeds that of a Zeiss 55mm f/1.4 Otus APO-Distagon lens at several times the Sigma’s asking price, whilst when shooting at f/1.4 and on a full frame camera ‘it pretty well blows all others out of the water’ – bettering competing lenses from Canon (50mm f/1.2L USM), Nikon (58mm f/1.4G AF-S Nikkor) and Sony (FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T*), so the website raves, ‘at every point

across the frame’. In short, it notes, ‘the results were amazing. The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art lens is the most exciting lens we’re likely to review this year’.

Take a read for yourself at: slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct. php/product/1677/cat/30 In more general terms Sigma’s Art series line up is being pitched to your customers as capable of delivering high level artistic expression best suited to shooting landscapes, portraits, still life, close ups, and even casual snaps. Aberration is corrected thoroughly in order to deliver high resolution and an astonishingly rendered performance even near the edge of the frame. A Super Multi-Layer coating reduces flare and ghosting to provide sharp, high contrast images, even in backlit conditions.

The lens comes complete with petal hood, and Sigma’s website provides detailed technical information for would-be buyers

“In a nutshell the 50mm f/1.4 is our new benchmark large aperture standard lens, ideal for resolving the high megapixel counts enjoyed by the latest generation digital SLRs,” adds Graham Armitage. “It’s the ‘go to’ lens for photographers wanting the ultimate in quality, and is the culmination of all our prior knowledge in optics being put to good use. Once your customers own it, they’ll never want to be without it!”

As usual, each new Sigma lens is checked with Sigma’s proprietary A1 MFT measuring system, which uses 46 megapixel Foveon direct image sensors. The new lens is also compatible with the manufacturer’s optional Sigma USB Dock to allow for future Firmware upgrades and adjustments. So as retailers you are not just selling a lens, but also a degree of future proofing into the bargain. www.sigma-imaging-uk.com

All lenses imported by Sigma Imaging UK Ltd come with the added benefit of a 3-year warranty. See www.sigma-imaging-uk.com 24 May 2014 | BPI News

Trade-In and Trade Up! With Tetenal's Spring Offer there's never been a better time to add to or upgrade your kiosks.

Trade-In applies to ANY brand of kiosk!

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BPI News | May 2014 25 WEB: www.tetenaluk.com

Welcome to the Frame Academy!

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Ask us for further details and to request a copy of our new Art & Gifting Catalogue.

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26 May 2014 | BPI News

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PRODUCT OF THE MONTH

CANON EOS 1200D The new entry level 18 megapixel APS-C sensor EOS is upon us and bound to be a big seller over the summer season as people look to upgrade their camera to capture the annual holidays (the alternative from the EOS range is, naturally, the compact 100D, now available in snazzy white – see news this issue).

A

s with its 12MP 1100D predecessor, the Canon EOS 1200D, which went on sale in March and is also our May cover star, is designed for first time DSLR owners who want to see great results out of the box. To test the new beginner DSLR’s mettle fully, Canon UK invited us to a touch and try session that would really challenge the camera; shooting a live band (rousing folk act Mad Dog Mcrea) in the dim of Camden’s ‘legendary’ Dingwalls venue with fluctuating lighting and the ever present threat of camera shake.

Capturing images in low light is one of the central pitches for this model, with the core range of ISO1006400 expandable to ISO12800. The resulting images that you see on this page – improved with the coaching Photos by Gavin Stoker of young music photographer Lee Kirby, who took the cover shots for London Grammar’s best selling LP debut – were all taken with the newcomer. It has the recommended body only price of a trim £349.99. That still leaves your customers with enough spare change to splash out on summer festival tickets, or at least another glass of sangria at the beach bar.

The alternative retail configurations are £399.99 when combining the 1200D’s body with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DCIII lens or £449.99 with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II lens. So, still a very affordable option for those seeking to improve their chances of getting a great shot this summer.

As with most cameras these days, there is an element of interactivity provided with mobile devices. In the case of the EOS 1200D, this comes via an EOS Companion application that was launched in tandem with the DSLR, enabling relative novice photographers to learn tips and tricks.

The ‘app’ provides a range of expert tutorials and step-by-step exercises to take your customers through the basics at a pace to suite them, as well as offering picture ideas with coaching on the likes of speed and perspective in the ‘Inspire’ section. There’s also a troubleshooting guide to boot.

Place the EOS 1200D in your customers’ hands with a lens attached and there is little about this digital SLR that feels immediately budget. In fact to us it felt just right: not too heavy, not too throwaway – and light enough to move around freely and unrestricted. Yes we don’t get a tilting LCD screen – the adequate 3-inch, 460K dot resolution is resolutely fixed – but we do get the benefit of an eye level optical viewfinder and 9-point AF for focusing the mind and the eye on what is going on in front of the lens rather than around us; invaluable in the potentially distracting scenario of a live music gig, or a crowded tourist destination. Naturally Full HD movie capability is also provided for capturing the family frolicking on the beach, or errant stage-divers.

Providing compatibility with over 70 Canon EF lenses out of the box – with the likes of the EF 50mm f/1.8 II, EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, or EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM all suggesting themselves as possible add-on sales – this is one EOS with which your customers of all levels will be confident to face the music. www.canon.co.uk

Plenty of opportunities for add-on sales this summer with the EOS 1200D

Agree or disagree with our choice of Product of the Month? Email us with your alternative nomination to info@bpinews.co.uk BPI News | May 2014 27

When responding to articles please always mention BPI News

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was the DNP Nexlab NL3000, Nexlab 6 order management softwar coming 2nd quarter 2013, which as mentioned in the text has the advantage of being The dye sub print scalable, allowing anything manufacturer also chose i from multi printer set ups to stay in Cologne to announce a full-scale retail minilab. This firmware v2.1 upgrade for th Increased sales, standard two at boostin comes with new Nexlab warranty 6 order extended DS-ID400.toAimed management software (also retailers’ profits, this is sa years andright) Partyoffering Print software upgraded… shown an intuitive to improve print sharpne Nippon Printingdashboard – is Print was aplus finalistwireless in this year’s BPI user NP – Dai interface, reliability whe reporting strong sales for the News Awards (See BPI News April), functionality and large format sending images from camera fiscalsupport. year ended April 2014, as well as printer winning a if prestigious printer signal strength is wea and as a further driver for success Marketing and Innovation Award is also required DNP is additionally offering Firmware v2.1 has launched new software and 2013/14.” The product allows prints retail chains scalable systems take advantage of the addition increased its standard warranty to to be produced quickly and easily generating featur that could include all-in-one profit two years. “The sales figures are an at functions, making it a boon for packed in to the new Utili kiosks, fleets of ‘PrintCentre’ indication of the high trust placed in events photographers.

Software.

For example use photo islands, and continuing DNP and its products from the trade All three ‘DS’ printer models from can custom template support throughout thefeature and professional photographers DNP verycreate low maintenance andAnd, package lifetime of the project. With alike, ” believes DNP’s Marketing requirements. in order to print bundles boost benefit, the DNP number of prin Sony Mark noBuelow. longer offeringprovide its additional Manager has decided toper provide an extendedFeatures includ customer.

‘SnapLab’ solution, this is now warranty free of charge. Instead of trim mark adjustable bleed, available via DNP in the shape the regular 12 months, it is offering of the SnapLab DS-SL20, just custom passport template and DS-RX1 customers custom print layouts, the abili one of what DNP refers toDS40, as DS80 a two-year warranty.

This covers the text, portra and/or Europe’s most successful family to add a logo thermal print heads (TPH). For the of compact kiosks. A further prints (non ID) and customisab DS40, cover includes two years or print package bundles. Retaile element worth noting is DNP’s 50,000 prints in 4x6 inch format, for Mark reveals that its dye sub interested in partnering wi state-of-the-art Tomo software, DS-RX1 it’s two years or 40,000 prints printers the DS40 (above, offering DNP head allowing customers to print in 4x6 inches, andshould for the DS80 it’s to the URL prints up to 6x9-inches) and DS80 (up Facebook two yearswww.dnpphoto.eu or 7,000 prints in 8x12 inch tofrom 8x12-inches) rank highlyphoto on event albums

Three more great reasons to print with DNP

D

format. photographers’ shopping lists, and this, he believes, is down to their Need to get your products in front of the Trade ? ...a BPI Company Profile could work wonders...call speed and reliability, as well as their Time to jointhe theteam partyon 01344 62513 compactness and light weight. “With 10 October 2012 | BPI News their indisputable image quality and As noted in our intro, DNP has also their robust chassis these are great announced an upgrade to that self GREAT VALUE-FOR-MONEY LENSES NOW AVAILABLE assets to any photo business,” he same Party Print product (as of April FROM SELECTED STOCKISTS IN THE U.K. believes.

2014) in Version 1.5 EU. Close up of Rhino The latest enhancements include _oct_page_10_dnp.indd 1 2 (left) taken using Party Print Utility software, a new the Kaili 500mm tool that simplifies the setting up of f6.3 manual focus mirror lens for full Party Print, enabling all parameters frame cameras. to be configured at a glance, as Fits via a T mount well as the ability to customise the adapter which is sold separately.The mobile application for a particular wider view (below) event. Further simplification of shows the same the process comes via Dynamic IP shot taken using a 50mm lens.

Scanning. Now, instead of having to manually set an IP address for the Also of interest is the slightly Party Print system, the IP address is newer DS-RX1 (above). This has automatically found on starting up. a higher print capacity of 700 Further improvements now include l Don’t be put off by the low price, prints in 6x4-inch format making three help and messaging screens, these are very capable lenses it very popular for photo kiosks along with enhanced printer support and photobooths. The inexpensive that includes a bug fix: support is also high-quality Fotolusio Digital now offered for 8x12-inch (20x30cm) Kaili 500mm ALSO AVAILABLE consumables make another strong prints on DNP’s DS80 printer. f6.3 manual Kaili 85mm f1.8 argument for choosing this printer.

Technical support is always available focus mirror manual focus “Another interesting sales lens for for DNP customers via: portrait lens in full frame concept is the optional, award support@dnpphoto.eu Canon mount. cameras. winning Party Print concept, which is SRP £135.99 The PartyPrint Installer and SRP £139.99 basically a DNP printer, a router, and English manuals can be downloaded 7 Elements in 6 groups. Minimum focus 2.0m.

6 Elements in 6 groups. Minimum focus 0.85m. the DNP Party Print software, ” Mark meanwhile via the DNP website: Size: 98 x 119.5mm. Angle of View: 5°.

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BPI News | May 2014 29

INSIDE TRACK

The independent strikes back The ‘i’ word has its day, as the PMA’s UK Director Nigel McNaught learns that while there is strength in numbers, small can be beautiful too, especially for the enterprising…

L

ast month I attended a networking event organised by one of the big multinational accountancy firms. There was a very mixed group present: large and small companies, independent and multiple traders.

I found myself listening to a delegate bemoaning his lot as Director of a large multiple retailer and saying that the small independents did not appreciate how lucky they were. No shareholders looking over your shoulder judging every move you make, no acidic adverse comments in the press when results which are perfectly satisfactory nevertheless do not meet a particular journalist’s expectations. No opportunity to express your own personality within the business. Locked in a soulless system… and so on.

Eventually one of the group ventured to remark that the complainant was doubtless paid very well, better than his independent colleagues, to which he replied “Well, where’s the job satisfaction?”

This inspired me to conduct a straw poll amongst a few photo retailers and ask them if they would rather be a ‘small’ independent trader or running a large multi store company.

It may come as no surprise to learn that, as far as they were concerned ‘small is beautiful’.

Not necessarily for the reason of job satisfaction, but more for being the master of your own destiny. Provided, as many said, that that they could call upon Fuji or Kodak to help with retail marketing.

A few days later I was listening to a radio business programme where the founder of a new marketing loyalty

“Begun in Liverpool and apparently spreading quite rapidly, the scheme offers shopping discounts from local independent stores in return for a one-off payment of £10 for your independent loyalty card...” scheme was being interviewed.

Begun in Liverpool and apparently spreading quite rapidly, the scheme offers shopping discounts from local independent stores in return for a one-off payment of £10 for your independent loyalty card.

The independent strikes back!

This also reminded me that a couple of years ago I reported on a scheme called

‘independent’s day’ where a group of traders all agreed to run activities in stores and on the street. This is still going from strength to strength, and this year offers a host of support for independent businesses wishing to add to their marketing programmes during early July. Contact: indieday@people1st.co.uk or visit www.indieday.co.uk and

download the wide range of marketing materials available.

Those of us of a certain age will recall a certain Prime Minister declaring “you’ve never had it so good!” The alternative translation for the cynic is: “this is as good as it gets.”

Returning to the networking event, we were each asked to give a 90 second appraisal of our industry or business.

Apparently 90 seconds focuses the mind and you have to decide early on whether to be optimistic or doom laden; you don’t have time for both. You will not be surprised to hear that I chose the former, more positive approach – after all, more pictures are being taken on more devices by more people than ever before – albeit with some caution. Yet I was the only one in our mini-group to mention customer education, which I believe, and the attendance (below) back at The Photography Show in March backs up, is key. “They learn – you earn”. And in this way we will not be at the limit of how good it gets.

Nigel McNaught can be contacted via nmcnaught@pmai.org for all matters relating to concerns of the photo industry 30 May 2014 | BPI News

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

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

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

photographyshow.com/charitygolfday BPI News | May 2014 31

FREE Roll-Up

Banner Stand When you purchase a roll of NEW Scratch Resistant Roll-Up Banner Media

Scratch Resistant Roll-Up Banner media (610mm x 20m, Satin) N.A.S £110.97

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Fujifilm’s New Roll-Up Banner media is a high quality, scratch resistant, printable polyester display media with a satin finish.

It is 100% opaque due to the silver grey backing.

Roll-Up Banner Stand (700mm x 2m, silver) N.A.S £22.37

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Extremely practical and quick to assemble the Fujifilm Roll-Up Banner stand is robust and stable in use.

The 700mm width is ideally suited for use with the 610mm (24”) Scratch Resistant Roll-Up Banner media.

The combination of the Scratch Resistant Roll-Up Banner media and Roll-Up Banner stand is the ideal choice for: • POS advertising (photo retailer, car showroom, hotel foyer, fitness club, beauty salon, hair dresser etc.)

• Exhibitions • Trade Fairs • Mobile Presentations

Ultimate top seller for fast, effective POS presentations. |

32 May 2014 BPI News Speak to your Swains Regional Sales Manager or call us on 01485 536 200

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