Pixel Magazine - Issue 958

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ISSUE NO. 958

www.pixel.co.uk

INSIDE

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December 2015

30/09/2014 30/09/2014 11:47 GOPRO VS POLAROID, GREY IMPORT ROGUES, X-MASS MARKET LP_Pixel_Ears_46x53mm.indd DEALS, BEHIND2 THE COUNTER, KENRO TRIPODS, ENDURING MEMORIES, BOOK OF THE MONTH, NEWS AND MUCH MORE...

This Issue Includes...

• Pixel speculates over rumours of cracking down on the grey import market P12.

• What deals are out there this Christmas, and how have dealers been prepared for the big rush? P14.

Pixel Trade Awards 2015: The Winners!

All the essential parts of the photographic industry came together for one spectacular evening on Friday 4th December in Central London, for the 11th Pixel Trade Awards.

Here is our overview of the evening and, of course, its deserving winners

• In:Print discusses the reason behind the boom in photobook sales P23.

Official Statement from Samsung Samsung has made an official statement regarding the rumours surrounding their camera sector, which Pixel speculated over last month.

The statement was made to EOSHD, the filmmaking blog of Andrew Reid, quoting Samsung from 19th November as follows: “In Germany, we have been observing for some time a gradual decline in demand for digital cameras, camcorders and related accessories. We have to adapt to the demands of the market and have therefore decided to phase out sales and marketing of these products gradually. This is a decision that affects only the German market.”

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The lead up to the Trade Awards has been one of immense organisation; the whole Pixel team rushed off their feet to bring attendees the best night of the year. And it was all worth it in the end. The 11th Pixel Trade Awards Ceremony was a fantastic success, with food filling stomachs, booze

flowing, achievements rewarded, and hard work and significant successes applauded.

This year’s venue, The Grange City Hotel, just behind The Tower of London, was ideal for the occasion, as it was in 2014. The stage was set, tables were laid,

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champagne bottles opened, and the night began. Guests started to arrive and were handed their glass of champagne at 6.30pm, before heading through to the dining hall where it would all happen.

Continued on page 8...

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RETAIL

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BUSINESS

FOR 48 YEARS AND COUNTING

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NEWS

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Lexar Introduces New 128GB Capacity 2000x SDXC UHS-II Card

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NEWS

WELCOME To Pixel Magazine Merry Christmas!

This year saw another Black Friday, with seasonal sales, offers and discounts galore.

This month, Pixel looks at how the big brands have supported retailers.

We also look at the prevalent and serious issue of VAT avoidance within e-commerce sites, Ebay and Amazon. It’s not only unfair on businesses within the UK, but also unfair on the consumers that may be receiving goods, such as photographic imaging equipment, through an illegitimate or unchecked retail channel. Amazon may have to become liable for its own tax soon, and Pixel deliberates over this issue further on pages 12-13.

Kenro has launched its own brand of tripods and monopod,

and we ask some important questions for moving forward to Paul Kench, joint MD. We also feature an exclusive article from the Semiconductor sector of Samsung, and much more in the form of news, plus, as usual, our much-loved Behind the Counter feature.

Our cover, of course, is all about our Trade Awards – the biggest night of the year! Read about all the winners, the entertainment and general shenanigans on the night.

In:Print hosts the latest updates on Fujifilm Imagine, looking at their seasonal campaign this year to encourage print. Plus we look at how the PhotoBook has evolved over time.

Enjoy your read and have a great start to the New Year.

Jenny, Editor

Canon at The Photography Show 2016 The Photography Show has today announced Canon as the latest event exhibitor, rounding up a compelling line-up of leading photographic brands, including Nikon, Panasonic, Olympus, Fujifilm, Sony, Leica, Manfrotto, Blackmagic, Epson, Ricoh Imaging and Serif, for its forthcoming edition at NEC Birmingham in March 2016.

Commenting on the news, Matthew Searle, Country Director of Canon, said: “We are delighted to be returning to the Photography Show for 2016. It is the ideal event for us to showcase the enjoyment of photography to all ages and

skill levels and demonstrate our market-leading range of cameras and printers alongside our Digital Services, which include Irista and Lifecake. Each year, we aim to bring something new and exciting to the show that reflects our brand. 2016 will be no exception.”

The Photography Show will be held at The NEC, Birmingham from 19–22 March 2016.

Industry News Bites Find out more info on this month’s news bites at Pixel.co.uk

Leica unveils D-Lux ‘Solid Gray’ high-performance compact camera Leica Camera has introduced a new model in its compact camera range: the Leica D-Lux ‘Solid Grey’ - a variation on the current black D-Lux. The D-Lux Solid Gray includes an extensive feature set within its compact body, combined with intuitive handling, making it a versatile companion for all photographic situations.

Highlights of the camera include a fast, Leica DC Vario-Summilux 10.9–34 mm f/1.7–2.8 ASPH lens, a large four-thirds sensor, and a practical range of focal lengths equivalent to 24 to 75mm (in 35mm format).

The camera offers 4K video capabilities, as well as an integrated WiFi module, providing remote control of the camera from a smartphone or tablet PC, and wireless transmission of still and moving images.

The Leica Image Shuttle app that enables these features can be downloaded free of charge and installed on iOS or Android devices.

The Leica D-Lux ‘Solid Gray’ is scheduled to be available from Leica stores and authorised Leica dealers in the UK from November 2015, at an SRP of £825.

Roskerr Limited are moving!

Roskerr Ltd has announced it’s moving to a purpose-built premises on Monday 16th November 2015 at the following address: Unit C41-C43 Fulwell Court, Red Scar Business Park, Longridge Road, Preston, PR2 5NP The team at Roskerr ask that everybody please make a note of

the new address for records. Their telephone, e-mail, fax, website and bank details will remain unchanged.

However, the telephone line (they warn) may be briefly disturbed.

Should this be the case, you may contact the following numbers: 07921 873712 or 07877 199462 or alternatively e-mail on: sales@roskerr.co.uk

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NEWS

OVERDUE CREDIT Somehow, a credit on a photograph used in our feature, ‘A Power Source Market Insight’ went amiss last month. We would like to publicly apologise for this

and make our credit known to ePhotozine now. Thanks to the team for their understanding with regards to this honest mistake.

LEICA T: new firmware update 1.4 and Spring camera launch Leica Camera has announced a new firmware update for the Leica T camera system. Customers can now download the new version 1.4 firmware from the Leica website.

The new firmware significantly increases the speed of the Leica T, particularly with the Live View mode, now able to start up in a fraction of a second. Furthermore, the camera’s autofocus has been doubled in speed and the touch-screen control

has been optimised, so it is three times as fast.

The Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24–90mm f/2.8–4 ASPH was made available from 16 November and further SL-System lenses, including the Leica APO-Vario-ElmaritSL 90–280 mm f/2.8–4 and the Leica Summilux-SL 50 mm f/1.4 ASPH will follow in Spring 2016. The Leica SummiluxTL 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH is scheduled to be available in Spring 2016 at an SRP of £1,350 including VAT

XP Distribution Launch XP Distribution has launched in order to offer resellers a distribution partner that provides a comprehensive range of internationally-renowned brands for the digital imaging and graphics markets, servicing Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

As part of the TypeMaker Group, the new business unit has been established to distribute exclusively to the reseller channel and includes distinguished brands such as X-Rite, PANTONE, BenQ, DxO, NEC and ExpoImaging as part of its vendor portfolio.

The TypeMaker Group is made up of four core business units: XP Distribution, Color Confidence, Grafipress and X-Rite Photo Europe.

“Through XP Distribution, we will continue to act as Europe’s leading distributor in the digital imaging and graphics market,” says Geoffrey Clements, Managing Director at XP Distribution. “We offer an exceedingly high level of professionalism and customer service through our experienced multi-lingual account management team”.

If you have any further queries, please get in touch with Shemaine Rose on 0121 689 1042 or srose@xpdistribution. com

Precision Photography: Sony introduces a68 A-mount camera with 4D FOCUS Inheriting many pro-style features from the acclaimed a77 II, the new a68 camera features Sony’s unique 4D FOCUS system that delivers AF performance in lighting as low as EV-2.

This phase detection system uses 79 autofocus detection points including 15 cross points, plus a dedicated F2.8 AF sensor point for dimly-lit scenes. Thanks to Sony’s Translucent Mirror Technology, the a68 delivers constant AF tracking at up to 8fps continuous shooting.

The camera hosts a 24MPiii

APS-C Exmor CMOS image sensor with wide ISO 10025600iv sensitivity range, teamed with Sony’s speedy BIONZ X image processor that uses Detail Reproduction and Diffractionreducing Technologies plus Areaspecific Noise Reduction. The SteadyShot INSIDE function works with all 34 A-mount lenses The new a68 A-mount interchangeable lens camera from Sony will be available from March 2016 for approximately £420 body only or £490 with DT18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM II lens.

Canon Milestones and New Additions

Canon has announced that it has reached a new cameramanufacturing milestone as combined production of its film and digital EOS-series interchangeablelens cameras surpassed the 80-million mark on November 10, 2015. The 80-millionth EOS camera produced, having started in 1987, is an EOS 5DS R, which boasts the world’s highest pixel count in its class.

This new milestone comes after Canon’s EF interchangeable lenses, launched alongside the EOS SLR camera system, celebrated a new manufacturing milestone in

June 2015 with the production of the 110-millionth EF-series interchangeable lens for EOS cameras, setting a new world record for the most interchangeable lenses produced.

In addition, a new addition was recently announced within the X-series: two new handheld video cameras. The XA35 and XA30 are designed for professionals and enthusiasts alike, featuring a newly developed HD CMOS Pro sensor including new Wide Dynamic Range (DR), creating the ability to achieve 600% dynamic range, and Highlight Priority settings.

a range of accessories, plus the lineup of existing NIKKOR lenses, Nikon is clearly pursuing further possibilities for imaging expression for the New Year.

Details including release date and suggested retail price for this product have not yet been determined. Pixel will keep readers updated as and when this information is released.

Development of Nikon D5 Nikon Corporation has announced that it is developing the D5 digital SLR camera, which represents the next generation of professional FXformat models.

The new Wireless Transmitter

WT-6 and Speedlight SB-5000, which will be positioned at the top of Nikon’s Speedlight lineup, are also being developed.

With the combination of this nextgeneration professional camera and

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NEWS

GoPro VS Polaroid

C&A Marketing has announced that they’re suing GoPro for copyright infringement over the Cube design patent. Pixel investigates what this means for both parties With just months in the making between them, and not much else, C&A Marketing –on behalf of the Polaroid Cube - is suing GoPro for copyright infringement over their new HERO4 Session.

The Cube was a huge release for Polaroid in September 2014, offering a unique and fashionable approach to capturing image and video, designed to suit everyday lifestyle for a wider audience with its small 35mm by 35mm size, a wide angle lens and a simple one-push button for capture.

The GoPro HERO4 Session was made available in July this year, 50% smaller and 40% lighter than any other GoPro HERO4 product. GoPro, arguably transformed the action cam market, bringing extreme and pro products into the mainstream market, providing a product that caught video fast, and in high definition. The Session is no doubt very similar to the Cube, with its rounded cube shape and identical push-button function on one side and the lens on the other, and waterproofing.

The only differences are the size (the Session is around 1.5 inches on each side) and the quality, with the Session capturing 1080p60 video and 8MP photos and the Cube capturing 1920 x 1080 or 1280 x 720 and still images at 6 megapixels.

C&A Marketing has held exclusive rights to make Polaroidbranded cameras since 2009, a year after Polaroid ceased

production in bankruptcy.

Now, C&A are suing GoPro on behalf of the Polaroid brand for the infringement of their US design patent.

The design patent, a series of drawings with an overview of what the product does and looks like, was granted in May this year, protecting it from being replicated.

Pixel has learned that C&A Marketing has asked the court for damages including all of GoPro’s profit from the Session camera plus interest and attorney fees, saying that the Session copies all the important design elements of the Cube, innovated by designer, Gregoire Vandenbussche.

GoPro, however has stuck to its guns in many a statement, suggesting that their designs were born and implemented long before the Polaroid Cube patent was filed.

This would mean that the HERO4 wouldn’t in fact infringe the competitor’s patent, as GoPro say the overall design is too dissimilar, not including the specific features that are required by the competitor’s patent. There’s also the suggestion that the Session’s EU patent was issued in March, however GoPro are still awaiting the US patent. The patent itself in fact doesn’t mention the size of the product, Pixel

has heard, with the document only clarifying, ‘the ornamental design for a cubic action camera, as shown and described’, plus just seven illustrations of the Cube.

GoPro’s stock was down more than 2 percent an hour after the lawsuit was filed. This comes after a disappointing third-quarter report, seeing GoPro fall in sales over the summer and an unexpectedly slow and weak launch for the HERO4 Session itself – the company even dropped the price by 25 per cent to shift the sales.

A federal jury now might have to decide whether the similarities are strong enough between the GoPro HERO4 Session and the Polaroid Cube to suggest that the company infringed on C&A’s design patent.

Watch this space for more details.

“C&A are suing GoPro on behalf of the Polaroid brand for the infringement of their US design patent”

Pixel Software Competition Winner Announced!

The Pixel software competition went down a storm, with many entries and much excitement.

We can now announce the winner of one of the prizes on offer: the Corel PaintShop Pro X8 Ultimate (SRP GBP 79.99) Simon Hargreaves at London Camera Exchange, Gloucester commented on his win and shared with Pixel his initial thoughts on the software: “From what I can see from a brief play, it’s leagues ahead of the Photoshop Elements 6 I am using at the moment: absolutely fantastic!!”

Congratulations to Simon!

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We will be announcing the winner of the second prize, the Acronis True Image Cloud backup software in the New Year.

If you still wish to enter for this prize, answer the following question and email jenny@pixel.co.uk What colour is the Acronis Backup Solution box? a) Blue b) Orange c) Purple

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PIXEL TRADE AWARDS 2015

Pixel Trade Awards 2015: The Winners!

Continued...

D

inner was a delightful three-course selection of prawn cocktail, roast beef and pecan tart, all enjoyed in a fantastic atmosphere that had built throughout the evening. The room quickly filled with laughter and chattering whilst glasses were filled and the anticipation of the awards themselves reached breaking point.

The awards presentation began with a speech from Jenny Ardagh, Editor of Pixel magazine, who gave an overview of the past year in the industry, and highlighted what promises and developments we can expect to come.

She commented: “Having taken the reigns as Editor of Pixel Magazine earlier this year, it’s quickly become apparent to me how welcoming and friendly the industry is and it has been a real pleasure to be involved in the capacity that I am, providing news and—

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hopefully—interesting overviews of the many and various facets that make the imaging sector so fascinating.”

Jenny detailed some of the more difficult situations that the industry has found itself in, including the growth of mobile device imaging capability and the global downturn, but pointed out that, despite all this, the sector has remained strong.

The biggest milestone of the Pixel brand in 2015 was the creation, development and launch of the new Pixel Platform, Pixel.co.uk, providing manufacturers and retailers with a multi-faceted online provider of training and news for the whole sector. Having promised its launch in Spring 2015, this is a bit delayed but, nevertheless, much worth the wait.

The In:Print campaign was detailed, with Jenny explaining just how important she felt promoting photo printing is, saying: “Printed

pictures are real, physical, emotive and immersive objects, and revenue streams aside, we should all be pushing the medium for future generations to enjoy.”

With the first official speech of the evening complete, the reins were passed onto Simon Skinner, Group Director at Pixel magazine and parent company, Life Media Group, and host, Hal Cruttenden, whose comedic presence lifted the evening into an even more fun-filled mood that the Trade Awards always promises to deliver. Hal is one of the top comedians working in the UK today, as well as being a highly accomplished writer and actor – as was made apparent by the roaring laughter than filled the auditorium after each joke. Over the last year, he’s made his second appearance on The Royal Variety Performance hosted Live at the Apollo, and was the guest comic in the final of The Great British Bake Off: An Extra

PIXEL TRADE AWARDS 2015

Slice. He’s also appeared on Would I Lie To You?, Have I Got News For You, Sunday Night at the Palladium, Mock The Week, Pointless Celebrities, and Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled, and written and performed in his own Radio 4 sitcom, ‘Hal’.

After a brief description from Simon of each award category, why it is an important accolade and why the recipient was the deserved winner, Hal called up the presenter of the award, who finally announced who the lucky beneficiary was.

We got in touch with some of the winners to ask them about the night and their wins. Jane Nicholson from Intro 2020, winners of the Distributor of the Year award, said: “We thoroughly enjoyed the evening. The company was excellent and the venue was superb. We were delighted to win the Distributor of the Year award and we wish to thank everyone who voted for us. We are already looking forward to next year’s event!!”

Roscoe Atkins, Managing Director at Park Cameras, winners of Independent Specialist Retailer of the Year award, also commented: “We are all really pleased to win this award (all but my rugby coach on Saturday, who recognised the hangover!). Having continued to invest a great deal in the last few years to keep the business growing,

it’s great to get this recognition. The team all work extremely hard to deliver the best customer service, a great sales and marketing platform for suppliers to sell their products, and all in a way that doesn’t disrupt the market.”

As was pointed out to all involved in the lead up to the event itself, and during the evening too, the main difference in the running of the awards this year was the voting, with panel-style voting based on specific and strict criteria.

Manufacturers, suppliers and retailers all voted for each other, concluding with one clear winner in each category. Elements, which were considered within the criteria, that then made up the ultimate results of the 2015 awards included: manufacturer support, innovation and marketing campaigns; and from the dealer side: service, training, display and consumer engagement.

counted and views across the whole industry are heard. So, thanks to Pixel for this. I’d personally like to thank everyone for voting for us and want to continue to grow together in 2016,” said Roscoe.

Nick Richens, who attended the Awards with a collection of colleagues from London Camera Exchange, commented on their Multiple Specialist Retailer of the Year award: “I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the awards evening on Friday—our trade is fairly ‘compact’ these days and the people working in it are a pretty social bunch. Those of us from LCE that were lucky enough to attend on Friday were delighted to accept the award for Multiple Specialist Retailer of the year on behalf of all our colleagues, whose unstinting efforts keep LCE at the forefront.

Our thanks to Nikon and to Sony for sponsoring the evening and, of course, to the team at Life Media Group and Pixel, in particular, for staging the event.”

“We were delighted to win the Distributor of the Year award and we wish to thank everyone who voted for us. We are already looking forward to next year’s event!!”

“I might be slightly biased but I obviously like the newly-adopted voting system from Pixel, which ensures that votes are

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Congratulations to all of the Pixel Trade Award 2015 Winners…

Indepedent Minilab retailer of the Year Digipix Ilford FDIS (Sponsored by Nikon) Phoenix Photographic - Kodak Express Knowle Photographic - FDIS Print Franchise of the year Fujifilm Digital Imaging Services (presented by Park Cameras) Kodak Express Snappy Snaps Print Manufacturer of the Year Kodak Alaris (presented by In Print) Fujifilm DNP Mass Channel retailer of the year John Lewis (sponsored by Nikon) Argos Amazon Dixons Multiple Specialist retailer of the year London Camera Exchange (Sponsored by Nikon) Jessops Wilkinson Cameras Calumet

Paul Davey, UK Marketing Manager of Imaging at Kodak Alaris, and his team were also thrilled with their win: “We are delighted that Kodak Alaris has been recognised by Pixel as the Print Manufacturer of the Year. This award is a tremendous endorsement of our continuing push to deliver successful retail and mobile printing solutions into our partners and wider market.”

Amateur Photographer was voted as the Consumer Magazine of the Year. Editor of Amateur Photographer, Nigel Atherton said: “On behalf of the entire AP team, I’d like to express how delighted we are to win this award, and how honoured we are to be held in such high esteem by the photographic industry. The team works very hard to produce an engaging and relevant consumer photography magazine week after week and it’s great that this achievement, which is unique in the world, has been recognised in this way once again. Thanks to Pixel, and to everyone who voted for us.”

Pixel recognises the hard work the team at Amateur Photographer has put into the industry this year, especially in such a competitive marketplace and with various challenges facing print as a whole—something we can empathise with. Simon Skinner said: “I think it’s a testament to AP’s respect in the market that it has won the award

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more than any other title in the sector over the 11 years that the awards have been running.”

He added: “AP, and the excellent team within, manage to produce an issue every week… to ensure that it is relevant, interesting and informative every time.

That’s hard to beat.”

Pixel team would like to give a special thanks to everyone that came to the Trade Awards 2015, and especially to our sponsors, Nikon and Sony.

Jason Clark, Sales Manager of the Photo Channel at Sony UK LTD, commented: “The Trade Awards was a great night topped off by winning Camera Manufacturer of the Year.”

Jeremy Gilbert, Group Marketing Manager at Nikon UK, said: “It was a pleasure to once again be a part of the Pixel Trade Awards this year.

Sponsoring the event was an honour for Nikon and we enjoy having a presence at the show. We had a wonderful time at the ceremony and extend our congratulations to all the worthy winners.”

It has been a great year for the industry, and for the Pixel brand, so thank you all for your support and dedication throughout 2015—let it continue into 2016!

Independent specialist retailer of the year Park Cameras (sponsored by Sony) Castle Cameras Camera World WEX Photographic Web Specialist retailer of the year WEX Photographic (sponsored by Sony) Clifton Cameras Park Cameras Jessops Consumer Magazine of the Year Amateur Photographer (Sponsored by Nikon) Digital Camera Magazine N Photo What Digital Camera Distributor of the year Intro 2020 (presented by Camera World) Swains International Manfrotto Distribution Hama Accessory Manufacturer of the year Manfrotto (presented by Wilkinson Camera) Sigma Imaging Lee Filters Hahnel Camera Manufacturer of the Year Sony (presented by Jessops) Olympus Canon Fujifilm Outstanding Contribution to the Industry Chris Swain

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GREY IMPORTS

Grey Import Rogues

Tax is something all companies have to pay, and selling online is no exception to that rule. Pixel speculates over rumours of cracking down on the grey import market and highlights its effects within the industry

‘T

is the season to be selling. As the mass market prepares for this season, there’s been talk of a crackdown on VAT, in particular through ecommerce sites such as Amazon and eBay. Discussions have been widespread between Amazon and eBay and the HMRC about online sellers from outside the UK evading tax on products that should include VAT within its price. Sellers are avoiding VAT on items by either not declaring VAT, providing an invalid VAT number, under-declaring package size, or sharing VAT numbers among various businesses. This not only undercuts legitimate UK businesses, but costs the economy billions

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of pounds in lost VAT each year. The latest HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) figures show that £13.1bn of UK VAT - about 11% - goes unpaid each year. That equates to 40% of the UK’s overall tax gap. Online tax evasion could make up a significant wad of this percentage.

Under EU law, Amazon, eBay and other online marketplaces could now be held liable for all unpaid VAT by individual sellers using their platform. Currently, the legislation dictates that Amazon and eBay aren’t liable to tax fraud until they become aware that it’s happening – at which point, they must inform the authorities immediately. Easy enough, you would think, but there are still numerous offences either

“Although the price is attention-grabbing, there are risks associated with that purchase – such as not necessarily getting the standard warranty” - Andy Steel of Park Cameras Ltd

GREY IMPORTS

dismissed, left unsolved or even ignored.

Currently under discussion is a change to that system, making the online marketplaces liable from the outset, meaning they would need to screen sellers for VAT numbers before allowing them to sell. eBay currently reminds all its users of their need to comply with their legal obligations, as does Amazon. As such, both suggest that the onus is on HMRC to find and prosecute tax evaders on their websites; all they can do is warn sellers. The HMRC now wants to extend its powers to combat this ‘grey market’.

A spokesperson from Amazon told the BBC: “Marketplace sellers are independent businesses responsible for complying with their own VAT obligations.”

“We do offer tools and information to assist sellers with their compliance, but we don’t have the authority to review their tax affairs. Naturally, we cooperate with HMRC as we are required to by law.”

As opposed to the black market - the trade of illegal and stolen goods – and white market, which is completely legitimate sale or resale of goods, the grey market falls in between and, as such, is one that can be subtly dangerous to consumers, legitimate retailers and the market as a whole. In terms of the photography market, grey market goods are a huge issue because of the lack of extras that would come with a digital imaging product directly from the manufacturer or authorised seller. For example, grey market goods have no factory warranty

and entitle the buyer to no customer support, unlike with an authorised seller. In addition, the buyer likely won’t receive any rights to software or firmware updates, promotions or cashback opportunities, or even the correct or safety-checked extra equipment. This is precarious, at best, for the consumer, and creates a knock-on effect for retailers and manufacturers, especially if the consumer is unsuspecting: a lot of grey market goods are being fraudulently passed off as genuine.

These products are imported from countries outside the EU, and outside of manufacturers’ established trading channels. A most basic issue in this situation is that the product has not been localised to the buyer’s area. For example, the power cord may not be for the UK and, worse, not quality checked by the manufacturer.

Many legitimate businesses have huge qualms with the system currently set up on Amazon or eBay when it comes to VAT liability. It’s not fair on those authorised sellers within the UK, who have to pay tax for those outside the UK to avoid it. A call for action has been made, and Amazon and eBay are now facing liability over lost VAT over the years, setting them back years and years of millions of unpaid tax sums, unless they change the rules and regulations of their sites from now onwards to state that any seller must have a valid VAT number.

Commenting on this nationwide issue, Andy Steel of Park Cameras Ltd said: “Goods

that are ‘grey imports’ occasionally cause issues with regard to a number of products within the photo market, and affect us, with many customers asking us to match some very attractive low prices. Understandably, customers are always looking for the best possible deal, and it can sometimes be a tricky task to inform customers that, although the price is attention grabbing, there are risks associated with that purchase – such as not necessarily getting the standard warranty (or, in some cases, additional warranty) or not being able to claim various cashback offers that the manufacturers operate.”

Barnaby Sykes, Head of Imaging at Panasonic UK, gave comment on this pressing and serious issue to Pixel on behalf of manufacturers, explaining the legal implications for them: “Panasonic take this issue seriously as there are wider implications than just the non-payment of VAT. Often these products are from outside the EEA so will not bear a CE mark and, moreover, this will mean they do not come with a European warranty. We have recently been identifying sellers who come under this banner and a test purchase has shown the non-payment of VAT. The legal recourse for us is through take-downs but that is via the trade mark protection route. In relation to eBay, the product is taken down but not the seller, so we are in discussions with our external legal advisors to consider other action we can take to ensure our customers are protected.”

www.pixel.co.uk 13

Are Your Are Your Images Safe?

Images Safe?

Are Your Images Safe?

X-Mass Market Deals

What brand deals are out there this Christmas, and how have dealers been prepared for the big rush?

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inter promotions are rife this year, with more and more offers and promotions on a range of camera equipment and cashback. With the instant popularity and growth of the likes of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it wouldn’t have been surprising for exclusive brand offers to drop off the shelf. However, the promotional season just seems to be getting longer and longer, eating more into January than ever before, with no drop in brand offerings and the retail support that comes with them.

Fujifilm is offering a range of cashback options and ‘claim-free’ offers this season, available till 11th January 2016 – having run already from 30th October, this is a lengthy period. Fujifilm is giving away a free vertical battery grip with X-series purchases, a free XC50-230mm lens with the X-E2 body or X-E2 XF 18-55mm kit, £40 cashback on a range of X-T10 kits, £375 cashback on XF prime or zoom lenses, and a free teleconversion lens with the X100T and a wide conversion lens.

Commenting on their seasonal promotions, Lucy Edwards, Marketing Manager of Electronic Imaging at Fujifilm UK, said: “We are aiming to drive sales of key X series CSCs and XF lenses. Some highlights of the Fujifilm Winter promos include £75 cashback on the X-T1 and up to £375 cashback on XF lenses.

“To back up this campaign, all Fujifilm Authorised Dealers will have received POS packs promoting the individual deals by product and highlighting the Cashback amounts/free lenses etc on offer. We have also supplied web assets for them to use on their websites. We’d really like to encourage retailers to use the POS and web assets, and to request more if necessary (via trademarketing@fuji.co.uk).”

She adds: “We also have a big push via our retailer incentive scheme in the run up to Christmas to encourage retail staff to learn about the key products and demonstrate the benefits of our products to consumers - the sales people that hit the targets set will be entered into a prize draw with a 7 day Safari Holiday up for grabs.”

This season Nikon has launched a new promotion, also offering customers a free battery grip with purchases of selected Nikon digital SLR cameras, running from 5th November to 28th January 2016. Customers looking to purchase a Nikon D7200 (body only or lens kit) are able to claim a free MB-D15 battery grip, whilst customers considering the Nikon D610 (body only

or lens kit) are entitled to a free MB-D14 battery grip.

With last year’s similar promotion, running from a slightly earlier date to a slightly later date (from 30th October to 4th February 2015), this year’s offer in fact seems to be giving consumers less time to buy.

However, Nikon has gone for a double whammy this year, also launching its Christmas cashback promotion offering up to £70 on selected D-SLR cameras and Speedlights, as well as the Nikon 1 J5, from 14th October 2015 until 13th January 2016, in comparison to last year’s 15th October 2014 to 25th January 2015, leaving more January sale time.

Canon is offering up to £75 cashback on selected camera, lens and flash products, running from 14th October 2015 to 13th January 2016, and Panasonic has put forward an offer of up to £150 cashback between 14th October and 25th January 2016 with any purchase of a Lumix camera or camcorder, and £300 cackback between 18th November and 6th December.

Pixel spoke to Barnaby Sykes, Head of Imaging at Panasonic UK, about how they work with and support participating retailers to market their seasonal offers: “We’ll be supporting the dealers with a range of activity this year. Our TV campaign launches on Monday 16th November for 4 weeks, with complementary press, online advertising and social media creating a market demand. This is a massive investment from Panasonic that will hopefully drive the Christmas market.

“In terms of POS, this year we’ve got a huge range that dealers can choose from, including: 4K photo lens tags for cameras to highlight which cameras offer 4K photo function, photobooks showing examples of 4K photo and how any photographer can use it, banners for retailers’ websites to highlight cashback and therefore encourage sales, printing of approved award logos and quotes for our award-winning cameras, and full shop re fits to make our products stand out more.”

Barnaby adds: “We’ll also have Lumix G dedicated store staff in selected retailers to help educate staff and consumers on the benefit of our unique technology and products, which, when combined with the cashback and TV promotion, should create a really strong market.”

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www.pixel.co.uk 15

BEHIND THE COUNTER

Behind The Counter

Pixel’s Behind The Counter section shines the spotlight on counter-staff to delve into the daily life of photo retail

Alex Rew

Steven “Bill” Sapsford

Behind the Counter turns the spotlight on counter staff in photographic shops across the country with a mix of silly and (slightly more) pertinent questions. Here, counter staff at Skears Photographic have kindly provided the answers you’ve been dying to know.

If you own/run/work in a camera shop and you’d like to get involved, please email jenny@pixel.co.uk What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened in store for you?

Alex: Portraits & Insects, but I am mainly a video man.

Do you provide a printing service/kiosk and/or a film development service?

Alex Rew: We once had a lady try to remove her jumper for their passport photograph, but they accidentally lifted everything and became stuck in their t-shirt for a few moments of not leaving much to the imagination.

What’s your go-to photo face?

Bill: All of them, although no “instant” printing service.

If you could have any camera equipment you wanted for free, what would it be?

Steven “Bill” Sapsford: I tend to use film equipment for the most part and I have all I want there, but the new Leica SL looks a tremendous piece of kit.

Black and white or colour photography?

Bill: Colour slide film is beautiful to see when done right.

What’s your opinion of ‘selfies’?

Bill: Not what I really do a great lot of but they have their place.

What camera do you use?

Bill: Olympus XA, Rollei 35, Nikon FM3, Leica M6, Hasselblad 500CM and a Sinar F2.

What’s your favourite thing to take pictures of?

16 www.pixel.co.uk

Bill: Normally something that I think looks happy but instead makes me look stupid.

What’s the strangest thing a customer has asked you?

Bill: Just the other day a customer asked if we do hair cuts!

What got you into photography in the first place?

Bill: My father, who was a photographic technician in the RAF. What’s the most outrageous thing a customer has ever done or said in store?

Alex: We had a customer ask if we could do photoshop work to remove a tree from the photograph as there was a naked person behind the tree they wanted to see.

Have you particularly seen an increase in younger people interested in film photography?

Bill: I would say there’s been an increase yes but also rivalled by professionals coming back to it as enjoyment rather than digital work they are having to do.

Do you see the Smartphone market as a threat to traditional camera sales?

Bill: Not really, more a tool that can be added to your equipment, plus the best camera is the one you have with you.

Do you think the ‘digital revolution’ is to blame for many independent retailers going out of business more recently?

Bill: No, I blame grey goods and internet sites that are allowed to get away with it.

If the government wants some extra cash they could look at these places and the loopholes they exploit. It would also help if the manufacturers would refuse to warranty them.

Do you offer trade-ins?

Alex: We certainly do. I think we may not be here if it hadn’t been for that, the margins on new goods tend to be rather poor.

What would you recommend as the best start-up DSLR for budding photographers?

Bill: Depending on the budget, I would recommend the Pentax K50 or Panasonic G7.

Both have fantastic features and functionality.

SAMSUNG

Pro-SmartPhone-Ography

Tom Arenz, Head of Marketing Communications at Samsung Semiconductor Europe discusses how 1.0 μm image sensors are turning smartphones users into professional photographers

T

he smartphone camera has come a long way over the last 12 years. Some of the first camera phones after the turn of the millennium, such as Samsung’s SCH-V200 with 350,000 pixels, were capable of taking 20 photos. Now we have phones featuring 13MP+ resolutions capable of taking thousands.

While today’s smartphone cameras are significantly better than those gone by, consumers are getting savvy to the fact that megapixel count isn’t everything. A 13MP camera won’t necessarily take better-quality photos than a 10MP camera.

That’s why manufacturers have focused on improving other factors that affect image quality, for example the image sensor, something that’s difficult to improve when consumers increasingly demand thinner, lighter and more portable smartphones. The only problem is that these demands all directly impact the quality of camera that a smartphone manufacturer is able to include. Generally, the bigger the image sensors, the better the camera. However, as smartphones are getting thinner and thinner, manufacturers have to find new ways to reduce the size of the image sensor in order to accommodate space-starved smartphone interiors. Crucially, as image sensors get smaller, the quality cannot afford to drop — otherwise, smartphones will ultimately lose the market for the moderately serious photographer. I’m sure most people interested in photography would happily have a slightly thicker smartphone for a significantly better camera.

Another crucial point that manufacturers must consider is that while they shrink the size of image sensors, they will also shrink the size of their camera’s pixels. As these pixels shrink in size, the remaining well capacity (the amount of charge an individual pixel can hold before saturating) also shrinks, resulting in less dynamic range. As pixels shrink further, we gradually begin to see a “colour-crosstalk” effect — where photons and photoelectrons bleed between neighbouring pixels. This crosstalk between pixels reduces the quality of the overall picture.

In managing this issue, manufacturers have to undertake a complex balancing act. They must design and produce an image sensor that’s big enough to take high-quality photos but is

still small enough to fit inside of ever-thinner smartphones.

In achieving this goal, 2015 has just seen the launch of the world’s first 1.0 μm-pixel-based 16-megapixel CMOS image sensor, which is 20% smaller than its predecessor yet maintains the same resolution. These image sensors feature ISOCELL technology, which creates physical barriers between neighbouring pixels — isolating pixels. This isolation enables more photons to be collected from the micro-lens and to be absorbed into the correct pixel’s photodiode while significantly minimizing undesired electrical crosstalk between pixels.

And it’s also allowing expanded full well capacity (FWC) and increased light sensitivity as well, resulting in high colour fidelity even in poor lighting conditions.

By launching the 1.0 μm-pixel-based 16-megapixel CMOS image sensor, Samsung can help make slim mobile cameras without compromising performance. ISOCELL technology enables users to experience increased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for better sharpness and richness, and phase detection auto focus (PDAF) for the best image capturing. An imager designed with ISOCELL can feature a widened chief ray angle (CRA) leading to the reduction in thickness by 23% or 1.5mm in case of a 16-megapixel CMOS image sensor, from 6.5mm to 5.0mm. This avoids having a bulge on the camera at the back of the mobile device.

Sensors like these go a long way to putting

smartphones on a par with the digital SLR market. But we see that global sales of SLR have been steadily declining over the last few years despite many serious photographers’ loyalty to the SLR. Smartphone cameras may not be the only explanation behind the recent SLR sales drop, but are certainly a contributing factor. Dedicated compact cameras themselves have improved significantly, meaning that those who traditionally used SLRs could get the same performance out of a compact for a cut of the price and bulk. In the age of “always on” consumer convenience, this provides a significant incentive for photographers to make the switch.

And with more and more technological breakthroughs with smartphone image sensors, phone cameras do enable users to take increasingly professional photographs — and remain proud of the end result. It’s only a matter of time.

Samsung Semiconductor is a pioneer in the smartphone image sensor industry, designing, developing and manufacturing the world’s first 1.0 μm-pixel-based 16-megapixel CMOS image sensor with ISOCELL technology.

Written by Tom Arenz, Head of Marketing Communications, Samsung Semiconductor Europe

www.pixel.co.uk 17

DAYMEN

A New Day

Having recently moved into their new premises, Pixel speaks with Denise Sutton, Head of UK Sales at DayMen International Ltd, to see what the brands Lowepro, Joby and their fresh team are up to and what they have in store for 2016

H

i Denise, we are keen to catch up with the team at DayMen since the company moved premises. Did the move go well? For the benefit or our readers, can you please give us a rundown of the current team?

DayMen moved into new premises back in June, which was handled really smoothly by a great team behind the scenes. At the same time as the move, I became Head of Sales

18 www.pixel.co.uk

UK. This means I have now been in the industry for nearly 30 years, starting my career at Dorman’s Photographic and then moving onto Minolta, Fujifilm, Casio and now Lowepro & JOBY. I am supported by a fantastic UK sales team with many years of experience. They thoroughly understand this industry and have great relationships with their customers.

Working alongside me in the team is: Paul Draper, previously from Pentax, who has been with us for 2 years; Danny Dullforce, previously in camera retail, who has been with us now for 4 years; and Louise Brettle, who has been with us for 13 years How has 2015 been for DayMen and the Lowepro and JOBY brands, so far as

awards, accolades and consumer facing reviews are concerned?

The market has seen many peaks and troughs this year, but we have continued to stay focused on bringing great quality products to the market that consumers want and expect. This year, Lowepro has launched 12 new product ranges, receiving a great response across the board, with awards such as the Gear of the Year for the ProTactic 350 AW, as well as magazine best buys and gold awards. Joby has launched 16 new products under our action and mobile categories, significantly expanding our range from where it started with the GorillaPod Original - still a winner for impulse buys at Christmas.

What’s new within the walls of DayMen and what new sectors are coming into focus for dealers in 2016?

DAYMEN

All these accessories perfectly complement Within the walls of DayMen we are very busy, the traditional aspect of photography and focusing on our two own brands Lowepro videography with a camera, and for our & Joby. At our core is photography and customers who embrace these categories producing solutions for photographers and for which there is consumer demand - they videographers. Aligning with market trends, have a real opportunity to not only satisfy their we have launched stylish CSC cases and customers’ needs but also see growth in their backpacks that are smaller bags but still business. suitable for a full kit. We also recognise that the consumer landscape is changing, and so are Christmas and New Year has traditionally their interests and needs. An example of this been a busy time for is the drones market. No accessory sales, which longer a device of science are, of course, right up fiction, they are accessible “The primary sale is DayMen’s street. What at a mass-market level, often the hardware, advice would you give and are a perfect next our readers to drive these step in capturing images but combining it with a sales and what kind of and film footage. For this Lowepro bag, JOBY support might they expect market, we introduced Action Clamp or from DayMen this festive the DroneGuard series, GorillaPod will boost the season? which are designed for the most popular drones, and sales and generate a big Yes, as ever, Christmas is the biggest sales period of the all have easy access and cash margin.” year, so now is the time to storage - please see www. make every sales opportunity lowepro.co.uk/drones for count and drive attachment more information. Action rates. We have a number of promotions and Mobile continue to be important volume running for our independent accounts, all lines, and whilst they are more established adding great value. For example, consumers categories, they continue to see growth. We will receive a free Joby Convertible Neck strap are working hard in all these areas and have worth £25 with every Lowepro bag purchased introduced the ViewPoint Series of cases for over £50. Also, participating stores have action cameras, including a backpack that has ‘when bought with’ offers available on our a laptop and tablet compartment. Joby’s range GorillaPod SLR-Zoom. It is great to have our of high quality Action and GripTight accessories customers on board supporting these, but are perfect for anyone who owns a mobile it is really important to bring them to life in phone or action camera, working together as a store so these offers don’t get lost - making modular system.

the most of POS, creating visual displays and utilising online material, as well as ensuring that your staff are aware of the promotions, is key.

The primary sale is often the hardware, but combining it with a Lowepro bag, JOBY Action Clamp or GorillaPod will boost the sales and generate a big cash margin.

Don’t forget sales of accessories can be really good after Christmas too, as often a gift is not given with a case or accessories. Entice your customers to come back to your store by offering a voucher to spend in January or follow up with an E-shot of available accessories for the camera they purchased.

Denise would like to wish all customers a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year! To get in touch with the sales team at DayMen, telephone 0845 250 0790

www.pixel.co.uk 19

KENRO

Kenro Own Brand Tripods

Pixel interviews Paul Kench at Kenro on their debut of own brand tripods and monopod in October this year

E

stablished 43 years ago, Kenro has had a long-standing career as a major distributor of its own-branded gift frames, albums and photographic accessories, as well as being the official UK and Ireland importer/distributor of Takeway, Marumi, Nissin, Braun and Reflecta branded products.

Now, Kenro has launched four own-brand tripod kits, comprising of two entry-level tripod kits, available in both small and large sizes, and two professional kits, again in a choice of small or large. A further addition is a Kenro monopod, making for five new supports in total.

Constructed from lightweight magnesiumaluminium alloy for comfortable transportation - with the monopod boasting a titanium alloy build - these products are available for trade customers on their, also newly launched, Trade Website, aimed at making it easier for retailers and trade users to order stock with its 24 hour facilities.

Kenro offers up the Model 101 Kenro Standard Travel Tripod Kit, the Model 102 Kenro Standard Travel Tripod Kit, the Model 201 Kenro Professional Travel Tripod Kit, the flagship Model 202 Kenro Professional Travel Tripod Kit, featuring all the advantages of the 201 model but adding a heavier maximum load capacity of 12kg, and finally, the Model 301 Kenro Standard Monopod Kit. Pixel saw this as a huge development for Kenro, having previously been the distributor for Benro tripods – it’s also exciting to see a British-owned company launching into the tripod market. Editor Jenny Ardagh got in touch with Paul Kench, joint Managing Director of the company, who answered some of our questions.

Jenny: What level of photographer is the kit aimed at (entry level/pro)? Or is there a range of levels within the 5 just launched?

Paul: With the 5 models just launched, we are aiming at a range of photographer levels. The initial range includes 2 standard travel tripod kits along with a monopod kit that are more aimed towards entry-level and enthusiast photographers. There are also 2 professional travel tripod kits, which are designed with the needs of more advanced photographers in mind.

20 www.pixel.co.uk

J: What brought on the decision to create your own brand of tripods and monopods?

P: The Kenro brand has been established for over 40 years and has a strong heritage, and we decided that with our established customer base and experience in the tripods market, it would make sense to develop our own Kenro range of supports. This decision has enabled us to have close control over both the quality and specifications of the range, and we will be expanding the number of models on an ongoing basis.

J: Is there a plan to launch other own-brand products, such as your photo frames and now tripods?

P: Yes we are planning to expand the range of Kenro branded

products in 2016, and we also have a number of exciting new agency lines that we will launch shortly!

J: Will you be using your already established trade partnerships (with your photo frames etc.) to get these new products out to the public?

P: Kenro have a good reputation for quality and customer service, and excellent relationships with our dealers.

The initial feedback on this new tripods range has been very positive. We have a comprehensive marketing plan in place and will be exhibiting at both The Photography Show at Birmingham NEC (Stand G53) and the BVE 2016 (Stand P17) at London Excel. We look forward to seeing everybody there!

For more information on Kenro’s new line up of products, or about their new Trade Website, email: sales@ kenro.co.uk or call 01793 615836

IT’S HERE

ADVERT Your Next Step in Communication and Information in the Imaging Industry Head to Pixel.co.uk to request your log in today or contact tom@lifemediagroup.co.uk

www.pixel.co.uk 21

WATCH THE VIDEO NOW

Combing Light: How to successfully combine hard & soft light with Jake Hicks Gemini Flash Lighting System Step up to consistent stability, precision lighting control, plus studio and location capabilities. With unmatched durability, it’s easy to see why Bowens has been a premier lighting brand for over 50 years.

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in print

RETAIL SOLUTIONS FOR THE PRINT PROFESSIONAL

FEATURING

ENDURING MEMORIES DESPITE THE OVERWHELMING GROWTH OF DIGITAL, WE STILL HOLD OUR PRINTED MEMORIES DEAR. IN:PRINT DISCUSSES THE REASON BEHIND THE BOOM IN PHOTOBOOK SALES AND WHY PEOPLE STILL HOLD THE SENTIMENT OF TRADITIONAL ALBUMS DEAR

The term, ‘photo album’ has changed over the years, from a hardback flipbook of memories to a digital memory stream that can be added to, adapted, or deleted when convenient.

The overwhelming use of digital devices, albeit a miraculous technological turnaround, has sabotaged the photo album industry with an unlimited and totally free means of viewing your photos.

Continued on page 24...

STRIP FOR ADVERTISERS mitsubishielectric-printing.com

www.pixel.co.uk 23

PHOTO-ME COVER FEATURE: CEWE

ENDURING MEMORIES Continued...

S

martphones are now our primary memory capturer, and our computers/ tablets are the main source of reminiscing over the good times.

Within a couple of minutes, a photograph is downloaded into an album on our computer and, more often than not, forgotten about for the near, or sometimes distant, future. Social media revolutionised the way we look at and share photo albums even further: now everyone we know, and sometimes even strangers, can see what we did for our last birthday and all our Christmases over the years. A Facebook blog recently announced its users to be uploading 300 million photos a day online. This is a staggering figure, highlighting the dramatic shift from analogue to digital and the almost obsessive nature of our social society today.

Luckily, this doesn’t mean the magic of a classic photo album is lost; the opposite, in fact, with photo album sales booming in recent years.

Arguably, this has taken a different form: as a photobook rather than album. The difference being that, of course, digital still plays its part in the arrangement, designing and ordering of the now much-demanded photo books.

However, the end product still holds the same sentiment as it has done for years - before mobile phones were king, before computers acted as our prefrontal cortex, and before we could preview our images on our camera screens. Holding and looking at a physical memory book is a concept that predates all modern technology and seemingly will always prevail. Since the Victorian era, we have provided evidence of our lives, and kept those memories alive in print for generations to come to see and appreciate. Printed photographs are held much more sacred than any digital image.

One of the most important times of year for families across the world is Christmas and New Year. And remembering the day over the following years is just as essential: a record-breaking 750 million photographs were uploaded to Facebook over New Year’s weekend in 2011, proving our overwhelming need to document this time in our lives, and savour it. Two things arise from this: people print their photos from this special time and need somewhere safe to put them, and people give personalised photo gifts to loved ones on the special day itself.

As such, online orders of photobooks, or other photo personalised products, have gone through the roof in recent years, with new technology and easy delivery from online sites making the idea of the photobook more appealing than a wholly traditional and simplistic photo album – and why not? Photobooks not only allow more creativity for the perhaps not so

24 www.pixel.co.uk

naturally creative of us, but also allow complete personalisation through the addition of text, backgrounds, colours, borders and various binding options that just aren’t available with adhesive or slip-pocket albums.

Futuresource Consulting statistics show that photobook sales grew by 11% in 2014, with an 8% growth expected by the end of this year.

Predictions indicate that by 2018, the market will have grown from 2.75 million photobook sales in 2014, to 3.45 million in 2018, when the market will be worth 18 million Euros more than in 2014.

Jeremy Wills, Senior Market Analyst of the Print & Imaging department of Futuresource Consulting commented on this increased interest in photobooks in the UK, despite the thriving ‘digital revolution’.

“Looking back 10-15 years ago, before the rise of photobooks, the UK photo printing market was a lot more geared towards instore photo printing on minilabs by chains or independent stores than many other Western European markets, where there was more of a mix between in-store photo printing and photos printed by large wholesale photo laboratories.

“It is only really in the last three years, when we started to see more marketing of photobooks in the UK, that consumer

awareness rose and order volumes grew in double digits.”

Duncan Midwood, MD of CEWE UK, expects the market to continue to grow over the next 3 years, but also highlighted how this trend is only just gaining traction, seemingly behind the rest of Europe: “Despite the UK photo market being one of the most developed in Europe, the photo book has been slow to gain traction. Even now, the UK ranks well down the European league of photo book penetration (number of photo books purchased per year per 1,000 of the population). However, the UK is now starting to catch up with the bigger players in Europe.”

So why has this happened? Duncan suggests there are 5 main drivers: 1. Awareness of the photobook as a product format for reliving and sharing memories as photos is growing – partly as a natural process as more feed into the market, partly from word of mouth and partly from increasing advertising activity; 2. Photobooks are becoming increasingly accessible from a price perspective, with many discounters offering varying degrees of quality, and from the perspective of availability;

in print

3. Photobooks are becoming increasingly easy to create – no longer does one have to spend hours creating one, as there are automatic assistants to help create photo books ‘in just a few clicks’; 4. The quality of the finished product is ever improving, helping to drive repeat purchases and recommendations; 5. More retailers are now providing inspiration and ideas to consumers, helping to offer more reasons to enter the photobook market.

Jeremy speculates about the more psychological effect that printing your memories can have: “Consumers like capturing some important events or memories in a bound book and the industry is continually innovating: larger sizes, higher-end paper, silver halide paper, lay-flat books, photo covers, etc.”

This is the ethos that runs through the In:Print campaign itself: a physical photograph, or photobook, is always so much more meaningful than a digitally represented memory, which can be overlooked or even lost.

Photobooks are certainly not the only personalised photo product that has hit the roof in terms of sales either, with mugs,

pillows, mousemats, calendars and wall décor all available in whatever form the consumer wishes. Christmas is the ideal time of year for these products to fly off the virtual e-shelves. A recent Photobox survey found that 72% of Brits would rather receive a personalised gift than a shop-bought one, with over two thirds of UK consumers claiming to spending an average of £15.21 perfecting their personalised present.

Jeremy added: “Photo calendars are very seasonal, with about 90% of annual demand occurring from November to early January – you may see TV adverts at this time of the year for photo calendars. Demand for other gifting products such as photobooks, wall décor and certain photo gifts is also higher during Q4 than any other time of the year, although not to the same extent as photo calendars.”

Online remains the main channel for buying these photo gifts, in particular photobooks.

Yet, as Smartphone technology has risen it’s far easier for consumers to get hold of a personalised photo product via apps also, especially photobooks: “In consumer research we conducted in Q3 2015 across France, Germany & the UK, the percentage of consumers that had ordered photo products from a Smartphone within the previous 12 months had doubled compared to when we

“It is only really in the last

three years, when we started to see more marketing of photobooks in the UK that consumer awareness rose and order volumes grew in double digits” ran the same research in mid-2013,” says Jeremy.

However, with the increased competition, and new technology allowing in-store creation, we at In:Print think there’s huge scope for seeing in-store photobook production – a fantastic prospect for our campaign - getting people to print their memories in the best way they can. Although photobooks, with their digital element, are close to replacing traditional photo albums, the traditional sentiment is still there, alive and kicking, ready to host all your greatest memories – for you or for your loved ones.

www.pixel.co.uk 25

PHOTO-ME COVER FEATURE: CEWE

IMAGINE: A CHRISTMAS TV CAMPAIGN FOR THE NATION

MR APPY APPEARING ON SCREENS ACROSS THE NATION THIS SEASON, PROMOTING THE FUJIFILM IMAGINE SOFTWARE TO OVER 1.3 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS

H

eard this recently?

“Looking for the perfect Christmas Gift Idea? Look inside your Smartphone!”

Well, that’s because Fujifilm has used this festive season to its advantage, promoting the Fujifilm Imagine software app to endorse photo printing in the crucial run up to Christmas!

The national TV advert shows off the new software’s capabilities, including ordering photos or gifts in store, online or via the mobile app. The campaign also gave Fujifilm the chance to introduce and show off their newest addition to the team: Mr Appy.

Mr Appy, making his first appearance on TV after first showing up at The Photography Show in March 2015, pioneers the Fujifilm Imagine software in the 20-second-long advert,

narrating: “With FUJIFILM, you can make the perfect photo gift just in time for Christmas. Or go large with super-sized photo and canvas prints. It’s easy - call into your local ASDA or FUJIFILM store, go online, or download the FUJIFILM Imagine App. Christmas is all wrapped up with FUJIFILM Imagine. Download the app today!”

In line with In:Print’s campaign focus, the Fujifilm Imagine software aims to drive the idea that printing photographs is easy, important and accessible to everyone. Airing between 16th November and 15th December 2015 on Sky, the advert itself helps to reinforce the idea of uploading and ordering prints from your phone and collecting them in store, or receiving them in the post via the multi-platform software, currently installed on kiosks in 134 FDIS (Fujifilm Digital Imaging Service) sitesa and – as the

advert explains – 190 ASDA stores across the UK. Kiosks and minilabs are a means of photo printing that has grown rapidly in the past couple of years, and Fujifilm had to push their promotion through the best channel possible. They had to choose wisely how to

Welcome to Fujifilm Digital Imaging Service, our members only photo marketing program

The FDIS branding has made my store look more professional. The FDIS marketing, point of sale, business and technical support is excellent.

Maggy Corkill - Treorchy Photolab

YOU NEED

26 www.pixel.co.uk

YOU WANT

a partnership with the market leader in photo imaging

a program of targeted promotional campaigns

a modern marketing solution for photo retail

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For more information on FDIS membership or to request a brochure

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in print “We are very excited about this campaign and really want our participating retailers to take advantage of the additional business this will surely bring to their stores” - Peter Wigington, Fujifilm Marketing Manager implement their £250,000 campaign fund from Fujifilm’s Head Office. Sky AdSmart was the way forward. It allowed Fujifilm to reach a wide, yet specific, audience by combining Sky’s household audience data, gained from customers’ Sky HD box, with Fujifilm’s own target audience knowledge to run a particular advert on one box but not another, based on the audience demographic data in that household – including age, sex and interests, and even postcode area. In this instance, Fujifilm were able to filter the postcodes of the 190 Asda Photo stores and 134 FDIS stores and filter by households with families with

children aged 0 - 11 years.

Sky came back with a total of 1.3 million households for this demographic. With Fujifilm’s £¼ million budget, they had scope to get an average viewing frequency of 3.4 over the 14 channels that AdSmart is available on, reaching a massive audience. As anything above three is considered a good reach, the advert successfully got out to millions of people and, even better, those who fit the correct demographic.

Complementing the TV campaign, Mr Appy also appeared in participating FDIS stores.

Retailers received a set of in-store point-of-sale packs, including the likes of: A Mr Appy floor stander, Mr Appy fouble sided hanging mobiles plus fittings, strutted counter cards, Mr Appy flyers and phone charm giveaways, plus a pack

of 50 Mr Appy phone charms, an A2 poster and an A4 counter stand.

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

To view the ‘Mr Appy’ Christmas advert discussed here, go to: http://fujilmimagine.co.uk/ mobile/ If you have any other questions or need more information about Fujifilm Imagine, FDIS membership or the TV campaign then contact Peter Wigington on 01234 572138 or email pwigington@fuji.co.uk

People recognise the Fujifilm brand so buying into the FDIS marketing support package has been very beneficial to us.

Mark Simmonds - Cartridge & Printing World, Andover

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Winner of Print Franchise of the Year 2015

Fujifilm Imagine software provides an instore, online and mobile platform so it gives us a number of options and the opportunity to increase footfall in the store.

Richard Swan - Clifton Cameras, Dursley

www.pixel.co.uk 27 please contact Peter Wigington on 01234 572138 or email pwigington@fuji.co.uk

in print

IN:PRINT’S BOOK OF THE MONTH SHOWCASING PRINTED PHOTOGRAPHY IN TRUE STYLE, TIM RUDMAN OFFERS 98 BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE SHOTS OF ICELAND. IN:PRINT CHOOSES THIS AS ITS BEST ‘BOOK OF THE MONTH’ In:Print is giving away a copy of ‘ICELAND. An Uneasy Calm’ to one lucky reader.

To win, simply email your answer to the question below to jenny@pixel. co.uk with “ICELAND” as the subject, including your name and contact details (including your address).

Who published ‘ICELAND. An Uneasy Calm’?

For book and exhibition enquiries and more information about Tim Rudman visit: http://www.timrudman.com/

I

CELAND. An Uneasy Calm’ by Tim Rudman is a new collection of stunning photographs presented in a stylish hardback. The book displays 98 toned black and white photographs taken in Iceland over the last eight years by Tim Rudman who is rightly acknowledged as one of the very finest landscape photographers working today.

Tim describes his fascination with the country as “a land of myth and magic, of fearsome subterranean power and spectacular scenery”.

In the foreword to the book, American Photographic Artist Bill Schwab has written: “These images go far beyond the common and strike deep at the viewers’ core, resonating with power and beauty. The photographs will take you to many places beyond simple fences, rocks, clouds and shorelines and undoubtedly to places within”.

Early work displayed at The Meyer Gallery, Sydney, Australia, was considered so important that the two whole floors of the gallery were given for the exhibition.

Tim said: “It was very successful and over the course of a year was also exhibited in Gold Street Gallery, Melbourne and in the Clarke Gallery of the Ballarat Gold Museum in Victoria. At that time I didn’t feel that the work was ready for publication as a book and I continued to grow the work over the next 5 years. It now is and over 100 prints are available for future exhibition”.

The book, published

by Opas Books, will have a print run of 1000 copies, plus 75 limited edition signed and numbered books in a silk bound clam shell box with one of three limited edition handmade silver gelatine prints unique to this edition.

The images were captured on ILFORD film,

“At that time I didn’t feel that the work was ready for publication as a book and I continued to grow the work over the next 5 years”

28 www.pixel.co.uk

mostly ILFORD DELTA PROFESSIONAL 120 roll film. The original prints made personally by the photographer are printed on ILFORD MULTIGRADE FB WARMTONE paper developed in ILFORD MULTIGRADE Developer processed using a variant of the ILFORD Archival Process. All are dual toned in selenium and thiourea toners.

Steven Brierley, Director of Sales and Marketing at ILFORD PHOTO/HARMAN technology said: “Tim’s work is always originated on film but made unique and easily identifiable by his supreme gift as one of the leading photographic printers of his generation.

His skills, and ability to enhance almost any image is widely shared amongst all who enjoy photography at whatever level by his many publications and shows a profound and encyclopaedic knowledge of his craft”.

Tim is well known internationally for his pioneering work in Lith Printing and distinctive toning methods of black & white silver gelatine prints, authoring a number of books and hundreds of articles in this field. He exhibits his work internationally and has taught in every corner of the globe, with work held in collections worldwide, including The Permanent Collection housed at the National Media Museum in Bradford UK.

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NEWS BITES BITES NEWS

NEWS BITES

FIND OUT MORE INFO ON THIS MONTH’S NEWS BITES AT PIXEL.CO.UK

Peter Phago retires after 50 years In recent months, we received news that Peter Phago had decided that now was the time to retire and to sell his business, Heritage Photo Albums. The business has been sold to Internet Direct (Chichester) Ltd and the new owner is Jerri Smith. Jerri will bring a wealth of experience and a breath of fresh air to Heritage Photo Albums through his marketing skills and

experience in the photo industry.

The Heritage Photo Album range is still made in a traditional bindery, here in the UK, using skilled craftsmen that check the production from start to finish to ensure the quality is maintained.

New models are also to be added to the range.

Peter Phago shared his thoughts with Pixel and In:Print since retiring: “It’s approaching

three months, now, since we acquired the business. A lot of people have told me that they think photobooks are the future but now having seen the sales in the first few months, we can see only 0.5% are for our photobooks, so I remain unconvinced. This is not a judgement based only on sales but also on talking to so many professional photographers.

It’s clear to me that many of them

still hold a portfolio of traditional albums to show prospective clients and go on to win the business.”

New KODAK PROFESSIONAL ENDURA Premier Canvas Paper Kodak Alaris has introduced a new canvas texture photographic paper: Endura Premier Canvas Paper – a first for the silver-halide photographic paper category.

The new product enables photographers and pro labs to produce prints with a canvas look and feel, and can also be used to create enlargements, photo gifts and a classic surface for books.

“We continually strive to create

new products in response to user demand. With the growing trend of wall art and photo books, we saw an opportunity to offer a canvas texture paper that combines the premium quality of silver-halide paper, but looks like canvas,” said Lee Palmer, General Manager & Vice President Kodak Alaris Imaging-Consumer, Eamer.

The new product is fingerprint - and smudge-free and offers

photography since 1910 when Chris’ grandfather, Percy, opened Smith Studios in Loughborough and after a period of development by elder brothers, Ernest and Arthur, who eventally became

‘Smudgers’, Chris fully took over the business in 1975 and turned it into a wholesale distribution company employing a National Sales Force. The rest, as they say, is history.

Chris is missed by many and there are few who didn’t know or haven’t heard of him. His award standing ovation from the was collected by his daughter, packed crowd.

Abby, and Chris recieved a 5 minute Chris Swain - 1945 - 2007

And Finally...

It was with great pride that we handed the 2015 Outstanding Contribution to the Industry award to the legendary Chris Swain. The Swain name has been associated with

CREDITS & CONTACTS

in print

RETAIL SOLUTIONS FOR THE PRINT PROFESSIONAL

Managing Director/Publisher: Lee Mansfield 01323 819007 lee@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Production Manager: Harriet Weston 01323 819010 harriet@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Title Manager: Simon Skinner 01323 819017 simon@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Production Designer: Amy Watson 01323 819018 amy@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Operations Director: Clare Fermor 01323 819016 clare@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Pixel Platform Manager: Thomas Allen 01323 819007 tom@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Editor: Jenny Ardagh 01323 819011 jenny@pixel.co.uk

Accounts: Amelia Wellings 01323 819016 amelia@lifemediagroup.co.uk

30 www.pixel.co.uk

Subscriptions: Linda Grace 01323 819015 linda@lifemediagroup.co.uk Published by: LMG SE LTD (Life Media Group) 1 Swan Business Centre, Swan Barn Road, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2BY Printed by: Gemini Press Unit A1 Dolphin Way, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex BN43 6NZ

durability, accurate and natural looking skin tones, and increases the colour gamut for stronger, brighter and more vibrant colours, including clean whites and rich blacks.

Kodak Alaris leads the market with its unique premium papers, enabling professional lab and photographers to extend the range of surfaces they offer their customers.

All material in this publication is strictly copyright and all rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The views expressed in Pixel Magazine do not necessarily represent the view of Life Media Group LTD. Every care is taken in compiling the contents but the publishers of Pixel Magazine assume no reponsibilty for any damage, loss or injury arising from the participation in any offers, competitions or advertisment contained within Pixel Magazine.

All prices featured in Pixel Magazine are correct at the time of going to press.

Copyright Life Media Group LTD 2015©

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