British Photographic Industry News December 2018 January 2019

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DEC 2018 / JAN 2019 • £3

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SNAPSHOT OF 2018-19 The year in review… & what comes next!

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IN THIS ISSUE…

THE BIG INTERVIEW

RETAIL CASE STUDY

BUSINESS ADVICE

REVIEW OF THE YEAR

Counter culture: with 60+ years in the business, we quiz Alex Falk of camera shop Mr Cad on the secrets of his longevity

Are personalised products the future for the photo trade? Two minilabs tell us how they’re successfully profiting from print

We advise on how to bulletproof your photo business for 2019, not just by keeping costs in check but also by investing

Familiar faces from across the photo industry choose their memorable moments from 2018 and predict next year’s news

01/11/2018 – 15/01/2019

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Photographic British

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Published monthly by

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

Editorial | December 18 / January 19

Gavin Stoker, Editor gavin@bpinews.co.uk @GavinStoker

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Please direct all advertising enquiries and sponsorship opportunities to gavin@bpinews.co.uk Publisher’s Office: 31 New Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 7HZ. Legacy Media Ltd accept no ultimate responsibility for accurate reproduction of digital artwork created by third parties.

Insurance and carriage of products submitted for inclusion in reports rests with the owner. News, data, prices, interviews and opinion are printed in good faith E&OE. Content including advertising artwork created by Legacy Media Ltd or its agents is ©2018 Legacy Media Ltd. ISSN: to be advised.

elcome to our regular combined December and January edition of BPI News – our ‘Christmas annual’ if you like, in which we round up this year and look forward to the next. It’s been an interesting 12 months – and that’s something of an understatement.

We’ve seen change in some areas, yet a distinct lack-of in others, combined with continuing uncertainty, both locally and globally. We live in unpredictable times, in which we’re nevertheless called on to make predictions and judgement calls. Well-worn mantra ‘keep calm and carry on’ poses a stickyour-head-in-the-sand solution of sorts, but at BPI News we much prefer being proactive and seeking out opportunity.

High points and ‘opportunity’ for many in 2018 will have included Nikon’s long-awaited return to the mirror-less camera market with a pair of pro-end

BPI NEWS WILL RETURN WITH OUR FEBRUARY 2019 COVER Copy due by January 24th.

REQUEST OUR 2019 PRODUCTION PACK for crucial dates via info@bpinews.co.uk

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COVER IMAGE: With kind permission of Damien Lovegrove.

Taken on the Fujifilm GFX 50S. Model: Victoria Bond.

Bookings are now open for Damien’s portrait, fashion, boudoir and landscape workshop in France next June.

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full frame sensor cameras. Also joining the full frame mirrorless club was Canon, while Panasonic announced its intention to deliver its own version to us in 2019. All three will be hoping to gain ground on Sony, which has of course marketed a successful range of full frame mirrorless cameras for quite some time.

With a sense that some have finally woken up to the current reality, as we usually do at this point in the calendar, we’ve asked a selection of the photo trade to give us their most memorable moments from this year, and share their hopes for 2019. You can find this ‘Trade Review of the Year’ on page 28.

Our Big Interview this month is also a little different. We’ve switched the spotlight from corporate CEOs to that of long-serving independent retailer Alex Falk, of Pimlico’s Mr Cad. Alex is one of those BPI News readers want to share his opinion with us via email from time to time – and since he’s been in the trade a whopping 60+ years, we pay heed. We’re sure you’ll enjoy the Q&A on page 12 of this issue, in which he shares what motivates him after decades of service and what we, as an industry, are losing the art of.

Finally, I want to personally thank everyone who has contributed to BPI News throughout 2018, booked an advertorial or placed advertising.

Without content we wouldn’t have a magazine – or a central hub via which the photo trade can communicate with, or market to, one another. It feels like more than ever we need that sense of community and continuity, which we do our best to provide. It’s a challenge for sure, but one we’re happy to continue to rise to with your support.

Wishing all readers a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year…

BPI News | December 2018 / January 2019 3

News

promotions Camera AG

to £275 cashback available, it is a great time for photographers to review and update their kit bags for the year ahead, preparing for new challenges and assignments in 2019”.

More info on the promo, how claims are submitted and the usual T&C’s can be found via: https://nikonpromotions.co.uk/ www.nikon.co.uk

MORE PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW & VIDEO SHOW DETAILS EMERGE While we await confirmation of trade Lumix National Trust POS exhibitors and professional speakers at next year’s annual organiser Future has Complimentaryevent, 12 month national trust membership with the lumiX FZ200 or FZ72 Description • Complimentary National revealed various features either making Trust Membership Campaign POS a return or being introduced. Claimed highlights include the Great Outdoors Stage, the Super Stage with its big name speakers, an Editing Suite demonstrating Show, adds: “Huge advances in technology what’s capable using software at all skill over the last few years have made stills levels, the Photo Live and Video Live photography and film-making much stages with demos including use of lighting more accessible. Add this to the growth in and flash, the Wedding & Portrait stage, social media channels, such as Instagram, the In Motion and Behind the Lens and rise of vlogging, and there is a huge A3 Poster theatres – exploring the generation of demand for more information across film Wobbler photo, with our events providing the ‘content’ – a Social Stage, looking at and mastering use of YouTube, Facebook and perfect place to find all the answers and Twitter, plus the Drone Zone, exploring inspiration. Both The Photography Show tech for aerial photography fans. and The Video Show offer professionals Ruth Folkard, Event Manager for both a unique opportunity to see first-hand The Photography Show and The Video the next generation of technology, while ©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

es he

additionally included in the promotion, along with a generous 17 FX format (full frame) lenses, plus a further nine DX format (for APS-C sensor cameras) lenses.

Nikon’s Senior Product Manager Tim Carter (pictured) says: “Our winter cashback promotion features DSLRs and lenses for every shooting scenario: from winter landscapes to lowlight festive shots. With up

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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21/08/2013 13:54

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

©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

laCes

The photo stalwart claims total production of Nikkor lenses for its interchangeable lens cameras has now reached 110 million units.

Those in the trade with long memories will be aware that Nikon has produced Nikkor F lenses for its SLRs since 1959, and, of course, earlier this year introduced a whole new Nikkor Z lens line up for its new full frame mirrorless system cameras.

As those who read our launch coverage in BPI News’ October issue will know, the new lens system was introduced to take advantage of the new large diameter mount of its full frame mirrorless models.

Nikon says this ‘unlocked’ further possibilities in lens design and increased capabilities in optical performance; a case in point being the fastest lens in the manufacturer’s history – at f/0.95.

In related news, the brand launched its winter cashback promotion just after we went to press last month, with a bunch of deals on devices that currently run until January 15th next year. Up to £275 is being offered on selected Nikon cameras (the D750 in particular) and Nikkor lenses (including the AF-S Nikkor 1424mm f/2.8G ED), with all claims needing to be received by February 2019.

Nikon’s D500, D7500 and D5600 are

©National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

onth national trust e lumiX FZ200 or FZ72

NIKON HITS THE 110 MILLION MARK, LAUNCHES CASHBACK

offering beginners and enthusiasts all they need to get started and progress.”

Tickets had already gone on sale to the public at the time of writing, with the trade once again offered free entry upon online registration and verification. www.photographyshow.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.

Hang Tag

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

21/08/2013 13:56

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A4 Cling

British

Industry

21/08/2013 13:59

Supported by

news

Items shown are for reference only and are not to scale

4 December 2018 / January 2019 | BPI News

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News

WEX PHOTO VIDEO MAKES THE WHICH? LIST The retailer has scooped joint second place in a Which?

Magazine online retailer survey for best customer service, with some 10,000 of the consumer magazine’s subscribers surveyed.

The five most popular online UK stores also included beauty, clothing and technology retailers.

Consumers were asked about buying experiences they’d had in the past six months and were asked to evaluate websites for price, product range, deliveries, product quality and the returns process.

The Which? editorial team notes: “It was the less familiar, specialist sellers that trumped the better-known brands when it comes to customer

satisfaction and likelihood to recommend. The top of the overall table is populated with smaller retailers that treat their customers well and offer a more personalised service.

It was difficult to find a category that these retailers did not achieve a five-star rating in.”

Wex Photo Video CEO Louis Wahl adds: “These results are testament to the commitment, expertise and knowledge of our employees, who are continuously focused on delivering outstanding service to our loyal customers – and we’re thrilled to see this recognised in the Which? survey.” www.wexphotovideo.com

VIATO

There’s nothing else like it!

Carry

Familiar face, new venture Paul Genge, who BPI News readers will be aware of from his tenures with Konica Minolta, Sony and most recently JP Distribution, has struck out on his own with a new venture: PhotoTEQ Limited. Paul tells us his new company has so far secured UK distribution for Black Rapid camera straps, H&Y filters and Spudz cleaning cloths. At the time of writing it had appointed Crocus Creative as its design agency and had a Christmas campaign planned for Black Rapid and H&Y across photo specialist titles. The trade is invited to make contact via paul@phototeq.com www.phototeq.com

Store

PhotoTEQ

KITE TAKES FLIGHT VIA ALPHA DISTRO Alpha Optical Distribution’s Frazer Allen has got in touch to inform us of the first UK availability for the Kite Optics Viato; described as a ‘unique carrying experience’. This is a bag/ backpack that wraps around the legs of a tripod using Velcro straps, enabling the photographer, bird watcher or stargazer to react quickly to a rapidly changing scene by simply grabbing their whole set up and placing it on their back.

Compartments allow for access to equipment not mounted on the tripod itself, while there is a built-in rain cover that can be deployed if needed.

SRP for the convenient and innovative Viato is £199. For more details and stock availability contact Frazer on 07725 081436, Denys Nelson on 07909 227517 or email info@alphaodl.co.uk www.kiteoptics.com

@bpi_news

Unique n ‘Viato’ uses the tripods inner space for storage n Two large storage pockets n Easily fixes to any tripod n Walk with tripod legs closed or extended n Equipment remains ready for use on the tripod n Padded and ventilated for a comfortable and safe carrying experience n Acts as a weight to steady the tripod n The bag and zippers are waterproof n Also features a retractable rain cover n Link to product video www.kite-viato.com

Delivery should commence Monday 3rd December Order now and be ready for Christmas sales Ring us or email your requirements to...

Alpha Optical Distribution Ltd Tel: (Frazer Allen) 07725 081436 (Denys Nelson) 07909 227517 Email:frazer@alphaodl.co.uk

BPI News | December 2018 / January 2019 5 bpi dec-jan.indd 1

09/11/2018 16:34:31

News

KINO FLOW Low-fi analogue photography fan Lomography has announced a Black and White Berlin 400 35mm Kino film, which, as the name suggests, was inspired by new German cinema of the 1960s. Believing that it is one of the only organisations in the world still experimenting with and releasing film, Lomography claims that the film’s ‘gorgeous black and white tones lend a timeless effect to cinematic scenes’.

ALL GO FOR THE SOCIETIES

A roll costs £7.70 SRP and shipping was scheduled to begin early December. www.lomography.com

JESSOPS CLOSURES & REDEVELOPMENTS The leading independent has been in touch with BPI News to confirm that eight of its stores are currently either closed or out of action. The affected locations are Guernsey, Heyford Hill, Waterlooville, Abbey Wood, Emersons Green, Murrayfield, Eastbourne and Worthing. Despite the Abbey Wood, Emersons Green and Murrayfield closures affecting Jessops stores within branches of Sainsbury’s, Jessops’ spokeswoman confirmed: “We are not pulling out of Sainsbury’s. In fact we have made significant investments in redeveloping our key stores, with further roll out of our new look and feel

still to come.” Re-visit BPI News from May this year for an extensive interview with Jessops CEO Neil Old, who discussed current and future plans. www.jessops.com

Regular readers will be aware that January in the photo trade means another Convention and Trade Show for photographic body The Societies (the latter running January 17th through the 19th). The organisation’s Colin Jones tells us that they are very few three-day trade stand packages left for potential exhibitors at £1000 + VAT. Anyone interested in snapping up the deal should get in touch with Colin direct via colin@swpp.co.uk or on 01745 356935.

Also bear in mind that those in the trade can preregister for free tickets to the trade show element prior to January 5th next year via the URL below. https://swpp.co.uk/convention/

Hähnel’s night at the Opera There’s a new Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FF lens available for full frame Canon EF and Nikon F mount DSLR owners via distributor Hähnel Industries. Promising edge to edge sharpness, the prime lens includes three elements moulded from SD (Super-low Dispersion) glass and a nine blade rounded diaphragm delivering what it describes as ‘naturally beautiful bokeh’. With fast and accurate AF plus dust and weather sealing also promised, SRP for the lens is £899.99 and stock is available now. www.tokinalens.co.uk

Become a part of TFC London - Senior Sales Person required.

TFC are recruiting for an experienced sales person to join our established North London Team.

We require a dynamic team player with exceptional communication skills, a technically minded fast learner who has a track record of sales and networking preferably within the Photographic industry and should also be comfortable working as the main sales executive whilst sharing the competence to maintain our existing sales team.

Key requirements: Extensive sales experience preferably from within the Photographic retail industry : Target driven : Exceptional communication skills : Broad knowledge of legacy and current Photographic hardware : Fast learner : Responsible : Customer focussed.

Competitive salary and bonus structure / Send CV’s to - emily@theflashcentre.com www.theflashcentre.com 6 December 2018 / January 2019 | BPI News

www.bpinews.co.uk

TIME TO MAKE IT PERSONAL

WITH THE ENTRY LEVEL T-SHIRT PRINTER FROM TETENAL Personalisation is a growing part of the market and now you can expand your portfolio with the Ricoh Ri 100 DTG T-Shirt Printer available from Tetenal.

DTG - Direct To Garment The DTG printing process directly applies the ink onto the item with inkjet technology.

DTG uses specialty water-based inks, which are absorbed by the fibres of the garment for a hard wearing finish.

Rather test the market first?

Whilst many businesses will want to take control and purchase their own DTG printing solution, Tetenal are able to help you get started in the market via our own Tetenal Fulfilment Service.

Act fast and grab the Christmas Market!

Personalised bags, sacks and bibs can be fantastic last minute impulse Christmas buys and attract customers into store for your other products and services

With the Tetenal Fulfilment service you can offer a range of DTG products to your customers including T-Shirts, Hoodies, Polo Shirts and Baby Bibs.

You only need to look around you to see that the popularity of the T-Shirt shows no sign of diminishing.

With the Ricoh Ri 100 DTG T-Shirt printer from Tetenal, you now have the opportunity to enter this potentially lucrative market.

Easy addition to your current business Small in stature but impressive in output, the Ricoh Ri 100 will fit snugly into most working spaces, whether that’s in-store or in a separate production space.

Attract new customers - B2C and B2C Offering in-store printing allows you to promote your service to both consumers and businesses.

The Ri 100 is able to print on most light coloured products which can be wrapped around the printing plate so along with T-Shirts, you can produce products such as Aprons, Bags and Babies Bibs Low cost of production = Good margins The ink cost to produce a product can be as little as 70p which allows you to make a good margin on your products once you have purchased your blank garments.

TEL: 0116 289 3644

The fulfilment service is open to Tetenal Business Customers only so if you’ve not already done so, visit the registration page below and sign up.

www.tetenalfulfilment.co.uk A great deal to get you up and running straight away Our Special Package includes installation and training so you’ll be ready to print and sell in no time.

• Ricoh Ri 100 Direct to Garment Printer • Installation & Training • Set of T-Shirts to use during set-up and training • Set of Standard Inks • Cleaning Cartridges & maintenance kit

Contact us now for more details

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BPI News Product Focus

SIGMA’S ‘FIRM’ FAVOURITE NOW EVEN BETTER

We learn how a firmware update to the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG OS HSM Art has made a huge difference to an already great lens. Plus pricing is revealed for its much-anticipated 40mm, 56mm and 70-200mm lenses…

A

TIPA Award winner back in spring 2018 for ‘Best Standard Zoom’, and described as an everyday lens, the 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM is capable of covering a wide variety of subjects and scenarios, including street and reportage work, thanks to its broad reach. It’s just as capable for candid portraits, travel photography, nature and landscape photography too.

“Now, thanks to availability of a new firmware update, an already acclaimed lens has been made even better,” Sigma UK General Manager Graham Armitage tells us. He adds that the firmware updates the control algorithm of the optical stabiliser, thus improving the stability of the image in the viewfinder and, in turn, making it easy for photographers to confirm their composition and framing.

Further selling points when pitching the original lens to your customers

include a constant aperture throughout its zoom range, the aforementioned optical image stabilisation system, plus

A firmware upgrade has improved the performance of what was already an award winning lens for Sigma - so alert existing customers to the fact!

the ability to deliver shallow depth of field (‘bokeh’) effects described as ‘outstanding’. In short, it’s said to be the definitive large diameter zoom lens, suitable for any shoot.

As one would expect, the lens is dust and splash proofed and features a 9-blade rounded diaphragm and 37cm (15-inch) close focusing capability. With a suggested retail price of £1,399.99 and designed for use with ultra high megapixel cameras, the lens is available in the regular Sigma, Canon and Nikon mounts.

Owners of the lens can update the Firmware via the Sigma USB Dock which has an SRP of £39.99 – so a perfect opportunity for dealers to push this device and make an extra sale.

Speak to your local Sigma rep for more on the above, current pricing and availability. www.sigma-imaging-uk.com

Pricing confirmed for Sigma’s latest lens trio In further Sigma news this month, the manufacturer has revealed suggested retail prices for its recent lens announcements. Its Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sports will retail at £1349.99 when its Sigma SA and Canon EF mount versions arrive in December this year, with a Nikon F mount version following in the New Year.

We included this lens in our October issue’s Photokina report, where we described its construction as a blend of magnesium, polycarbonate and thermally stable composite, featuring nine FLD glass elements, full weather sealing, focus limiter, focus recall functions plus an Arca Swiss compatible tripod mount.

Two further Photokina-timed lens announcements have also had their pricing and availability confirmed.

The Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary now has a price of £399.99 SRP and arrived in Sony E and Micro Four Thirds mounts last month, while the Sigma 40mm f/1.4 DG HSM

Art is priced at £1099.99, and arrived in Sigma, Canon and Nikon mounts last month, with a Sony compatible version to follow on in January 2019.

Back in our October issue, we quoted Sigma’s Paul Reynolds describing the 40mm lens as an ‘underestimated

Three’s company: Sigma has unveiled pricing as well as availability for three of the long-awaited lenses it announced back in September this year - with all either available now or following very early in 2019

focal length’. It is aimed at portrait and street photographers and was originally designed by the brand as a cine lens. It has a dust and splash proof structure, plus the front lens coating is water and oil repellent.

While the 40mm is an Art series lens, the 56mm, for APS-C sensor mirrorless cameras, slots into its manufacturer’s Contemporary series.

The latter’s properties include smooth AF, making it suitable for video recording as well as stills photography, while it’s being pitched as the smallest mid tele lens in its class and capable of delivering quality comparable with an Art series optic.

It goes without saying that all lenses sold via Sigma UK additionally come with the benefit of a three year limited warranty.

All lenses sold via Sigma Imaging UK come with the benefit of a three year limited warranty. www.sigma-imaging-uk.com 8 December 2018 / January 2019 | BPI News

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Minilab News

TWO’S COMPANY FOR THE PHOTO SPECIALIST

Crowning a very successful year for Noritsu’s official UK distributor PhotoXport, BPI News hears why retailer AG Photographic has added a second Noritsu 3704G wet lab to its existing 3704 set up

I

t’s always encouraging to be able to report on a success story in the trade.

Leicester based printer specialist PhotoXport has had a cracking year, with MD Derek Fieldhouse reporting that turnover has almost doubled for his company this year. Undoubtedly that’s down to it offering both products and a service the photo trade actually wants.

A case in point is Noritsu’s 3704G workhorse of a wet lab – very recently succeeded by the 3904G (below), as we covered in detail in our October issue – which has been just installed in Birmingham photo independent AG Photographic, who requested a second machine to join its existing 3704 and replace an earlier 3702.

“They’re just brilliant machines,” says AG Photographic owner Matthew Wells, who bought the business in 2012.

“Demand for the analogue side of the business is going up – we also have Noritsu scanners on both machines – and we’re seeing a resurgence in film. People like shooting on film and then scanning it. What we’re looking to really do now is increase our printing side – and our customers want the best possible quality, so for us that means a wet lab. Our customers wouldn’t accept anything else.”

Print quality aside, such labs are also built to last. “Our previous lab must have done well over three million prints. The reliability is incredible, especially considering how many moving parts there are. We wanted to take the opportunity to get an updated unit that we could put the miles on, so to speak.

“Derek’s also very proactive and I

Backroom boy: To meet an increased print demand, Birmingham’s AG Photographic has invested in a second Noritsu wet lab; the QSS-3704G via PhotoXport

“There does appear to be a resurgence in wet labs.

We’ve had enquiries about someone wanting six 3704’s and I just can’t believe it. It’s been a truly great, not to mention extremely busy, year. ” PhotoXport MD Derek Fieldhouse like dealing with him. He always finds out the answer to any question you ask, even if that means asking Japan, which is great. I was really pleased when he got the distribution for Noritsu.

“I can envisage renewed interest for Noritsu in the wet machines; consumable cost is so much lower, coupled with their print quality and speed.”

“There does appear to be a resurgence going on in wet labs,” PhotoXport’s Derek confirms. “We’ve had enquiries about someone wanting six 3704’s and I just can’t believe it. It’s previously unheard of; yet the interest is there.”

Matthew adds: “We’re very biased towards film which is fine because film is steady; it’s stopped declining and has leveled out. The Noritsu’s are brilliant for doing prints up to 12x36-inches and it’s just so quick. If someone wants a

handful of 12x16’s you just press a button and out they come; it’s done. Even if the customer says they don’t like the colour

Hardware solutions from PhotoXport: Noritsu Green III & IV dry labs, 3901G & 3904G wet labs + SnapFoto compact kiosk 10 December 2018 / January 2019 | BPI News

www.bpinews.co.uk

PhotoXport Promotion PHOTOXPORT’S 2018 SOLUTIONS – AT A GLANCE: Noritsu QSS Green III: n Dry lab with built-in duplex capacity for instant photobooks, greetings cards and calendars on both inkjet papers and a range of third party Fine Art papers n Comes complete with main body, paper band, paper case, paper sorter unit, correction value printing kit, humidity conditioning kit, sheet paper kit, paper storage bag, EZ-Controller-1, plus keyboard unit, PC and monitor n A video of its very similar Green II predecessor can be seen here: http://youtu.be/OkaCBaF9eaU

I can envisage renewed interest for Noritsu in the wet machines; consumable cost is so much lower, coupled with their print quality and speed.”

AG Photographic owner, Matthew Wells or contrast in an image, it’s no problem to just re-do it. It’s not costing us an awful lot to do that, but from a customer’s point of view it offers huge value. It enables us to give them a fantastic service.”

The level of detail delivered via the 3704G has further been proven on a print job AG Photographic were asked to undertake for a local jeweller, who wanted a printed image in a pair of gentlemen’s cufflinks. “The wet lab can print at 640dpi, which is very high resolution. Although for normal viewing 300dpi is fine, for this customer from Birmingham’s jewelry quarter, who wanted to reproduce an image of London landmarks on a tiny cufflink sized disk 15mm across, the detail is stunning. That probably couldn’t have been achieved using anything other than the Noritsu.”

AN EPIC YEAR FOR PHOTOXPORT Such plaudits arrive on top of a year of what Derek describes as “major, milestone events” for his company, as detailed in previous issues of BPI News.

Noritsu QSS Green IV: n Dry lab with the ability to produce unique print sizes, up to 12x72-inch super panoramic prints n Comes complete with main body, normal paper printing kit, correction value printer kit, paper band, spindle unit, humidity conditioning kit, external paper cassette, Eizo high spec 23-inch monitor, Dell dual drive server, keyboard

Noritsu QSS-3901G & QSS-3904G:

“We had two new Noritsu Green III and IV dry labs (centre left & right respectively) launched back at The Photography Show in March and two new wet machines in the versatile 3901G and the speedy 3904G launched at Photokina in September,” he recalls. “It’s been a truly great, not to mention extremely busy, year.”

In addition, 2018 also saw PhotoXport launch a compact photo kiosk printer solution in the aptly named SnapFoto (above). This pairs a Citizen CX-02 dye sub photo-printer with a SnapFoto tablet, thus enabling instant prints from mobile phones in seconds. See side panel for the spec you need.

Looking ahead, with a new 12-inch wide, smaller footprint dry lab being teased by PhotoXport for the first quarter of 2019, the next year looks to be shaping up to be just as busy for the Leicester firm as the last.

To place an order for any of the above solutions, call Derek and his photo experts now on 0116 2675907.

n 640x640 dpi, 12 bit resolution as standard (comparable with a 79 megapixel image at A3 size) n Compatible with Fujifilm’s new thinner print media, allowing for production of photo books that resemble traditional books, but are actually comprised of high quality silver halide prints n Maximum print size of 12x36-inches n Print speeds of 1,480 6x4-inch prints per hour (3901G) or a massive 2,100 prints per hour (3904G) approximately n High quality prints from Raw files as well as JPEGs, without the need to convert the image n EZ Controller feature to optimize the look of prints n Triple or quad magazine system option, to avoid the need to replace magazines very time you change print sizes

SnapFoto: n A combined footprint of just 275x366mm – the exact same as the Citizen CX-02 dye sub printer that makes up its chief component – ensures the compact SnapFoto’s perfect for a broad range of retail spaces n Specially developed software ensures the enabled SnapFoto offers a user friendly interface, and one that doesn’t rely on any form of dedicated mobile app to communicate with and transfer images between mobile devices and the unit n The SnapFoto broadcasts its own dedicated SSID signal, making for simple Wi-Fi connectivity and a familiar, secure and seamless experience for the end user n Hassle free print operation and one that delivers consistently excellent print results.

www.photoxport.com

Hardware solutions from PhotoXport: Noritsu Green III & IV dry labs, 3901G & 3904G wet labs + SnapFoto compact kiosk @bpi_news

BPI News | December 2018 / January 2019 11

The Big Interview

‘I WANT TO BE THE LAST SHOP STANDING…’ In challenging times for the high street, one photographic retailer appears to be thriving.

We quiz 81-year-old proprietor of Mr Cad, Alex Falk, on his 60+ years in the photo trade – and some of the secrets behind his success and longevity

T

o visit Mr Cad, near London’s Victoria station, is to enter an Aladdin’s Cave stacked high with photographic equipment of all shapes, sizes and brands – both current and more noticeably vintage. It reminds us of the kind of collectors’ store you’d otherwise only find in Tokyo, where every conceivable surface, nook and cranny is crammed with delectable, care-worn kit. ‘Care worn’ could also describe its staff. While owner Alex Falk, who runs the retail emporium alongside his daughter, has been in the trade 60+ years, he jokingly introduces his colleague David as a newcomer to the trade, with ‘just’ 42 years of service. If they re-booted Dad’s Army and set it in a camera shop, it would

resemble something very like Mr Cad. A visit is an experience in itself and not just for all the covetable camera gear on display within its wall-high glass cabinets. It’s clear to see that Alex and his staff enjoy interacting with customers, encouraging a sale with gentle banter, hands-on demonstration and plenty of chat. It’s certainly very different to the impersonality of an Internet transaction, and from the customers’ smiles and slightly surprised laughs it’s clear that they enjoy being both advised and entertained by the proprietor. I quietly observe for half an hour, until it becomes clear that the only way we’re going to get a word in edgeways is to remove the man from his surroundings and repair to a nearby café.

BPI News: I was talking to one of your colleagues while I was waiting who told me you bound in on a morning with the energy level of a 10-year-old…

Alex Falk, Mr Cad: (Guffaws, clearly tickled) How terrible… sorry about that!

Q: How do you keep on top of trends and make sure you have the correct stock to take advantage?

I’ll give you an example. A young man, around 24, doing a course in film, walks in and wants a prism to go in front of the camera. We didn’t have one, so I started to scour the market and found that every dealer

Find Mr Cad at 12 Upper Tachbrook Street, Pimlico, London. Contact sales@mrcad.co.uk. Also visit www.mrcad.co.uk 12 December 2018 / January 2019 | BPI News

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The Big Interview: Mr Cad had one or two of these things tucked away in his drawer: they were made mostly by Hoya and another company called Mirage, 30 or 40 years ago.

I started buying these things up from every dealer I went past and was able on to sell them on at a profit, because what happened was this new thing called the Internet. This guy was posting his pictures on Instagram, people were talking about us having these things, and we started getting enquiries from all over the world. There’s an advert come out recently where you’ve got half of a person’s face bent, and that was done using a prism and enlarged. It came from us and was £20. It’s stupid but we’ve got them, so people are coming to us.

Mr Cad is an Aladdin’s cave of reasonably priced vintage gear (and less obvious new kit) that the customer could spend hours browsing through which, along with its knowledgable staff, makes for a true ‘destination’ store

I was privileged to have a wealthy father who gave me a twin lens reflex camera for my 13th birthday and I’ve been involved in photography ever since.

It’s a disease. You know that.”

Another example is Kodak couldn’t supply film in the last four weeks; there’s been no Portra 400 120 anywhere, including London. We had a lot of stock, so all of a sudden we’re getting people enquiring if we could supply 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 rolls of film… I phoned up a friend of mine in New York, he shipped me 1,000 and I collected them at the airport on Thursday night. We probably made no money at all because of the import duty, paperwork, current exchange rate and people paying with credit card, but customers were streaming in and we sold the 1,000 rolls in a week. And they were buying other stuff as well because they were looking around, of course. It’s the art of upselling, yes, but what many have lost is the art of interacting with the customer, talking to them and finding out what they actually want.

You’ve also got to be thinking ahead all the time, because the manufacturers aren’t always upfront with you.

You don’t make a lot of money selling film, and we sell a lot of it, but what it does do is attract the guy in for an extra filter, or for a lens. So, ultimately, it’s been very successful thank you very much. When Fuji decided they were going to give up on FP-100C film, we

Q: You seem to light up when talking to customers and thrive on the contact?

Oh, absolutely. And if my guys don’t interact with them and relate to what the customer wants, we also can’t achieve what we need to do. What’s happening now is we’re getting more and more people coming to us for ‘lessons’; we must have set up three people to process their own films this week. They’re coming to us obviously because we sell film. On occasions where we’ve advertised stock on our website we’ve had people queuing around the block.

It’s an eye opener. Too many retailers aren’t finding out what the customer wants; all they’re doing is selling boxes.

bought £30,000 worth of it overnight in conjunction with one other dealer in America. And when we had it, we were rationing it to customers. They would say: “You can’t do that, I want 10.” And we’d reply: “No, you can have five this week, and you can come back next week and have another five, if we have any left.”

Knowing that if they came back in store they’d end up buying additional bits of kit.

Q: So from your perspective film is very much making a comeback?

Don’t tell everybody, for God’s sake.

Processing is making a comeback; there’s two new communal darkrooms opening in London: one in Camden and the other in the East End. They’re buying sinks from us and darkroom doors, if you can find them.

Q: Is there a typical customer for Mr Cad? Absolutely not, though I guess we should be fair and say every photographic and imaging student in London – or anywhere.

Find Mr Cad at 12 Upper Tachbrook Street, Pimlico, London. Contact sales@mrcad.co.uk. Also visit www.mrcad.co.uk NEVER MISS AN ISSUE! Read BPI News online at issuu.com/bpinewsonline

BPI News | December 2018 / January 2019 13

The Big Interview: Mr Cad There’s a photographer called Thomas Joshua Cooper who is a professor at Glasgow School of Art. He’s a 5x7 camera user, prints his own images 30x40, gets £3-4,000 per image and has published quite a few books, while being a lovely man to deal with for 30 years. When he heard that we’d bought all Agfa’s stock he wanted every roll of Agfa Brovira BN 119 paper, so we drove our own company vehicle from Croydon to Leverkusen, Germany, got on the ferry to Liverpool then up to Glasgow where we delivered all the paper we were able to get hold of. And he’s had it in cold storage ever since. That’s a good typical customer.

Mr Cad’s windows are crammed with reasonably priced care-worn kit for analogue and digital photographers; providing plenty to draw potential customers’ eyes

Q: You’re obviously passionate about the business, but I wonder what keeps you motivated after 60+ years?

Finding out that customers are appreciating what we’re doing – and they do. Aside from that, I don’t really know why I do it still. I’ve always been involved in the photographic business. My late father worked for a company during the war that made cameras under license for the war effort. I was privileged to have a wealthy father who gave me a twin lens reflex camera for my 13th birthday and I’ve been involved in photography ever since. It’s a disease. You know that. There are lots of people who have this type of disease. Seeing an image come up in a dish is such a wonderful thing. It’s a form of magic, totally.

Q: What prompted your move to London after decades trading in Croydon?

The move was prompted because our overseas customers wouldn’t come to Croydon, or they’d get lost so we’d have to send a car around to East Croydon station to pick them up. A very large chunk of our business is increasingly Film may be undergoing something of a resurgence, but for Mr Cad it never really went away, as fridges and shelves currently full of film and paper testify

abroad. Our biggest market now is China, because the young people there have grown up without having had access to film. One of the biggest film factories in the world was a company called Lucky and we used to represent them for the UK. When you went to went to China you realised that people never had any pictures of their parents or grandparents because of a lack of money. Everything that they tried in the way of photography failed. We used to bring in B&W Lucky 36 film and it was so inexpensive that we used to make very good money. But unfortunately it failed because the market for film literally collapsed with the advent of digital. So that prompted us to move to capture a big chunk of the overseas market – and we’ve gone out purposefully to do that. We’re the only photographic dealer that can sell second hand and allow the customer to claim the VAT back.

This location was chosen because we had to be near a mainline station and so Victoria was the future. Although it wasn’t deliberate, it also helps that we’re around the corner from probably the most successful photographic dealer in the UK, Grays of Westminster. It’s very posh and you don’t go up against somebody you can’t beat. The proximity means that all the low-end stuff that they won’t take comes to us. The customer can do the deal with us and we can get from Grays the product he wanted, take his stuff in, and supply him with equipment. We make no money on the new stuff, although we do make money on the second hand.

I want to be the last shop standing that can offer the customer continuity.

They don’t just want to be sold boxes, which is what’s happened to retail, in my opinion and is happening all

over. I want to be the doorman, which sounds terrible, but what I mean is that I want to be able to get what the customer wants. We’re very lucky that we get so many wonderful clients.

And it’s not about price – it really isn’t – people come into us because we will give them a service; we’ll change their batteries, or check over their camera that they’ve found in an attic or a junk shop.

If the customer walks out with a camera that’s working, the chances are they’re going to buy a roll of film or two. And that’s what the industry’s not doing.

Q: Where do you think the photo industry is now and where are we heading?

How many camera shops do you think are shutting down? Auctions are certainly doing very well out of their stock. EBay has created the impression in people’s minds that they should go to auction, which is taking business away from photographic dealers. But the people who are buying most of this stuff at auction are the photographic dealers.

We have to get stock. If we don’t have new stock coming in on a regular basis, people aren’t going to come to us.

As digital was coming in 20 years ago, we decided to go a different direction. I always have been different, sorry about that. If people are going in one direction the chances are I’ll be going in the other.

Sure, digital started to slow things down for us for a while, but not sufficient to worry about. We are a small company, but one that’s running like a mouse on a wheel. I need to have fun and at the same time have a profit. If we have a profit then we’re interested in new business.

Find Mr Cad at 12 Upper Tachbrook Street, Pimlico, London. Contact sales@mrcad.co.uk. Also visit www.mrcad.co.uk 14 December 2018 / January 2019 | BPI News

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EPSON SURELAB D3000 Setting new levels in photo printing

The Epson SureLab D3000 was developed with ease of use in mind. Virtually all maintenance has been automated, including print head cleaning, paper feed adjustments, head alignments, and more. The simple, compact design allows for almost any photo printing environment to have a photo lab on-site.

Where can I see the lab in action?

STOURPORT PHOTO CENTRE REFLECT ON THEIR SWITCH FROM WET TO DRY The long established photo business in Stourport on Severn switched their production equipment with Epson and Tetenal Stourport Photo Centre has become the centre for photographic printing excellence over the past 27 years, not only with customers locally but also with professional and amateur photographers across the country.

Business Owner Richard Rodgers has been at Stourport Photo Centre since 1991, but has been in the photographic printing industry since 1985. He and his team pride themselves on constantly producing best quality digital photo prints, offering quick turnaround times and reasonable prices.

Upgrade from wet to dry At the heart of their production for many years stood an Agfa d-lab2 wet lab until it encountered problems at the end of last year and Richard concluded that it was time to upgrade their photo printing equipment.

He explains: “In order to deliver the quality, speed and fair pricing, we are highly dependent on reliable printing technology.

When our old wet lab had several issues in a row during the busy Christmas period, I got in touch with Tetenal where I had already seen the Epson SureLab D3000 in action previously.”

Perfect solution for photo printing He further adds: “Me and my wife Nicola knew that it would be the kind of replacement we were after. The Epson SureLab D3000 is a great solution for anyone with a printing background who would like to make the switch from photo chemistry to inkjet and produces prints at high volumes.”

Stourport Photo Centre had previously purchased two Epson SL-D700 printers from Tetenal and integrated the new Epson SL-D3000 into their set-up in January 2018.

Installation and training by Tetenal Richard looks back at the installation carried out by Tetenal: “The team at Tetenal had scheduled two days for the installation of our new printer but it was great to see that most of the setup was done at the end of the first day. This enabled us to focus on understanding the functionalities of the machine on day two.”

Wide range of cost saving benefits After the first ten months working with the Epson D3000, Richard is very pleased with the new solution: “The print quality of the new lab is exceptionally good! In addition, we are saving around £2,000 per year that we previously had to pay for the disposal of chemical waste when we had the wet lab.

We further save on electricity as the Epson D3000 requires much less energy than our previous wet lab which is not only more environmentally friendly but again reduces our running costs.

Even though printing costs for the Epson D3000 are slightly higher compared to the wet lab, the savings mentioned plus virtually no waste prints definitely compensate for the extra costs and even add extra benefits.”

The SureLab D3000 is a compact digital dry lab with improved print quality.

Contact Tetenal to find out how we can help upgrade your business.

Email: marketing@tetenal.uk.com Phone: 0116 289 3644

You’re welcome to visit our new dedicated Epson show room at Tetenal. We have recently refreshed our show rooms ready for the new year. Our offices are located in Leicester, just off junction 21 of the M1.

Why buy from Tetenal?

Tetenal and Epson have established a strong collaboration serving customers across the UK photo and printing market. The recent completion of the 250th Epson D3000 sale is the latest milestone in this strong relationship.

Here is what some of Tetenal’s SureLab customers think:

“ “ “

The print quality of this machine is stunning and most importantly consistent.”

Emily Watson, Tiny Pixels

Bringing all our printing in-house with the D3000 has been the right decision and a big step forward.”

Steve Thomas, Lancaster University We opted for the dual roll SureLab D3000 which allows us to switch quickly between types of paper as well as sizes” John Wilson, John Wilson Photography

“The print quality of the new lab is exceptionally good!

In addition, we are saving around £2,000 per year that we previously had to pay for the disposal of chemical waste when we had the wet lab.”

Richard Rodgers, Business Owner Stourport Photo Centre Stourport Photo Centre Team, from left to right, Nicola Rodgers, Sheila Jones, Richard Rodgers

Contact Tetenal now for further details and our very best pricing For more details contact Tetenal Ltd | TEL: 0116 289 3644 | www.tetenaluk.com/d3000

Minilab News

FUJIFILM DEALERS TOAST A SUCCESSFUL YEAR

We discover how the performance of two of Fujifilm’s independent photo retailers warranted reward, and what keeps their customers of all ages and skillsets coming back. Plus, Marketing Manager Peter Wigington reflects on the year just gone – and the shape of things to come...

I

f you’re looking for advice on how to successfully run a business and some sort of certainty in uncertain times, then you want to pay close attention to those who have been there and done that – and moreover been acclaimed for it. That’s the case with both our two featured case studies this month.

Ian Scott, owner of Salisbury Photo Centre, won the annual award for Best Performing Store Year-on-Year at Fujifilm’s Independent Photo Retail Conference earlier this year. With 2018 drawing to a close – and in the wake of a wholly unexpected additional challenge to business resulting from the wellpublicised Salisbury poisoning – it made sense to catch up with Ian to get his take on the current photo retail climate.

Marie Mears of Foto Finish in Chard, Somerset, also has an interesting story to tell, having recently received the maximum score of 100% in her store’s Mystery Shopper survey. If anyone has been doing anything right this past 12 months, it’s clearly Marie and her team.

The nice thing is that Fujifilm don’t dictate to you and say ‘you must do this, you must do that.’ They appreciate that it’s your business first and foremost, and they’re there to help.”

Ian Scott, owner Salisbury Photo Centre

A PROACTIVE APPROACH “We’ve just offered more and more services, had a slight re-fit and a tidy up,” Salisbury Photo Centre’s (www.salisburyphotocentre.co.uk) Ian Scott replies when asked why his store’s performance has so notably improved year on year. “But we’ve really tried to be as proactive as possible with putting new pictures and canvas prices up on the wall.

Fujifilm’s independent business advisor Wendy Grey did come down and give us some pointers, but the nice thing is that Fujifilm don’t dictate to you and say ‘you

Salisbury Photo Centre is the most improved amongst Fujifilm’s independent photo retailers, something its owner attributes to being as proactive as possible, tidying and refreshing its displays

must do this, you must do that.’ They appreciate that it’s your business first and foremost, and they’re there to help.”

In terms of Ian’s re-fit, he explains that one added feature that has made all the difference to trade is the installation of a chalkboard next to his Fujifilm kiosks. “We got that idea from Peter Wigington. People who are using the kiosks look up and notice: ‘Oh, I see you do such-and-such.’ For example, we do placemats and coasters and other photo gifts, so having the board there does give customers ideas.”

In terms of shop window display, Ian says it was again a case of keeping the appearance fresh and tidy – not always easy when you run a busy store.

“As soon as you climb in the window someone comes in the shop and wants you for something else,” he laughs. “But it proves the point that the more you put in, the more you will get out.”

As to what is currently inspiring his customers, it seems to be large prints at 13x19 (A3+) or above. Ian has also

had great success with one-inch thick MDF photo panels supplied by Swains, which his customers see as an alternative to canvasses. “We’ve also started to do aluminium panels using a dye sublimation process, rather than printing directly onto it. That’s something we can do in store, which is quick and hassle free.”

Salisbury Photo Centre’s current equipment set-up involves three Fujifilm Imagine kiosks, a 12-inch Frontier DL650 Drylab pro, a 44-inch Epson 9000 and a couple of Apple Macs for image adjustments and page layouts. “All of the photo gifts are done in the back of the store, where we have room to do mount cutting and canvasses. Canvas prints have been going well for us for quite a while, and seem to be here to stay.”

A couple of galleries nearby means that Ian’s business also undertakes the scanning of fine artwork. It’s an extra service that has grown based on word of month, with the result that customers will travel from as far afield as Bournemouth. “Other people recommend us and they’ll come up

Boost your print sales in 2019! Get in touch with Peter direct on 01234 572138 or via photoprintservices_uk@fujifilm.com 16 December 2018 / January 2019 | BPI News

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Fujifilm Advertorial for a day out to get it done. Compared to the likes of Boots or Jessops it’s a little bit more of a specialist service, and I think you have to offer that. Every independent photo retailer should be doing it, really.”

In terms of the much publicised threats to our nation’s high streets, Salisbury Photo Centre is holding its own, says Ian, and turnover hasn’t dropped, despite the shocking local events this year. “Life goes on. It did knock the town back a bit, but we had to just push forward and be proactive, decorating the windows and getting people in. People are also ordering online and coming into the store to collect their prints, as well as having them posted out. And because customers have to log into the kiosk and set up a Fuji account, we’re able to capture their details, so we can market our services to them.”

HAPPY SHOPPERS

Forward with Fujifilm Peter Wigington rounds up 2018 & looks ahead to 2019…

We’re not the sort of people to stay behind the counter, point to the kiosk and say ‘there you go’. We always put ourselves forward to help.”

Marie Mears, Foto Finish

As mentioned in the intro to this article, another business doing well in the current climate is Foto Finish (www.fotofinishchard.co.uk), run by Marie Mears. This year her store achieved a 100% maximum score on its Mystery Shopper survey, suggesting she goes above and beyond to give good customer service. The Mystery Shopper survey is one of the key benefits of membership for Fujifilm’s independent photo retailers, as it provides an important snap-shot of how the store is performing from a consumer’s perspective.

The pretty interior of Marie Mears’ store is cosy and welcoming, with a couple of kiosks surrounded by plenty of ideas for what her customers can do with their photos

“Whatever query the customer comes into the shop with, we do our best to help,” Marie modestly responds when asked what the secret of her success is.

“We help out all ages when they come in with their new technology, not knowing how to get photos off of it. Yes, we do get quite a few of the older generation, but then we have been trading here for 28 years, so people have got to know us and word of mouth always helps. Longevity is also important in this day and age.”

Marie says that she sees a lot of customers coming in with phones and tablets not knowing how to get their images off them to convert them to prints. “We explain that there are several options. They’re not stuck on there forever. They can either link up to devices in our shop, or we can talk them through how our Fujifilm Imagine mobile app works. They can sit at home of an evening, have a potter through their photos, and choose the ones they want to print. We’re not the sort of people to stay behind the counter and point to the kiosk and say ‘there you go’. We always put ourselves forward to help.”

It seems that increasingly the business is

“I can only comment on what is happening in the independent sector though I can say that Instax is showing incredible year on year growth once again driven by a substantial marketing spend here in the UK aligned with our worldwide link with international advocate Taylor Swift.

“Our independent retailers remain positive in the face of an extremely challenging high street retail environment. This year has been a lot about the upgrading of ageing servers, printers and software to keep everything up to date. There has also been a lot of activity in purchasing software and equipment – sometimes both! – to keep abreast of additional options offered by HMPO to allow people to renew passports digitally.

This is an absolute must when industry figures suggest almost 25% of an independent high street photo retailers’ revenue comes from passport or visa orders. In addition to investment in new technology, many retailers are also seeing the benefits of additional sales after a makeover in shop layout and a fresh approach to merchandising their products and services. Next year will see even more emphasis on the trend towards photo personalisation and this is an area into which Fujifilm are putting in a great deal of effort, in order to develop the right solutions that can help benefit all our photo retail partners.”

having to take a hands-on approach with its customers, as technology inevitably changes all the time. “We just keep up with it all,” Marie adds. “We try and make sure the equipment is up to date, for one. We’ve got two kiosks and a Fujifilm DL410 Drylab – which is vintage now. It was 2004 when we went with Fuji because our old wet lab broke down. If we get stuck they’re always there at the end of the phone or can be reached via email, but we try and do most of it ourselves.”

To end 2018 on a positive note and kick start 2019 with renewed enthusiasm yourself, if you’re wondering how partnering with Fujifilm can positively influence your own business, then best get in touch with Peter Wigington and his team direct on 01234 572138 or email photoprintservices_uk@fujifilm.com

Boost your print sales in 2019! Get in touch with Peter direct on 01234 572138 or via photoprintservices_uk@fujifilm.com @bpi_news

BPI News | December 2018 / January 2019 17

BPI News Extra

NEW OLYMPUS AMBASSADOR, BAG & BINOS FOR 2018/19

O

lympus is back in the news this month, offering retail partners a stylish new bag for its cameras, plus a couple of new ‘Pro’ series binoculars, suitable for photo specialists who also stock optical devices to broaden their customer base. On top of this it has also unveiled a new photographic ambassador for 2019 in Gabrielle Motola (right).

American born and now Reykjavikbased Gabrielle’s photography focuses on long-term projects and she also lectures internationally in photography and film. Her specialism, however, is in photographing people, whether they are aware of her lens or not. Gabrielle also has an exhibition coming up at the Olympus’ affiliated After Nyne Gallery in London’s Holland Park this December 12th until January 7th next year, which features stunning shots taken of autumnal landscapes she travelled through in Europe and Scandinavia. For more, visit: www.olympus-imagespace.co.uk/ photographers/gabrielle-motola/

©Art Bicknick

The leading camera brand sees out the year and welcomes in the new one with some new kit and a fresh face…

Landscape image taken from new Olympus photographer ambassador Gabrielle Motola’s forthcoming exhibition at Olympus’ After Nyne Gallery

Direct your OM-D or PEN camera owning customers to the stylish new Olympus Explorer messenger bag

SALES ARE ‘IN THE BAG’ WITH OLYMPUS Looking for an accessory to piggyback on the sale of an Olympus mirror-less model? The camera and bag brands have united to fashion and deliver the ‘Explorer’ messenger bag, said to have been developed to match the needs of Olympus’ OM-D photographers.

A collaboration with Manfrotto, it features a water repellent coating, a detachable protective camera and lens pouch, plus configurable internal dividers. Suitable for transporting both OM-D and PEN cameras in their various iterations, the bag can store a camera body, up to three lenses, plus a 14-inch laptop. A tripod can

even be attached to the bottom of the bag using provided straps.

With dimensions of 40x30x17cm, the bag further features a water repellent fabric, genuine leather trim, plus a tartan pattern lining in the interior. A zipper on the back allows it to be conveniently attached to a luggage trolley, while a big handle has been placed on the top to avoid the bag tipping forward.

An adjustable strap and shoulder pad provide added comfort. In all, the product is eminently suitable for that quick weekend trip, day’s sightseeing, or outdoor photo assignment.

Available now, the Olympus Explorer bag by Manfrotto has an SRP of £139.99.

TAKE A VIEW ON THESE BINOCULARS Wildlife photographers, as well as birdwatchers and nature lovers, are being targeted with a couple of new pairs of Olympus branded binoculars in the

Compact, ergonomically designed and rugged, Olympus’ new Nitrogen filled binos are ideal for those who like to get out in the wilds

8x42 PRO and 10x42 PRO. Described as bright, sharp and reliable, properties to note include high performance Zuiko optics with unique glass coatings to enable a bright and clear field of view. Indeed, their manufacturer claims that they offer unprecedented light transmittance for their class.

Combat, ergonomically designed and of rugged construction (preventing any ingress from water if submerged at a depth of one metre for five minutes), close up performance is also impressive, with the ability to view subjects as near as 1.5m extending their appeal to insect and plant lovers. Nitrogen filling prevents fogging while both models feature a slim, simple design with a sharp profile line that their maker suggests apes the characteristic look of its OM-D cameras.

For comfort when viewing, the pair feature extendable eye relief for spectacle wearers plus a dioptric adjustment ring, flip down lens cap and a new strap mount. A whopping 15-year warranty provides added peace of mind for your customers – with an extra 10 years added on top if registering the binoculars via www.my.olympus.eu Both the Olympus binoculars are available now in time for Christmas sales, at a suggested retail price of £449.99 for the 8x42 PRO and £479.99 for the 10x42 PRO. www.olympus.co.uk

Add Olympus’ new Explorer messenger bag and 8x42 and 10x42 PRO binoculars to your stock to make the most of Christmas sales!

18 December 2018 / January 2019 | BPI News

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BPI News Extra

LEICA LAUNCHES D-LUX 7, Q-P & FOTOS APP In the year when it opened its new German HQ, the luxury camera brand has been one of the most prolific in the trade for new products, with two new cameras and its new app officially launched just this month…

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eica is flying high with more new announcements this month – and literally so, having taken BPI News onto the London Eye for a joint launch of its Fotos app, originally announced back at September’s Photokina, and a brand new premium compact in the Leica D-Lux 7. This joins the ‘stealthy’ full frame Leica Q-P, also unveiled last month, and follows big news stories throughout 2018 for the brand, including the opening of its Leitz-Park Complex HQ in Wetzlar, Germany, at the start of the summer, plus the surprise announcement of the L-Mount Alliance with Sigma and Panasonic, also made at Photokina.

COMPACT YET POWERFUL CAMERA PAIR Stocked at authorised Leica UK stores and dealers as you read this is the new 17 megapixel Leica D-Lux 7 (at £995 SRP), with accessories including cases, carrying straps and practical handgrip.

As well as that iconic red badge, features to entice custom include a 24-75mm equivalent lens in 35mm terms and a bright/fast maximum lens aperture of f/1.7. Though the 3-inch rear plate LCD is fixed, it is a touch screen, while Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB connectivity feature as standard (it’s additionally the first D-Lux camera in the line up to work with Leica’s new Fotos app).

We also get a 2.8 million-dot resolution eye level electronic viewfinder for those who prefer to compose images the traditional way, maximum ISO25600 equivalent light sensitivity, plus 4K video capture at up to 30fps.

Also freshly launched by the premium brand and already on sale is the

Leica Q-P, which has an SRP of £4,100.

This is described as a high performance compact, being notable for twinning a full frame sensor model with a fast prime lens. The camera is supplied with a brown leather carry strap and an additional battery. It follows the trend set by recent ‘stealth’ cameras from the brand in omitting that familiar Leica red dot logo, but instead featuring a more discreet yet classy Leica engraving on the top plate. The company says that the above helps set the camera apart from the existing ‘Q’ models, which are currently available in silver, black and khaki (see BPI News November), alongside the limited edition Globe Trotter version.

NEW FOTOS APP IS ‘SMART’ MOVE The Leica Fotos app, which we originally wrote about our October Photokina report, is being pitched as ‘the gallery

7th heaven: Leila UK MD Jason Heward is pleased to launch the D-Lux 7 aboard the London Eye, with sample image shown right Below left: A second new camera is the stealthy Leila Q-P. Both models have been joined by its new Fotos app

in your pocket’. The idea is that, once downloaded, it will make it simpler than ever for Leica users to connect their camera and a smartphone. This will not only make it easier to share and edit images, but also allows a smartphone to act as a remote control for Leica’s system cameras, affording wireless control of the shutter release, it claims.

Leica is of course already active in supplying lens technology to the smartphone market, and the app arrives in response to what it calls “a growing diversity of target groups.”

CEO Matthias Harsch told us back at Photokina that: “Leica has decided to present a much wider view of the company.” The Leica Fotos app currently supports Leica S (Typ 007), SL, M10, M10-P, Q, TL2, TL, T, CL, D-Lux and V-Lux cameras, with more models added in the near future, it says.

For more on all the above, direct your browser to: www.leica-camera.com

BPI News is your mouthpiece to the photo trade, so use it! Send your press releases and news items direct to: info@bpinews.co.uk 20 December 2018 / January 2019 | BPI News

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BPI News Product Focus

DIRECT TO GARMENT & DIRECT TO PROFIT WITH THE DPS GROUP Book a demo now to witness the profit-generating power of the ‘direct to garment’ Epson SC-F2100 printer, available to the DPS Group’s retail trade partners as a means of adding an extra revenue stream to your business…

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eeing is believing as the old adage goes; and that’s why it’s always worth booking a demo of a new piece of kit before you buy. One machine you ideally should witness first hand is the Epson SureColor F2100, the manufacturer’s very latest direct-to-garment (or ‘DTG’) printer.

It can generate eye-catching T-shirts for one, but is, in truth, only limited by the imagination of the user.

Kent based reseller the DPS Group has its own demo studio that interested parties can visit. But, even if you are further afield, or don’t want to go the whole hog and buy your own personal printer, it’s offering to create sample T-shirts for you to display in your shop window to help you begin to generate sales.

“Any orders for T shirts can then be sent over by the retailer to the DPS Group for printing and delivered back to the retailer at a nominal price. This way, retailers can test the demand for T-shirt printing without making the capital

shirt printing to retail customers in store without the capital outlay should prove very interesting to any retailer looking to expand their high street business.”

For more information, interested parties should contact the DPS Group’s Michael Nash, its DTG Solutions Specialist, on 020 8466 7230.

DON’T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT… BOOK A DEMO! As we’ve noted previously, Epson’s F2100 is a high-end device for printing on garments ranging from 100% cotton to 50/50 fabric blends. It boasts an operational speed claimed to be twice as swift as the previous generation, thanks to newly developed modes including Light Garment Mode, plus a quick-load platen. Garment designs are promised to really ‘pop’, thanks to the system’s use of four colour inks plus white ink. White ink is said to be triple filtered before reaching the print head, to help reduce the white ink nozzle clogging and ensure

“Orders for T shirts can be sent over by the retailer to the DPS Group for printing and delivered back to the retailer at a nominal price. This way, retailers can test demand for T-shirt printing without investing in DTG equipment on day one.”

DPS Group MD Maneesh Patel investment in DTG equipment on day one,” says DPS Group MD Maneesh Patel.

“Of course, our main aim is for retailers to ultimately lease or purchase the Epson DTG printing equipment from ourselves, and we will hand hold and support retailers all the way through the process.

But having the initial chance to offer T

greater reliability. A new integrated selfcleaning system allows the printer to do its own daily maintenance too; improving productivity by reducing downtime.

Epson Garment Creator Software is described as intuitive and easy to learn, thereby enabling a slick workflow.

In terms of delivering a dynamic

The DPS Group is offering to send you sample T-shirts to show customers and encourage sales. The company will then fulfil any orders for you, so you don’t need to invest in a F2100 until demand builds

looking end result, this printer’s Highlight White achieves brighter white ink output by applying a second coat of white ink, while simultaneously printing colour ink for improved print speeds.

It’s not just a way of adding an extra revenue stream to your business; installing a T-shirt printer also enables retailers to take first steps toward printing their own high quality, bespoke garment designs, thereby enabling, if desired, bespoke fashion labels to be created.

Established printers and mini labs can thereby add a new, high profit product line, while photo retailers can add a service that separates them from the local competition. Whatever your business or its level, DTG Solutions can tailor a package to suit, with the first step being, as Maneesh suggests, a demo and a chat at The DPS Group’s showroom. www.thedpsgroup.co.uk www.dpsb.co.uk

At a glance: Epson’s SureColor F2100 garment printer n High quality garment prints at swift production speeds n Up to twice as fast as the previous generation ‘DTG’ printer n Four colour inks plus white ink for designs that really ‘pop’ n Option to print on 100% cotton garments or 50/50 fabric blends n Epson Garment Creator Software is intuitive and thereby easy to use n Integrated self-cleaning system means less downtime for the printer

For more on the Epson F2100 or some sample T-shirts to attract custom, contact the DPS Group’s Michael Nash on 020 8466 7230 NEVER MISS AN ISSUE! Read BPI News online at issuu.com/bpinewsonline

BPI News | December 2018 / January 2019 21

BPI News Product Focus

AN EXCEPTIONAL YEAR FOR TENBA

Bag manufacturer Tenba has launched over 20 new Tenba products this year across six collections, providing dealers with plenty to stock and their customers with plenty to buy. With this in mind BPI News re-caps the key products; with a new one added this month…

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or over 40 years the Tenba brand has been providing an effective means for photographers and videographers to protect their equipment.

Available to UK dealers and their customers via distributor MAC Group Europe, Tenba has a ‘never compromise’ approach to its products; which means a durable construction employing high quality materials, combined with a functionality described as exceptional.

No wonder then that Tenba is such a go-to brand for professionals.

As BPI News readers and the trade will be aware, 2018 has proved an exceptionally busy year for both the brand and MAC Group itself, with 20 new Tenba products launched across six product collections.

MAC Group Brand Manager for Tenba, Loraine Morgan, explains: “The dynamic product launch schedule was a result of a change in brand direction. Tenba has looked to address the hardware changes in recent years and the increasing popularity of mirror-less cameras to meet the needs of photographers, videographers and storytellers.

“The new products now satisfy a larger proportion of these consumers, who are looking for high quality camera bags at a more affordable price point.”

Obviously the requirements of amateur and hobbyist photographers when it comes to camera bags and packs are different to those of the pro; so the new collections have been introduced with the former in mind. But there has been no compromise on Tenba’s core values of protection and functionality – which remain at the heart of everything the brand does. “Tenba’s approach to better service the style conscious and budget focused photographers of the future is well underway,” Loraine adds.

A TENBA FOR ALL SEASONS With a new release practically every month this year, Tenba has packed a lot in (pun intended). The latest is an expanded Tenba Shootout Collection aimed at

“The dynamic product launch schedule was a result of a change in brand direction. The new products satisfy a larger proportion of consumers looking for high quality camera bags at a more affordable price point.”

MAC Group Brand Manager for Tenba, Loraine Morgan DSLR and mirror-less camera owners.

Original 24L (£210 SRP) and 32L (£260) backpacks get extra features including side access panels, while there are two new models: the Shootout 14L Slim (£170) for a mirror-less camera and the Shootout 16L for a DSLR (£180). These will also fit a DJI Mavic or similar drone. All packs include a pivot-fit harness, adjustable trolley strap, removable waist belt, plus, for the 14L and 16L sizes, a pocket for a hydration bladder. Manufactured with a water repellent nylon fabric, there’s a five-year warranty on the packs.

Prior to the above, October saw the launch of the Tenba Axis Tactical 20L, 24L and 32L backpacks, product numbers again indicating sizes. These are toughened options, made to withstand extreme weather and abuse. They can stash up to two mirror-less, DSLR or cine cameras with lenses as long as 400mm f/2.8 (the latter accommodated by the 24L and 32L models), or again a DJV Mavic or similar drone. Suggested pricing ranges from £180 to £225.

In the summer it was the introduction of the Tenba Skyline bag collection, with prices starting at £35 SRP for the Tenba Skyline 7, suitable for a small mirrorless or APS-C camera with kit lens, rising to £60 for the Skyline 13 option, accommodating a pro DSLR with battery grip attached. The audience for these bags is the consumer just starting out on their photographic journey, with five different bag sizes in the range spread across two contrasting colour schemes.

Featuring customisable interiors, a five-year warranty is again offered.

June also saw the introduction of the Tenba Solstice Sling 7L (£89 SRP) and larger 10L (£99), again accommodating a mirrorless camera or compact DSLR, plus between two and six lenses dependent on model. The smaller bag can also fit an

iPad Mini or similar in a padded sleeve, while the larger can host a full sized iPad or 10-inch tablet. Both have a side pocket for a water bottle or compact tripod.

Prior to that, when we met up with the MAC Group team at Photokina, they were singing the praises of the Tenba Cooper Backpacks, Tenba BYOB and DNA Special Edition messenger bags. Options for the latter include the DNA 8 [Special edition] (at £90 SRP) and DNA 15 Slim [Special Edition] (£130), originally introduced as limited editions and on which a waterproof fabric normally used for the base of bags has been used to construct the entire bag. These are ideal for someone with a CSC and a Microsoft Surface laptop.

There were also three new additions to the luxury Cooper messenger bag collection: the Cooper 6 (£115 SRP), Cooper Slim Backpack (£175 SRP), and Cooper DSLR Backpack (£195 SRP).

In true Cooper fashion, the bags are made from all those luxury materials you want a bag to be made from: Cordura® reinforced cotton canvas, full grain leather and YKK zips.

Lastly this year there was the Tenba BYOB – ‘Bring Your Own Bag’ – a selfcontained, padded camera bag-like insert for a standard backpack. The new BYOB inserts come in three sizes suitable for mirror-less cameras and DSLRs, with prices starting at £35 SRP. The idea is that your customers can put this in a backpack, partially unzip it and access gear, while it is still in the bag. It’s perfect for those who don’t want to make the investment of a full-blown camera bag because they don’t use it that often.

For more visit www.tenba.com.

For stock, contact MAC Group direct on 01902 255500 or via info@macgroupeu.com www.macgroupeu.com

Get in touch with MAC Group Europe to begin stocking the latest Tenba products: info@macgroupeu.com or 01902 255500 22 December 2018 / January 2019 | BPI News

www.bpinews.co.uk

MAC Group Tenba Promotion

SHOOTOUT

➜

➜

The brand new Tenba Shootout series; perfect for DSLR and mirror-less camera users

AXIS

Another rugged choice is the recently introduced Tenba Axis Tactical backpack trio

➜ DNA MESSENGER

➜

DNA messenger bags can pack in a CSC plus Microsoft Surface type laptop

SOLSTICE

SKYLINE

The Skyline series is aimed at photographers just starting out

➜

➜

Tenba’s Solstice Sling 7L and 10L bags can house a large mirrorless camera or compact DSLR

BYOB (BRING YOUR OWN BAG)

Group shot of the available Tenba BYOB range of camera bag-like inserts, offering convenience and accessibility

Get in touch with MAC Group Europe to begin stocking the latest Tenba products: info@macgroupeu.com or 01902 255500 @bpi_news

BPI News | December 2018 / January 2019 23

BPI News Awards Nominees

CAST YOUR VOTE FOR 2019’S BPI NEWS AWARDS

Have you galvanized your customers and peers to send us their vote for next year’s photo trade awards yet? With a February cut-off date for entries, there’s less time than you think…

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veryone likes a good deed, inspirational campaign or a great product recognised; and that’s just what w e’re giving the photo industry the chance to celebrate via 2019’s BPI News Trade Awards.

Compared with previous years we’ve brought the voting date forward and also introduced more categories to provide a wider breadth of recognition.

Our categories for your vote this year coming are as follows: n Retailer of the Year n Pro Camera of the Year n Consumer Camera of the Year n Accessory of the Year n Printer of the Year (dye sub, dry or wet lab) n Print media of the Year n Innovation of the Year n Launch of the Year n Campaign/Promotion of the Year n Overall Product of the Year Last issue we gave you some suggestions for pro and consumer cameras launched throughout 2018, that may also conceivably pop up in our Innovation of the Year and overall Product of the Year categories.

In this edition – again with the aim of helping you cast your vote – we’re recapping on just a few of the promotional features printed in this magazine during the course of the past 12 months.

For example in our first issue of the year – February 2018 cover – we ran a Big Interview Q&A feature entitled ‘Leica’s Red Badge Puts Dealers in the Black’, featuring the manufacturer’s MD Jason Heward. Though still relatively early in the year, the main thrust of this was how the future is mirrorless – with a focus in particular on its TL2 and CL cameras – with this being a theme and a mantra that was to be repeated throughout the year by many manufacturers.

In anticipation of changes to the online passport application system, our March issue saw Swains promoting its iD Station and iD Station Pro solutions for retailers and minilabs, offering a means of them taking advantage of new business – as well as making sure their own business was up to speed with the latest ID photo technology.

ID photos was also on the mind of Leicester’s PhotoXport in the same edition, as it introduced its Citizen printer based SnapFoto solution (see also pages 10 and 11 this issue), alongside a preview of the new Noritsu machines it would be launching at The Photography Show.

PermaJet MD Robin Whetton

A continuity of excellence – does one of the companies who’ve been making a regular appearance in BPI News this year deserve your vote?

If so, tell us via info@bpinews.co.uk

was the subject of our Big Interview feature in April, where he shared his company’s current and future plans, and told us why his business was still seeing growth whereas others in the print market were complaining of a decline. Perhaps this makes PermaJet worthy of your vote this year?

Talking of success in the photo print business, the same issue also saw a report on Fujifilm’s annual conference for its Digital Imaging Service members, where speakers shared valuable real world advice and experience with the assembled membership. BPI News took part this year and so was able to bring you a first hand report.

Our May 2018 edition saw retailer Jessops enter our pages, as CEO Neil Old took us on a tour of its re-opened Bromley branch, which had taken inspiration from Fujifilm’s Wonder Photo Shop concept for a bright and airy makeover. We also learnt of the retailer’s future plans. Perhaps then Jessops is not only deserving of your vote for Promotion of the Year, but also Retailer of the Year? As ever, the vote is in your hands and only you can decide!

HOW TO VOTE If this has whetted your appetite, mail us with your choices in all, or as many categories as you like, to info@bpinews.co.uk or Tweet us via @bpi_news The nominees with the most votes are our eventual winners. It’s as simple as that!

So don’t delay, have a think, and make sure you use your vote.

The closing date for votes is Thursday, February 28th, 2019. Winners will be notified and awarded at The Photography Show in March (16th to 19th).

Cast your votes in the BPI News Awards today! Send your choices to us via Twitter @bpi_news or email info@bpinews.co.uk 24 December 2018 / January 2019 | BPI News

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10% OFF our whole range of

Stretcher Bars during December When you order with Tetenal online or by telephone and use the offer code: BPILION

Wooden wedges for corner fixing are supplied with all of our stretcher bars INCHES

CONTRACT

STANDARD

PREMIUM

GALLERY

MM

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PRICE - PAIR

CODE

PRICE - PAIR

CODE

PRICE - PAIR

8"

203mm

XP203

£1.02

S203*

£1.40

-

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10"

254mm

XP254

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G254

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11"

279mm

-

-

S279

£1.66

-

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-

-

12"

305mm

XP305

£1.39

S305*

£1.73

P305*

£2.25

G305

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13"

330mm

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-

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£1.79

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-

-

14"

355mm

XP356

£1.60

S356

£1.80

P356

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G356

£3.29

15"

381mm

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-

S381

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£3.95

16"

406mm

XP406

£1.81

S406*

£2.05

P406*

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G406

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17"

431mm

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-

S432

£2.07

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18"

457mm

XP457

£2.00

S457*

£2.20

P457*

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20"

508mm

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P508*

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G508

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22"

558mm

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P559

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24"

609mm

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S610*

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28"

711mm

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£2.37

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G711

£6.35

30"

762mm

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£2.55

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£3.11

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£4.20

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£6.86

32"

813mm

-

-

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£3.18

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£4.46

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£7.01

36"

914mm

XP914

£3.11

S914

£3.66

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£4.94

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£7.11

40"

1016mm

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-

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Order by phone or online | TEL: 0116 289 3644 | www.tetenaluk.com

Business Advice

BULLETPROOF YOUR BUSINESS FOR 2019 Resident business expert Adam Bernstein recommends how your photo business can both save the pennies and invest the pounds in order to reap the benefits into 2019…

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espite the economy, in many parts, doing better than expected at the time of writing, conditions have been challenging for retail. A combination of Brexit uncertainty and the effects of the Internet on the traditional high street have made for unpredictable times. But as profit is in general terms a function of margin, one option, if you can’t increase your prices, is to lower your costs.

MONEY TALKS In an age when cash is king, you need to see what you can do to bring your cash outflows down. This means checking and benchmarking any financial agreements that you have for insurance, bank borrowing and even card acceptance. It’s well known – and the Financial Conduct Authority started an investigation into this at the end of October

– that insurance companies charge loyal customers more than those who continually shop around. Looking at card processing, alternative suppliers known as independent sales organisations buy up capacity from those who actually provide the services (not necessarily the banks) and sell it on to retailers at a discount. Seek quotes from the likes of Handepay and Paymentsense – they reckon that they can save retailers up to 40% on standard processing fees.

Talk to your suppliers. If you’re cash positive, consider seeking discounts for paying bills early; this reduces suppliers’ risk of your non-payment and speeds up their cashflow, which might get you a few extra per cent off invoice values.

With bank interest not worth having, this could pay more handsomely.

Consider also taking a lead from manufacturers who operate just-in-time

26 December 2018 / January 2019 | BPI News

delivery processes aimed at keeping their stock levels to the minimum. For them it’s about less cash tied up in inventory and less storage space required. Granted, retailers need to have product on tap or else customers will go elsewhere, but nevertheless, 10% less stock (to suggest one example) is less working capital needlessly tied up.

IN BULK WE TRUST Don’t buy-in consumables on an ad hoc basis; buy in bulk. Standardising your purchasing can save substantial amounts, not least in bulk discounts. Work out how much is being used every quarter, and ensure you have enough to avoid emergency re-orders.

Be aware, though, that many products have a limited shelf life. Printer ink cartridges, to take one example, come with a use-by date; so keep this in mind when

www.bpinews.co.uk

Bulletproof your business for 2019 One option, if you can’t increase your prices, is to lower your costs. But while it’s prudent to keep costs in check, it’s just as wise to invest in your business.” freely downloadable via the Internet, and provide word processing, spread sheet, database and presentation functionality similar to Microsoft Office, which costs £9.40/month/user for Office 365 Business Premium.

They are continually being developed and upgraded, and while there’s not a paid-for support desk, dedicated forums usually provide quick, useful answers.

GO GREEN

buying. Also, for printers that are out of warranty, it may be worth considering compatible rather than original replacements. By way of example, a full set of HP953XL CMYK cartridges will set you back around £100 on Amazon but a compatible (third party) set is just £34.

Allied to this, when replacing printers, don’t just look at the cost of the printer – consider the price of the cartridges, which is far more significant over the life of the machine.

Also rethink your receipts. Can you send them by email? Not only do you save on print, you’ll be building up a database that can, with consent, be marketed to.

DON’T ALWAYS BUY NEW Another area where savings can possibly be made is the acquisition of equipment.

Take your computers – do you really need to buy new? Many manufacturers offer factory outlet products that have been returned as ‘faulty’ yet have been fixed, or which have been used for a short period and then returned under consumer rights law. Apple, for example, typically offers 15% off. Dell does something similar.

You might also consider using open source software instead of Microsoft Office. Microsoft software does have its advantages, but isn’t cheap. Open Office and Libre Office, for instance, are

@bpi_news

Your utilities – lights, air conditioning and heating – are a huge expense.

Considering the rising cost of energy, it’s remarkable that so many high street shops keep their doors wide open in winter – wasting energy and money.

Customers will know you’re open because they’ll see lights on and people inside.

Speaking of lights, invest in low energy bulbs everywhere in the shop and let movement detectors control those in backrooms. Similarly, do you really need the air con on at all times? If possible, put equipment that generates heat in places where you can turn off a radiator – don’t put it where the air con box is. Also, power down any unnecessary equipment when you close – many have standby timers that can be set to maximum. All of these options will help lower cost.

TALK CAN BE CHEAP(ER) Your phone and broadband lines will be another expense, so check every year to ensure you have a competitive deal – the best deal may include both voice and broadband. One option is to move away from a standard phone line to a VOIP – voice over the Internet – service. This can be a particularly good option for smaller businesses, since many VOIP providers can give you a package that includes quite sophisticated voice mail and call handling services.

The same applies to company mobile phones. Benchmark providers each time a contract comes up for renewal – threaten to leave by demanding a PAC code and see what deals the network offers to keep your business. You’ll be surprised.

SAVE ON PREMISES… AND INVEST IN YOUR BUSINESS The above examples may help save cash, but obviously one of your biggest costs – whether a specialist photo retailer, manufacturer or distributor – relates to the premises you occupy. We all know the high street has a few challenges,

so see if your landlord will help with reduced rent, or at the minimum, agree to no further rent increases. In most towns there are enough rental voids to concentrate their mind – after all, 70% of something is better than 100% of nothing. Advice here from a professional (lawyer or surveyor) is critical, as you don’t want to jeopardise your position or break your lease at the wrong time.

Business rates are another key cost to examine, especially after the 2017 revaluation. The rules on appeals changed at the same time as the revaluation.

In essence, under ‘Check, Challenge, Appeal’, you get one go at the process and so need to put in effort in the early stages. See www.gov.uk/guidance/how-tocheck-your-rateable-value-is-correct for more on the process. Again, find a good ratings surveyor via www.ricsfirms.com to offer advice. And if your premises possess a rateable value of £51,000 or less, the Budget of 2018 provided for your bill to be cut by a third over the next two years.

Save money on archival space too. Have a throw-out day for information you don’t need to keep. Years-old information that has to be kept for regulatory reasons can be taken offsite and stored in self-store.

Alternatively, scan the paper documents and discard what you don’t need.

You may be tempted to cut down on marketing spend – don’t! While it may save cash in the short term, the reality is that if customers cannot find you because other retailers are shouting louder, you will, in the long run, lose far more than you’ll ever save.

So, while it’s prudent to keep costs in check, it’s just as wise to invest in your business. Luckily HMRC makes this a little less expensive.

One example is repairs or improvements to the premises. There are tax rules that apply to repairs (say repairing damaged doors or re-painting the interior) and a different set of rules that apply to improvements (such as putting in a new stud partition).

There’s also help available for expenditure on capital equipment (tills, computers etc.). In the recent budget, the Chancellor increased the annual investment allowance (AIA) from £200,000 to £1m when purchases are made on or after 1 January 2019 until 31 December 2020. Granted an independent won’t spend anything like that amount, but nevertheless, the AIA is a valuable form of tax help.

Advice from an accountant will, of course, help you navigate these processes and make deductions to their best effect.

BPI News | December 2018 / January 2019 27

BPI News Review of 2018

‘IT’S BEEN AN EXCITING YEAR…’

As we do annually, we’ve invited key figures in the UK photo trade to give us their overview of the past 12 months and indicate what they’re most looking forward to, plus where we’re heading, in 2019…

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ooking back on 2018, as it was two years in the making, it felt at times like everything was leading up to September’s Photokina exhibition. Following a few relatively quiet months prior, our news pages suddenly exploded

in a flurry of releases and announcements – most of them to do with mirrorless cameras. Made sense, as this is an area of the photo market still in growth – another being instant cameras, and, related to this, we’ve witnessed a slight

John Walshe, MD, Nikon UK: “The standout event of 2018 for Nikon has got to be our launch into the full-frame mirrorless market, with our new Z-Series cameras and lenses. Building on the incredible success of the D850, credit must go to our amazing designers and engineers, who are always at the leading edge of innovation.

“This Christmas, I am hoping for a sleighfull of Nikon Z 7 and Z 6 bodies and even more 500 PF lenses. Goodness knows I’ve probably received more requests for these than Santa himself! Looking ahead to 2019, my continued wish is for peace and goodwill to all. I don’t think I could ask for much more than that.”

Mike Owen, Professional Imaging Marketing Manager, Panasonic: “The most memorable moment this year has to have been Photokina, where we announced development of the new Lumix S Series (shown right) full frame cameras and launched Lumix Pro, which has been a personal project for me. It’s amazing to see everything come to fruition after a lot of hard work across all of the global regions; it has been an incredible team effort. The positive initial feedback and excitement from the industry has been incredibly rewarding and a vindication of the choices we have made this year.

“Additionally, our associations with Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Raindance Film Festival and Vice Film School have each been fulfilling in very different ways, but each has enabled us to support diverse groups

Jonny Sullens, The Photography Show: Juliet Jones, MD, The Societies: “The most memorable thing for us this year has been to see the level of photography going up in both the image competitions but especially through the members’ determination to achieve qualifications and distinctions with The Societies.

“We’re most looking forward to the 2019 Convention, back at the Novotel in Hammersmith, West London, which kick starts the year, and continually seeing photographers strive to achieve their goals.”

resurgence in the popularity of film. But that’s just our take on an otherwise fairly unpredictable year. What did the rest of our peers make of it? Naturally, in being good journalists, we’ve asked them in order to find out…

“Launching the Video Show for 2019 has been incredibly exciting and we are looking forward to bringing a new audience and product mix alongside The Photography Show next year, as well as giving our traditional audience more reasons than ever to come up to the NEC. “I’m looking forward to a mild winter in 2019 (last year TPS was beset by snow – Weather Ed). The line up of new product at The Photography Show promises to be exceptional and the best we have ever seen, so I can’t wait to see our visitors trying and buying the very latest kit across the four days of the show.”

of photographers and videographers. Early next year the Lumix S Series full frame cameras launch and we are excited to get these into the hands of retailers, professional photographers and videographers worldwide to see what they can do with the tools. The team and I can’t wait for the incredible images that we will see as a result. As for the rest of 2019… you’ll have to watch this space!

Rod Aaron Gammons, MD, Rotolight: “It’s been an exciting year for the industry with lots of exciting new products – particularly mirrorless systems. It’s been great to see photographers embracing the latest technology and harnessing it for better and quicker results, with the help of the dedicated retail network. 2019 will no doubt continue to invite more innovation from manufacturers across all elements of the workflow and Rotolight will lead in the lighting sector, with bigger, better and more powerful solutions for our users that add to our existing, award-winning range. Bring it on!”

BPI News is your mouthpiece to the photo trade, so use it! Send your press releases and news items direct to: info@bpinews.co.uk 28 December 2018 / January 2019 | BPI News

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BPI News Review of 2018 Arnaud Gutleben, Head of Imaging, Sony UK and Ireland: “A memorably huge step forward for us this year has been achieving the No.1 position in the full frame segment thanks to very strong demand for the A7 III, A7R III and A9 from professionals and photo enthusiasts. The fact that now most of the key photo brands are moving to the full frame mirrorless segment, where Sony has been a trailblazer over the past five years, is proving we went in the right direction with the Alpha system and is very exciting for the future.

“In 2019 we will continue to strengthen the Sony Alpha system to allow professionals and photo enthusiasts to express their creativity in new ways. We will also continue to work with our photo trade partners to improve the service we offer all of our customers.

“We still expect a double-digit decline year-on-year for the interchangeable lens camera market in quantity, due to DSLR. However the value should be flat thanks to the switch towards mirrorless and full frame with higher ASP. Mirrorless full frame should double in size for the second year in a row.”

Gray Levett, Grays of Westminster: “The long-awaited release of Nikon’s new mirrorless system via the introduction of the Z 7 and Z 6 has been the highlight of the year for Grays of Westminster. Our preorders for these models broke all previous records and I am looking forward to the release of more new Nikkor S lenses for the Z series cameras. I predict that we will see further growth in the mirrorless market during 2019. The new AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR is a worldbeating optic and demand for it is huge.

“I took on an additional role this year when I became a producer for a documentary film Simon Marsden: A Life In Pictures directed by Jason Figgis, which premiered at the BFI in London in August. The late Sir Simon Marsden was the world’s greatest photographer of black & white infrared film, creating hauntingly, beautiful images. He was also a long-term customer of Grays of Westminster and a DVD and download are in the works.”

Theo Georghiades, General Manager, Fujifilm UK:

David Parkinson, MD, Wilkinson Cameras: “2018 has memorably been the year of full frame mirrorless, with some fantastic products from Sony, Canon and Nikon soon to be joined by Panasonic. The new systems offer specialist stores a great opportunity of future business as customers build and part exchange existing equipment for new. I look forward to more models and new lenses in 2019.

“What I’m most looking forward to in 2019 is, dare I mention it, a satisfactory solution to Brexit! No business or individual likes uncertainty. Let’s hope an agreement can be reached and stability returns to the High Street before it’s too late.”

“Memorable moments of 2018, aside from a Royal Wedding, England reaching the World Cup Semi-Final, and the last big Photokina? It’s been another buoyant year in the mirrorless market with a host of exciting new products! It’s been great to have Canon and Nikon joining the party too! The release of our 4th Generation X Series sensor and processor in the X-T3 and expanding our GFX camera range with the GFX 50R was a highlight for us.

“For 2019 I’m hoping for stability amongst all the uncertainty surrounding Brexit – and that more people embrace their passion for photography and the creativity it offers them - making the leap from smartphones to using cameras to do so.”

Georgina Pavelin, Marketing Manager, Olympus UK: “It’s been a busy 2018 with some new products, gallery openings and some fantastic photo events and projects – as well as GDPR and lots of paperwork!

Looking to the future, instead of focusing on the unknown such as Brexit or Trump’s next move, I’m looking forward to Olympus’ 100 year celebrations throughout 2019 – there’s lots of planning and exciting times ahead – so watch this space and hopefully see you there!”

Tony Stent, Director, Cameraworld: “Firstly, 2018 just seems to have flown by in a blink of an eye! I know that they go quicker the older you get, but really, I only blinked!

I think we’ll remember 2018 for two reasons: The first, and most important, being the entry into the full frame mirrorless market of Nikon, Canon and soon to be, Panasonic.

This is the bright new future for all of us.

When more enthusiasts and professionals appreciate the benefits in size, functions and quality, we can all hope for the biggest reason to upgrade since the dawn of digital.

That said, APS-C mirrorless is also strong, with the Fujifilm X-T3 being a huge success.

“The second has to be the last Photokina as we’ve known it for all these years. Having attended every other year since 1974, it seems an end of an era. There are a lot of memories there; if only I still had a memory!

“So, what can we expect in 2019? The onward march of full frame mirrorless, with the launch of more professional models and more APS-C and Micro Four Thirds mirrorless, I’m sure. My big hope is that, somehow, the trade manages to get the message of the joys of real photography over to a wider public. It isn’t all about how many focusing zones and other such wizardry, it’s about capturing that perfect image and the pride of achieving a work of art. Prices are rising beyond most people’s ability to pay and we’re in danger of making photography available only to the few. I decided not to mention Brexit. Blast, it slipped out…”

BPI News is your mouthpiece to the photo trade, so use it! Send your press releases and news items direct to: info@bpinews.co.uk NEVER MISS AN ISSUE! Read BPI News online at issuu.com/bpinewsonline

BPI News | December 2018 / January 2019 29

News

CEWE TOUTS PERSONALISED XMAS ADVENT CALENDAR An increase in the personalisation of products and photo gifts appears to be the way the print fulfillment market is heading at present, with CEWE telling us it has gone the extra mile this season in offering personalised advent calendars. Consumers can either design the whole calendar and its contents or simply upload one photo to feature. Prices were starting from £8.99 for a calendar allowing customers to upload a photo for each day, or from £9.99 there was the option to produce a chocolate-filled calendar, utilising

just the one photo. The ‘ultimate’ option is priced at £19.99, whereby the calendar can be customised with sweet treats, small toys, home made goods and even a festive tipple, it says here.

Sponsors sought for January’s BPA Awards The British Photography Awards – which take place during a presentation dinner January 28th 2019 in the opulent setting of London’s Savoy Hotel – is inviting corporate or private sponsors to get in touch via sponsorship@ britishphotographyawards.org. The organisers say that the competition has been ‘very well received’ on social media and some 240 images have been shortlisted across 12 categories to showcase the best photographic talent from the UK ‘and further afield’.

There will be a limited number of tickets available via the Eventbrite website in coming weeks. For more details head to the URL below: www.britishphotographyawards.org

www.cewe-photoworld.com/personalised-advent-calendars

Calling all analogue photo adventurers With something of a move of late towards more tactile and tangible experiences when it comes to life in general and photography in particular, analogue photographer Rachel Brewster’s company Little Vintage Photography has devised a photography craft pack – the Analogue Adventurer Kit – and is looking for retailers who might be interested in stocking it. The analogue photography ‘taster’ kit is claimed to contain all the raw, handmade materials needed to fashion a ‘build your own’ pinhole viewer and allow your customers – perhaps also their kids – to make their own first cyanotype sun

prints, demonstrating physics and chemistry in a fun and accessible way. At the time of writing Rachel was selling her kits for £15.

Interested parties should get in touch via rachel@ littlevintagephotography.co.uk www.littlevintagephotography.co.uk

Product with the ‘Halo’ effect ‘RapidExoframe’ technology is at the heart of a new compact HaloCompact Reflector and Diffuser from Lastolite By Manfrotto. This collapsible lightweight aluminium frame is claimed to quickly slot together, with the reflector or diffuser fabric clipped to the frame.

The frame itself can be broken down into small multiple sections which, with the folded fabric, packs tightly

30 December 2018 / January 2019 | BPI News

into a carry case measuring just 6.5x27x6.5cm and weighing 335g (reflector and case) says its manufacturer. www.manfrotto.com/lastolite

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