ISSUE NO. 974
April 2017
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www.pixel.co.uk
INSIDE THE DIGITAL DEMAND
PIXEL TAKES A LOOK AT THE ONGOING DEMAND FOR CLICKS INSTEAD OF BRICKS FOLLOWING JOHN LEWIS’ RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT TO CUT ALMOST 400 JOBS, WHILE BOOTS IS CLOSING 220 OF ITS IN-STORE PHOTO LABS
IN CONVERSATION WITH
GARY SUTTON
PIXEL CAUGHT UP WITH GARY SUTTON, MAC GROUP’S NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR, AND TALKS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
THE PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW 2017: A ROUNDUP PIXEL ATTENDED THE FOUR DAY EVENT IN ITS ENTIRETY, AND REPORTS HERE ON ALL THE BEST BITS PHOTO -
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AUDIO
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TV
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MOBILE
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STATS
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PEOPLE
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RETAIL
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BUSINESS
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NEWS
EzyBox Softboxes diverse and professional product that will “ Adeliver your light in a truly useable package.
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“
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The Ezybox Hotshoe bracket provides a flexible solution for attaching your flashgun
The Ezybox Pro Softbox assembles in a matter of minutes
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NEWS
WELCOME To Pixel Magazine As the industry continues to prevail and we settle further into the year, Pixel is on hand, here in your April issue, to provide you with the latest and most interesting industry news. At long last, for Pixel, the wait to see what hot new products would be exhibited at The Photography Show 2017 was finally over. Manufacturers,
distributors and retailers attended in considerable numbers and in this issue, Pixel details this year’s event. We also explore the demand for clicks instead of bricks and question the increasing demand for online retail, following on from the announcement that Boots will be closing hundreds of its instore photo labs. In addition to all of this, your April issue includes interviews with Polaroid, Dorr Foto and Mac Group’s Gary Sutton. Enjoy your March read! Jess Saunders, Editor. Team Pixel.
Olympus Pulls the Plug on its Four Thirds Lenses
Olympus has officially announced that it’s killing off its Four Thirds mount lenses and focusing instead on the Micro Four Thirds mount. Although it has been over 6 years since a new camera has been announced for the Four Thirds mount, the discontinuation was only made official in the latest 2017 Four Thirds catalogue. While mirrorless cameras have gained a foothold in the camera industry, the older Four Thirds mount cameras
Industry News Bites Find out more info on this month’s news bites at Pixel.co.uk
Lexar Announces 256GB Professional 1000x MicroSD UHS-II Card Lexar recently announced the new 256GB capacity Lexar® Professional 1000x MicroSDXC™ USH-II memory card. Designed for sports camcorders, tablets, and smartphones, the Professional 1000x microSDXC UHS-II card has read transfer speeds up to 150MB per second and write speeds up to 90MB/s. The 256GB capacity card is also verified to be compatible with GoPro® cameras. The new 256GB card offers the speed and capacity needed for all adventure seekers and adrenaline junkies to capture, transfer, and share more content on the go. With UHS Speed Class 3 (U3), this card is ideal for high-speed capture of extended lengths of 4K,
3D, and 1080p full-HD video. Capable of recording up to 9 hours of 4K video, this card is also perfect for shooting action with an aerial camera, since they require multiple memory cards for extended use. The new card comes with a microSD™ UHS-II USB 3.0 reader to dramatically accelerate workflow with high-speed file transfer up to 150MB/s3, getting content innovators back to capturing the action faster.
Park Cameras Host Canon Lens Day at Burgess Hill Store
have struggled to compete against APS-C DSLRs. With action in the legacy Four Thirds world coming to a standstill, Olympus has now seen fit to focus its lens-making efforts on its M.Zuiko Digital lineup. The news isn’t surprising, but it’s the end of a big chapter in Olympus history: Olympus was the largest producer of Four Thirds mount lenses, and Zuiko lenses were highly regarded for their strong optics.
On Saturday 4th March 2017, leading independent photo retailer, Park Cameras, held a Canon lens day at their store in Burgess Hill, where every current Canon EF lens was available for customers to try out. For customers visiting Park Cameras in Burgess Hill, this was a fantastic day whereby they could try out every Canon EF lens currently available! Lenses ranged from the small and compact EF-M lenses from Canon’s mirrorless range, specialist lenses such as the Tilt-Shift range, right up to super telephoto lenses including the EF 600mm
f/4.0L USM IS Mark II and the EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM. However, the most exciting part of the day was the presence of the legendary Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM. Park Cameras had this on display throughout the day, offering customers to get their photo with the lens, as a souvenir of the day.
ID Station Photomatic The ID station Photomatic features an integrated Canon DSLR camera. The camera is connected directly to the tablet allowing the Photomatic software to control and operate the camera. Users no longer need to understand the camera, they just tap the touch screen to take a photo. The Photomatic software will take care of the rest. This makes ID station Photomatic the fastest and most reliable, passport photo system in the world!
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NEWS
World’s First Selfie-Drone Makes UK Debut AirSelfie, the first pocket-sized flying camera that integrates with smartphones, is now available to pre-order in the UK following a successful Kickstarter campaign that drew backers from all over the world. The stylish drone allows users to capture the perfect selfie from angles never before possible, and is set to raise the selfie game nationwide in 2017. The AirSelfie is smaller than a smartphone and can fly
vertically up to 66 feet. The device includes self-generated WiFi and comes equipped with a rechargeable battery through a phone case, as well as the option to purchase an external power bank. Additionally, a vibration-absorber system and in-flight stability systems guarantee stable, clear, flowing images. RRPs: AirSelfie + phone cover (£220) or AirSelfie and powerbank (£229).
Hasselblad Announces Four New XCD Lenses for the X1D
DJI Proposes Higher Maximum Weight for Lowest-Risk Drone Category DJI has released a white paper concluding the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) set its weight standard far too low for determining which drones pose the lowest risk to people. While the FAA’s 2015 Registration Task Force (RTF) said drones weighing up to 250 grams posed the lowest risk, further research shows that standard was based on poorly chosen data and deeply flawed assumptions – including an almost 50-year-old model of casualties from a nuclear war that destroys all hospitals. Using more accurate scientific
inputs, DJI’s white paper concludes unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) up to 2.2 kilograms can be safely flown with the lowest risk. DJI Vice President of Policy and Legal Affairs, who co-authored the white paper with Walter Stockwell, DJI Director of Technical Standards said: “Regulators around the world are using the FAA’s 250-gram limit as a safety standard for the lowest-risk drones, despite its flaws. We hope our white paper spurs more detailed evaluation for better and more accurate rulemaking.”
NanGuang’s New, Flexible LED Light Panel Kit from Kenro
Following the hugely successful launch of the groundbreaking X1D back in 2016, Hasselblad has introduced four new XCD lenses. The XCD 120mm Macro lens is the first to complement the already existing family, and will be available at the end of June this year. The exceptionally high performing 120mm f/3.5 lens brings together the compact format of the XCD range with the maximum optical quality across the frame eight flat image field. Providing a new versatility to the X1D user, the lens is suitable for both
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close-up work up to a 1:2 image scale, and also as a mid-range telephoto lens for portrait or other photography requiring a longer focal length. Auto or manual focusing goes from infinity to 1:2 without the need for extension tubes. Over the next 12 months, Hasselblad will also launch the XCD 35-75mm Zoom, XCD 65mm and XCD 22mm Wide Angle lenses. By the beginning of 2018, the X1D will have access to seven dedicated XCD lenses and all twelve HC/HCD lenses using the XH lens adapter.
Kenro Ltd has introduced a new flexible lighting kit quite unlike any other photo/video lighting system seen before. NanGuang’s new Flexible LED Light Panel Kit includes a set of two 30 x 60cm LED light panels that can be bent and shaped around the subject to offer unique lighting effects. Also, should conventional flat panel lighting be required, they easily attach to a choice of two frames – a square one measuring 60 x 60cm, and a
rectangular one measuring 30 x 120cm. This makes for a very adaptable, lightweight and portable lighting system that can be operated via 240V AC mains or Sony V-mount and NP-F batteries. Each frame has a matching fabric diffusor for extra soft lighting. The kit consists of two LED light panels, controllers and frames, as well as a lighting stand, square and rectangular diffusers, and a sturdy carry case. SRP is £679.98 including VAT.
UK warehouse, great credit terms, next day delivery, small minimum order value for carriage paid. email or call for an application form Photo Accessories Filters Cleaning Hoods Straps Batteries Photo Albums Photo Frames Astronomy Telescopes Flash Tripods Bags & Cases Optics Flash Lenses Studio
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The Photography Show 2017 The NEC in Birmingham once again opened its doors to thousands of enthusiasts last month for the annual Photography Show. Yet again Pixel was lucky enough to attend and here, we report back
The Photography Show, one of the industry’s most beloved annual events, closed its doors again on Tuesday 21st March after another year of welcoming thousands of professional and enthusiast photographers across four action-packed days at the NEC in Birmingham. Leading international manufacturers and retailers ended on a high, reporting positively and visitors were equally as inspired and impressed, firmly establishing the show as the UK event for anyone and everyone interested in photography. Retailers at the show had a lot to say: “It’s been absolutely superb! We’ve exceeded all of our targets and it’s been the best year ever,” said London Camera Exchange’s Marketing Manager, Adrian Deary, whilst Anna Bielecka, Content Marketing Manager at Calumet said: “It has been a very successful show for Calumet. We’ve had a busier show year-on-year and we’re really happy with sales and the great equipment trade-ins that have happened.” Hundreds of expert speakers took to the various stages across the event, including internationally acclaimed photographer, Sebastiao Salgado, and many other iconic photographers including Albert Watson, Nadav Kander, Jill Furmanovsky, Frans Lanting, Clive Arrowsmith, Alex Webb,
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David Alan Harvey, Julia Fullerton-Batten and Louis Cole – each offering their unique story and journey into image making. Visitors flocked to the event from all over the UK and some from even further afield. For some visitors, it was their first time attending The Photography Show: “It is more than I expected,” said Chris Turner from Oxford, while Egils Taube who had travelled from Latvia commented: “This show is so worth the trip for me as a photography enthusiast. I’ll definitely be back again next year.” Corine Spock, commercial videographer from Sunderland also said: “It is very well organised and the chance to hear
from the likes of Albert Watson and Jill Furmanovsky is just incredible”. Enthusiast Gordon McQuiston, who travelled from Scotland also said: “There’s so much to see and do that I’m here for two days.” Within an enhanced stand environment at the show this year, Fujifilm were able to offer more expert talks, engineer workshops and overall visitor experience. Marketing Manager for the brand, Andreas Georghiades, said: “It has been key for us to engage with passionate photographers through an end to end experience – from showing our new products on the stand, right through to displaying the work of our ambassadors. The Photography Show is an important fixture in the calendar for Fujifilm.” In addition to the array of insightful talks on offer, new imaging technology areas at the show also inspired visitors – the all-new VR & 360° Theatre, an enhanced Drone Zone and Video Theatre, created an exciting buzz on the show floor for those looking to take the next step in their imaging journey. Other highlights included the announcement of this year’s Outdoor Photographer of the Year, awarded to Stian Nisan for his windswept Arctic
SONY TRADE SHOW 2017
scene and Birmingham-based Emily Addis was crowned the winner of the 60 Seconds to Change Your Life competition, winning a package and training worth over £15,000, in association with Training by LUMIERE and Nikon UK. Panasonic also utilised The Photography Show experience to show new product releases, namely, the Lumix GH5. The brand’s Marketing Events Co-Ordinator, Meg Titcombe said: “This year, we’ve really strived to be customer focused through an open stand structure and it’s been a really positive space to present our new releases to a huge audience of photographers – we’re already looking forward to 2018.” Olympus also experienced success at the hands of The Photography Show 2017, with Head of Consumer Business, Ian Tolley saying: “This has been an extremely positive show. Our flagship new camera sold out through our retailers on Monday and our sensor and kit cleaning service has also been really popular. Overall, we’re up on sales and interest year on year!” David Parry, Product Specialist at Canon UK & Ireland stated: “The Photography Show is the most important event of the year for giving an indication on how the rest of the year is going to pan out and for us; it’s been absolutely fantastic. We’ve seen a great variety of people at the show, which is a hugely positive sign that all levels of photographer are keen to take their imaging journey further,” while Managing Director at Nikon UK, Jeremy Gilbert also commented: “It’s been a very successful show for us in terms of engaging and educating visitors to be inspired to take more photographs.” Of course, Pixel itself had the pleasure of attending this year’s event. “As every year, The Photography Show 2017 was yet another successful event for the industry calendar. The room had a
real buzz about it – exhibitors looked thrilled to be a part of it and visitors just as thrilled to be in attendance,” said Managing Director, Lee Mansfield. He continued: “It was great to see what the industry as a whole achieved throughout 2016 and even better to witness some new product releases, set to take the trade by storm. I look forward to attending The Photography Show 2018!” Jonny Sullens, Head of Events at Future rounded up this year’s show, concluding: “The Photography Show 2017 has been a huge success and we’re thrilled to have been able to put on such a well-received event to support the imaging industry. We are so thankful that all the exhibitors put so much effort into their stands to make it a real showpiece for the market and a chance to inspire all the visitors, whether they are a seasoned pro or a first time beginner.”
“The Photography Show 2017 has been a huge success and we’re thrilled to have been able to put on such a well-received event to support the imaging industry” - Jonny Sullens, Head of Events at Future
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THE DIGITAL DEMAND
The Digital Demand
UK retail giant, John Lewis recently announced its plan to cut almost 400 jobs to focus on online shopping, and Boots is closing 220 of its in-store photo labs. Pixel takes a look at the ongoing demand for clicks instead of bricks and questions whether the expanding demand for online retail and digital technology will dominate the independent photographic industry, or whether there’s still some magic in a traditional photography and high street shopping
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Creative commons - Martin Pettitt © - Boots Photo Mini Lab 1990’s
T
he relevance of high street retail has been questioned more and more over the past decade, with online gradually taking over the sales figures, and less and less consumers hitting the streets to purchase their goods. Online sales in the UK have been steadily on the rise since at least 2007, with the value of internet sales as a proportion of total retail sales rising from 2.7% in January 2007 to 12.8% in January 2014. Namely due to the natural increase in online footfall over Christmas, in December 2014 £1.1 billion was spent online: the first time ever that more than £1 billion had been spent online in a single month. Black Friday was once a high street nightmare, but more recently has become a fairly quiet affair, with most shoppers purchasing deals online rather than in store. UK retail sales made up a total of £358 billion in 2016 – 12% of those sales were made online, which is a 10% rise on the previous year. In 2008, online and mailorder businesses accounted for 3.4% of the total number of enterprises in the retail industry. By 2012, this had increased to 8.2% with over half of music and film sector sales made online rather than as a physical purchase. This has resulted in severe difficulties for retailers such as HMV, which went into administration in early 2012 and existing stores have more recently developed strategies to prevent their own decline. Retail giant, John Lewis recently announced its plans to cut nearly 400 jobs in its home fittings services and restaurants amid a shift to online shopping. Affecting 32 out of its 48 stores in the UK, this move is after more than 40% of sales at John Lewis over Christmas were online. The pound collapsed in value against other major
independent retailers be looking to do the currencies after the Brexit vote - by up same? to 20% versus the dollar alone - making A retailer, in the broadest sense of imported goods more expensive. This the word, without an online presence has left producers and retailers under is redundant in pressure to pass the eyes of the those extra costs on, modern shopper with consumer price “UK retail sales made with geographical inflation taking off expansion no longer before Christmas up a total of £358 the primary way that although many stores billion in 2016 – 12% established retailers held off on price rises of those sales were can extend brand ahead of the crucial reach and increase festive season. made online, which sales. Steeped in It’s estimated that is a 10% rise on the tradition though, many around 773 staff previous year” independent photo could be affected by retailers haven’t quite redundancy but would embraced the power be able to apply for of online, and as such 386 new posts. Not have suffered a huge decline. only is this a shame for the 387 roles According to last year’s Eurozone that will disappear almost overnight, but figures, 14 high-street stores are closing it’s also a sign of the changing times – is in the UK every day and the photography high street retail on the way out? Should
THE DIGITAL DEMAND
industry has taken a particular hit, which we at Pixel think is a huge shame. Accessing photographic services ‘in the flesh’ is hard to come by nowadays due to the closure of so many high street retailers. Although the internet makes for a plethora of information, expertise and customer service, we all know there’s nothing quite like going into a store to get your photos developed; to get some advice on a camera; to hold and test the product before you buy. Boots, which has been a supporter of
the more traditional side of photography in this testing time – stocking more Ilford film when print was threatened to become a myth – has now confirmed that it’s planning to close 220 of its 320 in-store photo labs across the UK. This move means that 400 in-store jobs are under threat, with the aim of shutting all 220 labs within 5 months. The aim, according to a statement from Boots is to continue to ‘focus on the customer demand for instant kiosks’, which of course would be good news for our industry had our
ears been blocked to the rest. This news not only puts a sad turn on the idea of film photography, but it completes the trend that seems to have emerged for immediate gratification; people want their products, and they want them now! Digital technology certainly is taking over everywhere we turn. Boots will continue to operate 100 labs, offering one-hour services on photo gifts and processing rolls of film, but otherwise will only offer printing services directly from a smartphone, tablet, portable hard drive or USB stick – this will operate in over 1,000 Boots stores. The ratios speak for themselves. A Boots spokeswoman said: “Photo has always been a really important part of the Boots UK offer. “Over the past few years customers’ expectations of photo services have continued to change, as they print fewer pictures but want to create more personalised photo gifts and items such as photobooks, canvases and cards. “As a result of these changing behaviours, Boots UK is adapting how it delivers photo services in store.” Of course we can’t deny that the climate has changed. The ongoing and steady closure of bricks-and-mortar stores is happening at the same time as 65% of internet users in Europe shop online. In particular, people aged between 16 and 74 are using the internet once a day at the very least. Figures released
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THE DIGITAL DEMAND
back in August last year revealed that overall non-food online sales increased by 11.2% in July in comparison to previous months. There’s been a clear correlation between older retailers struggling in the current industry, with many slowly declining as they fail to gain footing when it comes to digital sales – some of which, even without an online platform. There a huge benefits to online channels allowing retailers from all industries to offer more promotions, drive more sales and gain more customers at a far greater pace than they could in store. However, at the same time, figures show online retail sales growth to have slowed since this time last year (a 9.2% growth in January 2017 compared to 13.8% in 2016) with a multichannel offer seemingly the answer to retail success. However, the want for more personalised customer service, a faceto-face experience and a more traditional atmosphere is still evident across the UK retail sector. Waterstones, the UK’s leading bookshop chain, has clocked onto this consumer desire, going incognito at some of its newer stores and cloaking themselves in an ‘independent retail’ disguise. The firm has opened three shops that do not feature its distinctive branding, giving a more traditional small high street store
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“There a huge benefits to online channels allowing retailers from all industries to offer more promotions, drive more sales and gain more customers at a far greater pace than they could in store” feel. This has prompted accusations of deception, but even with the deceit, it demonstrates a silver lining to the bricks and mortar shopping cloud. Waterstones’ Chief Executive, James Daunt, told the BBC the move was justified, saying he wanted the shops to have a more independent feel – a quality that evidently that attracts the masses. The stores are Southwold Books in Suffolk, The Rye Bookshop in East Sussex and Harpenden Books in Hertfordshire. Louisa Walters, founder of The Restaurant Club, a 17,000-strong membership scheme championing independent restaurants says: “We are seeing an increased appetite for a more personalised experience with many
people actively choosing to spend their hard earned cash at independents over chains. Chains are responding by surreptitiously taking on the look and feel of local stores whilst still offering their core business pricing and service, which is somewhat deceptive and a threat to real independents.” She adds: “Independents stores, including British restaurants, already struggle to compete with the chains in terms of buying power so have to offer something niche or different. We are urging people to vote with their feet and visit – or research - independent businesses wherever possible. If we don’t support our high street we are in danger of having identical high streets with little choice or diversity.” But Waterstones are clearly, in a slightly warped sense, supporting high street retail. We can see this move as a backhanded compliment, alongside the slap in the face that is both the news from Boots and John Lewis. High street retail, including photo retail is still in demand, offering something that chains and online shopping simply doesn’t offer. So, despite digital photography and online sales pushing upwards, among the bad news comes some good for bricks and mortar!
DORR FOTO
A Q&A with Dorr Foto!
Pixel caught up with Dorr Foto’s Business Manager, Michael Beckingham, to get the latest on life as a wholesaler and the company’s plans for the remainder of 2017 and future years
How successful a year was 2016 for Dorr Foto UK as a wholesaler? Do you have higher expectations for the remainder of 2017? WOW - 2016 was great! There has been a massive increase in brand awareness for Dorr Foto in the UK and the brand is in more UK retailer stores than ever. 2016 saw three new agents join our team; David Grandison, Frazer Allen and Miles Thompson. We’re happy to announce that Nigel Terry also joined the team on April 1st 2017 to look after the south west. Dorr Foto UK stocks a wide range of photography products and accessories, from lenses and photo albums to frames, bags, tripods and more. What do you find attracts the most attention from your customers? Does this vary throughout different times of the year? If so, could you explain any patterns you see? Yes, our product range has expanded rather a lot over the years; currently we hold about 3,500 SKU’s in the UK. Astronomy scopes sell very well in Spring but we generally see very even sales throughout the year, excluding the Christmas period of course. I think this is because we offer such a wide selection of products, there is always something available in each range that the end users want to buy regardless of the season.
“This year our stand was bigger, busier and more exciting with lots more product ranges available. We have already signed up for next year’s show and have some really great ideas to make the stand even better”
You attended The Photography Show 2017, what new products were you exhibiting and what products did you find were at the centre of attention with visitors? Bags and Tripods are always our most popular ranges. This year we had our new City Basic bags, which were by far our most popular item at the show, the public loved them and the new Voyage travel tripod was also very popular. We have some quirky products that always pull attention too, such as the Skater Dolly colour filters for flash and this year our quick-fix softbox was a top seller.
How successful did you find The Photography Show 2017 to be as a whole in comparison to previous years? Will you be exhibiting again next year? If so, what do you hope to take to the event next time around? We always have a great response from the public and trade at The Photography Show. This year our stand was bigger, busier and more exciting with lots more product ranges available. We have already signed up for next year’s show and have some really great ideas to make the stand even better.
Could you give us a brief explanation of your plans for the near future? Do you have plans to bring out new product lines etc.? We’re always bringing out new and exciting products but these are highly guarded secrets. Not to be a cliché but if I told you, I’d have to kill you. Our ultimate goal is to become the one stop shop for photographic retailers. We understand how difficult our market can be, which is why we’ve built the company to be straight forward and easy to deal with.
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GARY SUTTON
In Conversation with:
Gary Sutton
Here, Pixel caught up with Gary Sutton, Mac Group’s new Managing Director, and talks plans for the future
H
ow do you plan on taking the business forward initially and do you have a short term/long term vision for Mac Group? Just over two years ago, Nigel Fielden unleashed a new sales, marketing and distribution company called MAC Group Europe onto the photographic market and in that short time things have gone pretty much to plan. The company is establishing itself nicely and we’d like to think that we are regarded as a good company to work with. The company is in a healthy position and I don’t see an immediate requirement to change too much. We have some great products in our portfolio and we will be adding more lines this year so, in time, we may look to expand our sales team. How does this develop on Nigel’s vision since starting Mac Group Europe? It’s really just that, a development of what Nigel started. I have been with the company since day one and Nigel and I share the same vision and goals. MAC Group Europe is responsible for direct sales across 4 countries and a distribution business that looks after 40 plus countries. We have a good customer base across our direct sales business - that’s the UK, France, Germany and Ireland - and we have ambitious plans for all those four territories. We have an exciting announcement next month that will raise the profile of MAC Group Europe products in the French market, and our German partner has added another salesperson this year who will help them grow their business. What roles did you undertake previously in the photographic industry and how will your experience help in this new role as Managing Director? I started in this industry in 1986 as a sales representative with Polaroid,
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which was a great introduction to the photographic industry and then in 1988 until 2001 I was with Minolta. I went from selling instant picture cameras, to 35mm cameras, to APS and through to digital cameras. From Minolta I went to Samsung as a Sales Manager for 6 years, then I was Country Manager at
General Imaging selling GE cameras. From there I was a Sales Director at Apollo Marketing. I know the way that consumers buy products has changed over those years but basically people still buy from people, and for me that philosophy hasn’t changed. Treat people as you
GARY SUTTON
would like to be treated yourself – it’s quite simple and perhaps old fashioned, but I believe it still works. I have had some great teachers in my career. Gary Banks for example - I owe him a lot. So in 1989 you actually witnessed the birth of Pixel magazine? Yes, absolutely. I appeared in one of the early Pixels as the new boy at Minolta. I’ve still got a copy! How will you ensure the high quality service Mac Group has been providing to current clients is maintained whilst growing your client brand base? The way we look after our consumers is very important to us, whether it is an end user calling us directly or an enquiry from one of our retail partners. Our After Sales department is staffed with people that are well trained in delivering a first-class service. However, we are very fortunate that the brands we have are very reliable, and we hardly get any faulty returns. Growing our business will have its challenges, however we offer good products at competitive prices and have a great team of people that work extremely hard to deliver these products. What do you believe is key in a good relationship between distributor and
NEW!
“The way we look after our consumers is very important to us, whether it is an end user calling us directly or an enquiry from one of our retail partners”
he felt comfortable enough to hand over the reins to somebody else – somebody younger! I’m very fortunate and thrilled to be that person. Nigel is obviously still very integral to the business and his roles include logistics, IT and export. He is always available to offer me his invaluable advice.
manufacturer and how does this translate into the trade as a whole? Our house brands are Benro, Tenba, Induro and MeFoto, but we also distribute Phottix lighting products. We work very closely with both manufacturers which means that we have the opportunity to influence the types of products that we introduce to the market.
Finally, what other changes within the team have occurred at Mac Group? We have recently expanded our team in the UK. We’ve recruited Scott Baggaley as our Digital Marketing Manager. He has bags of enthusiasm and really knows his stuff. He has already introduced a new series of social media initiatives (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc) that will showcase our brands to a wider audience. We’ve also appointed Tom Clunn as Brand Manager for Phottix and Tenba products. Tom, is another chap who knows what he is talking about, having been a ship’s photographer, and is a real lighting guru.
Nigel has moved onto the role of Operations Director, how did that change come about and what does this entail? Although I was unaware when I joined, Nigel’s intention was to build the business and get it to a position where
Who has taken over your role? I have handed some account responsibility to Andy Hargreaves, however I still look after a few accounts as well as managing the Sales, Marketing and Finance teams. It’s a great challenge but i’m loving every minute of it!
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in print
RETAIL SOLUTIONS FOR THE PRINT PROFESSIONAL
The BIG Interview: Scott W. Hardy
For this month’s cover, InPrint got into contact with President and CEO of Polaroid, Scott W. Hardy, who explains the brand’s expansion over the years and speaks of celebrating its 80th anniversary this year Continued on P16...
THE BIG INTERVIEW
The BIG Interview: Scott W. Hardy
Continued...
How do you envisage the future of Polaroid? How will the brand incorporate its history and philosophies whilst bringing it into the 21st Century? Since we changed from a vertical manufacturing company to a strategic licensing model in recent years, we’ve repositioned ourselves as curators of innovation. We are currently working with bestin-class partners to bring innovative products to market that are still accessible to everyday consumers, and foresee
ourselves continuing this model in the future. Bringing innovative and accessible products to market has always been a part of the Polaroid brand DNA, but there are other characteristics of the core brand DNA that have been part of the Polaroid legacy for 80 years that we ensure are represented in all our current products. These include sharing, easeof-use, instant and fun. Polaroid is one of the world’s most recognised brands and iconic Polaroid design elements, such as the Polaroid Pixel, Polaroid Colour Spectrum, and Polaroid Classic Border logo that help create
“Bringing innovative and accessible products to market has always been a part of the Polaroid brand DNA” nostalgic connections with consumer, are incorporated into many of our current products. It’s Polaroid’s 80th anniversary this year - was the launch of the Polaroid Pop at CES a way of marking that? How does it improve on previous launches and what feedback did you get at CES? Yes, we kicked off our 80th anniversary with the launch of the Polaroid Pop at
in print CES 2017. We’ve had a lot of success over the past few years with our instant digital line of products that include the Polaroid Zip photoprinter and Polaroid Snap and Polaroid Snap Touch instant digital cameras. These products blend the classic Polaroid instant camera experience with digital or mobile photography. All of these products use ZINK zero ink technology to print 2x3” full colour photos with the option of printing with or without the Polaroid Classic Border Logo. We received feedback from consumers looking for the classic Polaroid 3x4” photo with the Polaroid Classic Border Logo. So, for our 80th anniversary, it made sense to launch a camera that satisfies this demand. The Polaroid Pop gives consumers the ability to print photos in the classic Polaroid format using ZINK technology. Additionally, the Polaroid Pop is a full digital camera, offering consumers the ability to save 20MP still images and 1080p video to a microSD card, and using the Polaroid print app and Wi-Fi connectivity, print images saved on their smartphones. In recent years, Polaroid has really expanded its range - will there be more big announcements and tech innovations in 2017? Yes, in recent years we’ve expanded from just a photography brand to a much more diverse consumer electronics brand. As a recognised and trusted global brand, we’ve been able to grow into other consumer product categories, not only thinking about different ways people can capture content, but also new ways people can consume their content. For example, smartphones have become the primary camera for most consumers. We’ve embraced this trend, which has lead us to expand into new categories such as smartphones and mobile photography apps. Most recently, we’ve expanded into emerging technologies that help people to capture their world in new ways—like drones—or provide a new way to enjoy content, like virtual reality. It’s our plan to continue to expand
and UK market in terms of trends and product/technology demand? The popularity of instant photography is one of the biggest trends we’re seeing right now. According to NPD data released in the fall of 2016, unit sales of instant print cameras in the US grew 166% over 12 months ending in September 2016. We are seeing this trend across several different markets, including the UK and EU.
our product offering to include the latest technologies that stay true to our brand DNA. What marketing strategies will you use to push Polaroid within the currently very competitive photoimaging environment? As such a recognised brand with 80 years of history, we’re able to use the unique, nostalgic connection that many people have with the brand in our marketing strategies. Additionally, we’re very lucky to have an active, organic fan base on social media. Part of our strategy is to connect with our fans and curate, celebrate and promote their incredible photos and artwork.
Why do you think the instant photography trend has grown so much over the past couple of years? Is this set to continue and how will you aim to meet or exceed consumer expectation? There is definitely a demographic that grew up with Polaroid, and for them there is a strong nostalgic connection to the brand, but one of the largest demos where we have seen significant growth in the instant category is with digital natives. We don’t think this is just a fad based on hipster trends or nostalgia alone, nor is it limited to instant photography. There’s an overall surge in the popularity of analogue products with younger generations who had no exposure to them whatsoever. This is, at least in part, because analogue products offer a different, more tactile, more unique and more permanent kind of experience than digital products do. We’re focused on giving consumers the best of both worlds, which is evident in our instant digital line.
What differences, if any are you seeing between the US, European
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in print
FDIS National Conference 2017: #DestinationFujifilm This year’s conference was held on Saturday 18th March at the National Conference Centre, co-ordinating with The Photography Show held at Birmingham’s NEC - a must for those in the photography industry. The theme for this year’s Conference was #DestinationFujifilm - encompassing Fujifilm’s dual aims: for FDIS-branded stores to become the ‘go-to’ retailer for photo printing on the high street, and to create greater consumer awareness of photo printing services with a strong online and digital presence. The conference began with a welcome from Neill Harris (Fujifilm UK Photo Imaging General Manager), who reviewed the current state of photography in the UK. After a successful year for Fujifilm in general (led by the success of Instax), Neill announced that the Fujifilm Digital Image Service group are now the single biggest high street photo brand able to offer on-site assisted photo services. He said: “With more than 180 minilabs and
Photo Imaging Marketing Manager Peter Wigington
Each year, Fujifilm Digital Imaging Service (FDIS) members are invited to attend the National Conference - a get-together provided by Fujifilm UK to review the highlights from the previous year and announce plans for the year ahead. The event also allows members and Fujifilm staff to network and share ideas that will benefit photo printing on the high street
creative-product-enabled locations, you are now best placed to serve the photo consumer, and define yourselves as THE destination for photo services.” Neill then thanked members for their continued support and dedication to the industry. Photo Imaging Marketing Manager Peter Wigington then kicked off the main
presentations for the day. Explaining that Fujifilm had commissioned a 1,000 participant consumer research project, and that he and the rest of the FDIS marketing team had visited all 189 FDIS member stores across the UK. Peter shared some interesting data and statistics about the photo printing industry in general, but also about where Fujifilm fits in and how the brand is perceived by consumers. “We realise that in order to grow and improve, we need to analyse what’s working for us, and what isn’t. Only armed with that knowledge, can we proceed to compete in the market and stay relevant to consumers.” said Peter. “The data has shown that whilst Fujifilm in general is considered a trusted and recognised brand, more work is needed to raise awareness for our photo imaging services in the UK.” Peter then went on to outline the aims for the upcoming year, mainly to strengthen Fujifilm’s brand recognition, and by association FDIS member retailers, through
Fujifilm Photo Services UK - photoprintingservices_uk@fujifilm.com
digital marketing - an area that has shown exceptional growth over the past few years. “74% of consumers will use online to purchase photo printed products in the future. This is just one of the reasons why it’s important for us to have a strong online presence, and invest in digital marketing now to ensure we remain relevant.” Peter then unveiled plans for a new Fujifilm photo products and services website, and announced that more digital marketing support would be provided for FDIS members. However, that wasn’t all. Peter also explained that Fujifilm will also be updating the look and feel of FDIS with fresh, modern artwork that will be used consistently across the group. He said: “Moving forward, it is important that FDIS branding remains consistent, both online and offline. Consumers should have the same experience whether they shop instore, online or through the mobile app, and we must all work together to maintain a high standard of quality.” Next, we heard from TK Broecker (pictured lecturing top right) - flown in from the States - to talk about The Print Refinery™, a new approach to photo retail introduced by IPI (formerly International Print & Imaging). IPI is a similar group to FDIS with 470 members operating across the States, Australia, New Zealand and the UK (both Frosts Photo Centre and Razzaq Digital are members), supporting independent business owners that embrace a culture of sharing. TK is the first business owner in the IPI group to launch The Print Refinery™ - a collaborative and educational interactive social space designed to inspire people and businesses to creatively use photographs, imagery and video. With a stylish décor and strong digital marketing strategy, TK shared some of the ideas and reasons behind The Print Refinery™, and the importance of being creative and thinking outside the box. “It’s all about emotional content. We hardly ever use discounts or offers to entice customers. Instead, we tell stories around our products that connect to consumers emotionally.” said TK Brocker The final keynote presentation was by Paddy Moogan, an experienced digital marketer and founder of Aira, a digital agency based in Milton Keynes. Continuing with the #DestinationFujifilm theme, Paddy shared his Digital Marketing Tips for Small Business Owners, highlighting the importance of being present online.
“77% of mobile searches are in a location where people have a PC available to them. It’s important that your website is mobile-friendly, and that you optimise for mobile customers.” said Paddy. “76% of people who conduct a local search on their smartphone visit a business within 24 hours, and 28% of those people make a purchase.” Those striking statistics certainly perked the guests up, and both Paddy and TK were popular after the conference had ended, with business owners keen to hear more. “We’ve had a really positive response so far,” a smiling Peter Wigington reports, “It’s clear that our FDIS members are excited and optimistic about what’s to come, because they take their businesses seriously. Digital marketing has been on our radar for a while now, and it’s the right direction to be taking right now.” Awards Ceremony After the excitement of the conference, there was just enough time for everybody to make a quick change of clothing for the Black Tie awards ceremony, hosted again at the National Conference Centre. Members got to visit the adjoining Motorcycle Museum before sitting down for a three-course meal and awaiting the main event - the awards themselves. £700 Raised for Charity Over the course of the night, Fujifilm held a raffle which raised £700 for Cancer Research. This was particularly poignant as long time FDIS member Don Soppitt of McFarlanes, Larne has recently undergone a course of intensive chemotherapy, and was unable to attend the conference this year.
2017 Winners Best use of a Promotion Foto Finish, Chard Best use of Social Media J&A Cameras, Barnstaple Shop Assistant of the Year James Kidd, Frosts Photo Centre, Sutton Coldfield Business Endeavour Award (BEA) – Highly Commended 1st Cameras, Newcastle-under-Lyme Black & White Photography, Edmonton Catch the Moment, Bristol Colliers, Swansea Enniskillen Photo Shop, Enniskillen Photo Studio, Tewkesbury Salisbury Photo Centre Staveley Photo Centre Treorchy Photo Lab BEA Winners Cartridge & Photo Shop, Andover Click Click, Bishops Stortford Digipix, Ilford Razzaq Digital, Harrow BEA Shop of the Year Digipix, Ilford Outstanding Contribution to Independent Photo Retail Alister Walker, JRS Photo Hardware
Fujifilm Photo Services UK - photoprintingservices_uk@fujifilm.com
CONGRATULATIONS to all 2017 FUJIFILM winners
Click Click, Bishops Stortford
Cartridge & Photo, Andover
Razzaq Digital, Harrow
Peter Wigington, Terry Trundle, Lindsey Trundle, Neill Harris, Wendy Gray
Peter Wigington, Mark Simmonds, Lesley-Ann Simmonds, Neill Harris, Wendy Gray
Peter Wigington, Hassan Bhanji, Sumi Hassan, Neill Harris, Wendy Gray
Shop of the Year
Digipix, Ilford
Peter Wigington, Jack Manton, Talvinder Bhogal, Neill Harris, Wendy Gray
NEWS
Jessops: Preserving Memories Offering a range of printing products and services, Jessops is on a mission to ensure photographers of today – professional or not – are preserving their precious memories
C
EO of Jessops, Neil Old said: “More than 10 million photos were printed in 2016 through our printing services. What’s more, we were named by Practical Photogrpaher’s ‘Gear of the Year Awards’ as the photo Printing Service of 2016. We know Photo printing is still important for many people.” To highlight the importance of printing photos, Jessops commissioned YouGov to look into how long digital images are kept and what people like taking photographs of. These findings revealed that nearly half (44%) of British adults have lost a digital photo that they wish they had printed, with ‘accidentally deleting the photo’ and ‘losing or breaking hardware’ being the most common ways of losing digital images. In addition to this, more than one in ten (12%) have lost digital photos due to technology changes, for example saved digital photographs not being compatible with new technology. ‘Friends and family’ was the top answer amongst British adults (56%) to the question of what people most regularly take photographs of, followed by scenery (44%), while ‘selfies’ came in fifth with 15%.
So who actually prints photos nowadays? Nearly one in ten British adults (8%) print a photo at least once a month, while more than one in five (21%) have never printed a photo, and despite the fact that we are now living in a digitallydominated age, these statistics are still a shock to the system.
“For many of us, our most treasured photos are of family, friends and special occasions. It is staggering that so many of us have lost some of our precious digital photos, while ironically photos stashed in old boxes by parents and grandparents are still here today,” said Danielle Nicholls, Head of Photo for Jessops. She continued: “It was clear from our research that if you want to keep your most precious photos and hand them down, printing them is the fail safe way of making sure you don’t lose them.” Neil concluded: “In a short space of time there has been a seismic shift in the way that we live, interact and share memories with each other. Whilst digital photography will forevermore have a role in our lives, it’s our strong belief that photo processing is still the best method to share memories in a way that is personal and unique. Nothing can trigger nostalgia more than when a favourite photo is physically held in the hand, hung on the wall or presented as a personalised and sentimental gift.” www.jessops.com
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