Allen Showalter elected president of PMA
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| Allen Showalter |
PMA, Jackson, Mich., elected Allen Showalter, King Photo/Showalter Imaging Group, Harrisonburg, Va., as the 2008-2009 international president. The election took place today during PMA 08 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev. Showalter’s advancement from president-elect was automatic under the PMA Constitution and Bylaws. Prior to his position as president-elect in 2007-2008, Showalter served as treasurer.
With the election of Showalter, other association officers were also elected for the 2008-2009 term. William Parker, MCPF, Ambiance By Parker Inc., Nashville, Tenn., was moved to president-elect. Brian Wood, Photovision, Salem, Ore., was elected vice president; and Rainer Th. Schorcht, Foto Schorcht GmbH, Gütersloh, Germany, is the new treasurer. Ted Fox was re-elected executive director/secretary of PMA <<back to top
First-timer wins $10,000 at the PMA Kick-off reception
Randy Grimm , of Luministics, was the $10,000 prize drawing winner at the Kick-off Reception Feb. 2 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall, at the conclusion of PMA 08. Grimm and his wife, Mary, were attending their first PMA convention.
PMA names Territorial Vice Presidents of the Year
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| Wayne Welch |
PMA, Jackson, Mich., announces the selection of two Territorial Vice Presidents (TVPs) as the U.S. and International TVPs of the Year. The announcement was made at an Official Business Session during PMA 08, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev. The TVP of the Year Award was established to recognize members who are actively involved in PMA Division activities, as well as in national and international association events.
The recipient of the 2008 U.S. TVP of the Year Award is Wayne Welch of Oregon Photo & Digital, current U.S. Territorial Vice President for PMA in the Pacific Northwest Division. Welch is founder and president of Oregon Photo Supply Inc., Tualatin, Ore., which he has developed over the past 30 years into a highly successful five retail location operation in the Portland, Ore. market. Welch’s photo industry career included a three-year stint as director of marketing and membership for the Independent Photo Imagers (IPI). Welch has been very active with the Pacific Northwest Division over the years developing member participation
The 2008 International TVP of the Year is Alejandro Silvio Garcia Romero, Concepto E Imagen Digital SA de CV in Mexico. Silvio Garcia Romero has been a business owner and general director of his company for 40 years. His company provides analog and digital color photo processing and printing, matte and glossy finish, and photo film rolls. His company targets amateur photographers. Romero has used similar drive and determination in fulfilling his TVP of PMA Mexico role, helping to grow that division.
DIMA membership elects new officers
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| Steve Olock |
The members of the Digital Imaging Marketing Association (DIMA), a PMA member association, elected 2008-2009 officers at DIMA 2008 held in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev. The officers are President Steve Olock, Dan’s Camera City, Allentown, Pa.; President-Elect Chris Lydle, Chris’ Camera Center and Digital Photo, Aiken, S.C.; First Vice President Phil Gresham, Fotofast, Brisbane, Australia; Second Vice President Lee Varis, Varis PhotoMedia, Los Angeles, Calif.; Immediate Past President Brian Ainsworth, Photos Ar’ Nice Inc., Gainesville, Fla.; and Director-at-Large Brian Mundy, Photomation, Anaheim, Calif.
DIMA Trustees are Jamie Bardin, EZ Prints Inc., Norcross Ga.; Michel Labadie, Les Pros de la Photo, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Glynn Lavender, Camera Action Camera House, Melbourne, Australia; Joshua Litwin, Memento Press Inc., San Francisco, Calif.; Gabrielle Mullinax, Fullerton Photographics, Fullerton, Calif.; Paul Rentz, Rush Hour Photo & Wireless, Corvallis, Ore.; and Mark Zucker, Zookbinders Inc., Deerfield, Ill. The secretary/executive director remains Ted Fox, PMA, Jackson, Mich.
PSPA elects new officers for upcoming year
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| Harvey Parido |
The members of the Professional School Photographers Association (PSPA) elected 2008-2009 PSPA officers at PSPA 2008 at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel, Las Vegas, Nev. The officers are President Harvey Parido, Bryn-Alan Studio, Tampa, Fla.; President-Elect Todd Wilbert, Creative Images, Stevensville, Md.; First Vice President Mark Schoenrock, Lifetouch National School Studios, Eden Prairie, Minn.; Second Vice President Bill Glover, Strawbridge Studios Inc., Durham, N.C.; Treasurer Mike Bell, Bell Photographers Inc., Ogden, Utah; Director John Mark, Dorian Studio, Spokane, Wash; Director Robert Kerr, Royal Photographics, Inc., Bethlehem, Pa.; and Executive Secretary Ted Fox, PMA, Jackson, Mich.
Daniel V. Overturf elected PIEA president
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| Daniel V. Overturf |
Members of the Photo Imaging Education Association (PIEA) elected Professor Daniel V. Overturf, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill., to be president. He succeeds Professor Edward “Lex” Youngman of Wingate University, Wingate, N.C. Youngman moved to the past president post. Carole Lichty-Smith, Cincinnati Country Day School, Cincinnati, Ohio was named president-elect of PIEA. She will become president in March 2009.
Also elected for a 2-year term was Waldemar Bussiahn of Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria South Africa. He was elected as vice president, International Affairs.
The new vice president, Professor Janet Bonsall, is from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Mo. Joseph A. Ippolito, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Fla., is the PIEA vice president and webmaster. Professor Andrew Davidhazy, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, N.Y., is director-at-large. Ted Fox, PMA, Jackson, Mich., remains secretary and PIEA liaison. Stan Godwin, Brewster, Mass., and Mark Murray, Arlington, Texas, are PMA consultants for PIEA.
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| Fran Gray |
PPFA elects 2008-2009 Board of Directors
PPFA members elected their 2008-2009 Board of Directors yesterday at the PPFA 2008 All-Member Meeting. Fran Gray, MCPF, Roney’s Creative Picture Framing, Florence, S.C., will serve a second term as PPFA president, and John Pruitt, CPF, The Frameworks, Carrollton, Texas, continues as immediate past president.
Other elected positions include: Gene Ausili, CPF, The Picture Show, Valencia, Calif., as vice president; Molly Webb, CPF, Webb Gallery II Inc., Humble, Texas, as treasurer; and Douglas Highfield, CPF , Art Enhancement Inc., Irving, Texas, as past president.
Serving as directors are: George Alvarez, CPF, framestudio, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Quentin Webster, CPF, Framing Matters, Manuka, Australia; Jeannette King, SpecialtySoft, Wilmington, N.C.; Ken Link, CPF, Picture This and More, Alton, Ill.; Shirley Damon, CPF, Damon Galleries Ltd., Vienna, Va.; and Bill Zimdar, Frames Unlimited Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich. Ted Fox, PMA, Jackson, Mich., holds the nonelected office of executive director/secretary.
Additionally, PPFA honored outgoing board members Bob Carter; John Ranes II, CPF, GCF; Barbara Pelton, MCPF; Constance Henshaw; and Barry Kaufman.
DIMA Innovative Product and Shoot-Out winners online
DIMA Innovative Digital Product Awards recognize products or services utilizing new technologies and applications that make the product either distinct or the first of its kind. PMA 08 exhibitors were asked to submit entries and digital photos for their products or services to allow a panel of industry press to evaluate the products and services. All entries were evaluated based on the following questions: Why is this product/service considered innovative? What sets this product/service apart from its competitors? How does this product/service benefit its user?
The winners of the DIMA Digital Printer Shoot-Out were also announced at PMA 08 in Las Vegas, Nev. Winners were chosen from 112 prints entered by 27 companies. Check out the winners list online to read the full winners list and details. Entries in the DIMA Digital Printer Shoot-Out were produced from files created by color workflow experts at X-Rite Color Services, Akron, Ohio. Participants were asked to provide specific information pertaining to the equipment used (printer, RIP), the consumables used (output media, ink/toner/dye), and the production timing. A panel of expert judges voted on the entries, based on the overall quality of the digital print and the quality of color. The panel of judges included well-respected names in the industry: Richard Lerner, RSL Digital Consultants; Rick Lucas, Digital Attributes/ Lucas Imaging; and Phil Nelson, Phil Nelson Imaging LLC. Judging for the event took place at GTI Graphic Technology Inc., Newburgh, N.Y., which donated the space and 5,000 Kelvin lighting environment.
With 28 photo kiosks, the DIMA Photo Kiosk Shoot-Out was at PMA 08, and eight winners were named from four different categories by two different panels of judges, consisting of self-service experts and consumers. The four categories were:Digital Order Station, Instant Print Kiosk, Software Only, and Multi-Function Photo Kiosk. The participating kiosks were evaluated by a panel of expert judges, including Francie Mendelsohn of Summit Research Associates, Rockville, Md.; Robert Porter of Euro Kiosks Network, Madrid, Spain; and Lawrence Dvorchik of KioskCom (JD Events), Trumbull, Conn. The judges evaluated the kiosk systems using criteria such as customization, flexibility of options, reporting and other benefits important to retailers. The kiosk systems were also judged by a panel of consumers evaluating features such as user-friendliness, ergonomics, feature set, quality of print, overall experience and more.
All the DIMA Innovative Products, Digital Printer Shoot-Out, and Photo Kiosk Shoot-Out winners are available at www.pmai.org/pma08/winners.
SPAA Photo Competition winners announced
The Sports Photographers Association of America (SPAA), a PMA member association, crowned its five category winners today in its first ever sports photo competition. Winners were honored at the opening day of the 2008 SPAA Conference at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev. The new national SPAA Photo Competition recognizes excellence in sports photography. Photographers were able to compete and demonstrate their strengths in five categories.
Professional photographers actively involved in the sports photography industry entered the competition. The following are the first place winners for the 2008 SPAA Photo Competition: Team Posed — Russel Brown, Memory Lane Photography, Payson, Utah; Individual Posed – Greg Crisp, John C. Pittman, Inc., Macungie, Pa.; Digitally Constructed Photographic Image — Scott Phillips, PICS Sports & Event Photography, San Jose, Calif.; Action Indoor — Brian Hurley, Visual Image Photography, Cedarburg, Wis.; and Action Outdoor — Anthony Griego Jr., Kim Jew Sports Photography.
PPFA Service Awards presented at PPFA 2008
The Professional Picture Framers Association , a PMA member association, honored special members with the annual PPFA Service Awards presented during PPFA 2008. Each year, the PPFA Board of Directors considers nominees for a number of special awards for association members whose past actions, deeds, and vision have greatly strengthened the art and framing industry.
This year’s honorees are: PPFA Lifetime Achievement Award: Shirley Damon, CPF, Damon Galleries Ltd., Vienna, Va.; PPFA Award of Distinction for Leadership: Chris Paschke, CPF, GCF, Designs Ink, Tehachapi, Calif.; PPFA Award of Recognition for Innovation: Frank Chavez, Frank’s Fabrics Inc., Van Nuys, Calif.; Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award: Paul Rojik, CPF, Frame Gallery Inc., Sharpsburg, Pa., Tri State Chapter.; and the PPFA Service Award: Don Berkman, MCPF, Framemakers, Austin, Texas.
Winners in the 2007 PPFA Membership Contest also were honored. Awards were presented in three categories: Educator, Supplier, and Chapter. The Arizona Chapter brought in the most new members during the contest. Vivian Kistler, MCPF, GCF, was the Educator who brought the most new members to PPFA, and SoftTouch Solutions in Petrolia, Windsor, Canada, won in the Supplier category.
Merrill Grayson, MCPF, was honored as founder of the PPFA Online Exchange, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last October.
DIMA, PSPA, and PPFA feature keynote speakers
DIMA 2008 featured opening keynote speaker Ze Frank on Jan. 29. Frank discussed adapting the imaging business to the behaviors of the next generation of customers. Joe Pine, co-author, “Authenticity: What Consumers Really Want,” discussed “Authenticity and Digital Imaging” in the DIMA closing keynote on Jan. 30.
The first PSPA 2008 keynote speaker, Murray Banks, Peaks Presentations, discussed “Performance Under Pressure - Leading With Passion and Style” on Jan. 30. Terri Sjodin, Sjodin Communications, spoke to attendees about “The Nine Biggest Sales Presentation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them,” the night of Jan. 30. “The Seven Irrefutable Rules of Business Growth: 21st Century Strategies for Building Your Company” was the topic presented by Steven Little, The Business Growth Expert, in the closing keynote on Feb. 1.
PPFA 2008 began its line of keynote speakers with Vivian Kistler of Columba Publishing. Kistler discussed the topic “Jump-Start Your Business!” on Jan. 31.The second keynote “Customers!! What Do They Really Mean? FAQs at the Front Counter!” was the held on Feb. 1 with Jared Davis, Gunnar International, speaking. The PPFA closing keynote, “Protective Framing: 10 Strategies to Increase Sales!” was held Feb. 1 with James Miller, ARTFRAME Inc., speaking.
PMA is highlighting some of the new innovations and highlights from PMA 08 coverage this year in the “PMA 08 Trends” section of Newsline International and the online PMA Show Daily, a source for all news from PMA 08. Coverage is from from Jan. 31 until Feb. 8. Visit these areas for more in depth information about PMA 08.
Attendees learn much from first DIMA Photo Book Showcase
On the PMA 08 trade show floor the Digital Imaging Marketing Association (DIMA), a PMA member association, presented the first DIMA Photo Book Showcase. More than 50 entries were evaluated in four categories, including Software, Covers & Paper, Binding, and Finished Books, by a group of average consumers who are most likely to order photo books in a home or retail setting. Results of the evaluations were displayed by each entry.
Phil Kaplan of Showcase Inc., Atlanta, Ga., says his store will be introducing photo books soon, so he is very interested in the showcase. “Some of these books are nicely done, especially the books by PTS and Imaging Solutions,” Kaplan says. “It’s helpful having the information here. The consumer opinions are important to me, but I’m also going with my own perceptions. The books I like, which also have very positive ratings from the consumers, are the ones I’m going to consider.”
Tammy Warwick of Don’s Photo Shop Ltd., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, says, “The Photo Book Showcase is very cool. There are so many different technologies and suppliers out there. This is a nice way to see everything in one place at one time.”
Don’s Photo Shop currently offers photo books, but is looking for new software. “Ease of use and convenience for the consumer are very important to us, so it’s great to be able to see the consumer feedback,” Warwick says. “That’s what we’re looking for most.”
Results in the binding category are of greatest interest to Derek Caruthers of Acorn Binding, Las Vegas, Nev. “This is a good display,” Caruthers says. “It’s amazing how the bindings have blossomed over the past four years. There is always something new or different or cheaper, and this is a good way to see what’s out there.
“I don’t think consumers know much about quality binding, but I do,’ he continues. “This gives me a chance to check out what’s new.”
Mike Morelock of Morelock Photo, Greenwood, Ark., says, “The showcase is a good idea. When I walk by some of these booths, I don’t know what their product is. At this display, I can look at the different products at my own pace, without a hard sell. The consumer ratings are great. If most of the consumers rated a book as poor, I’m not going to waste my time on it.”
PMA 08 highlights Official Business Session speakers
Journalist and television host Stuart Varney moderated a discussion with top imaging executives in a Visionary Panel on Jan. 31, the first Official Business Session of PMA 08. On the panel were Brad Krutchen, general manager, retail printing and vice president of Eastman Kodak Co.; John Prendergast, vice president, product and system development for the imaging group at Fujifilm U.S.A.; David Murphy, senior vice president, IPG web services and software business for HP; Mark Gumz, president and COO of Olympus America Inc.; and Quincy Allen, president of the production systems group at Xerox Corp.
The Official Business Session speaker for Feb. 1 was Dr. Andrew Lippman, founder of the MIT Media Laboratory and creator and head of the lab’s Viral Communications program. Former Chicago Bears running back Gale Sayers spoke at the final Official Business Session, held Feb. 2. For further detail, see the official PMA Show Daily available at www.pmai.org/pma08.
Check out PMA 08 trends, photos online
PMA is highlighting just some of the new trends and innovations in its PMA 08 coverage this year in the “PMA 08 Trends” section of Newsline International and in the official online PMA Show Daily available at www.pmai.org/pma08. From Jan. 31 until Feb. 8 new product and service trends will be posted by PMA editors. Some of the trends covered in Newsline International and the official PMA Show Daily, include: professional lenses, professional lighting, photo books, geotagging, DSLRs, compact cameras, online photo sharing, batteries, camera bags, printers, and more.
For a full and exhaustive listing of all the new products and services, visit the Virtual Press Office, where many exhibitors post full product releases in the PMA 08 section.
Additionally, check out the PMA 08 Group posted on Flickr at www.flickr.com/groups/pma08/. Those interested don’t have to be a member to check out the Flickr site, however a free account is required to join the group, post photos, and participate in discussions.
Tessera to acquire FotoNation
Tessera Technologies Inc., San Jose, Calif., a provider of miniaturization technologies for the electronics industry, entered into a definitive agreement to acquire FotoNation, Burlingame, Calif., a provider of embedded imaging solutions for digital still camera and mobile phone applications. Under the terms of the agreement, Tessera will pay $29 million in net cash with up to $10 million of additional consideration, contingent upon certain milestones over one year. This transaction is subject to various standard closing conditions, and is expected to close in February.
FotoNation is a privately-owned, 80-person company that develops innovative embedded solutions to improve image quality and enhance, extend and simplify picture taking for digital still cameras and mobile devices. The company’s extensive portfolio of patented solutions includes advanced hardware and firmware image processing solutions. Principal products encompass technologies for red-eye correction, face tracking, smile and blink detection, as well as other solutions for enhancing digital image quality.
Marc Spira, a former executive with photo book software developer Albumprinter Inc. in the United States entered an “agreement in principle” to acquire the assets of the Artography business from Rieger Communications — including the exclusive license to sell Albumprinter-powered Artography products to small and independent North American photo accounts.
The new Artography offers individualized versions of its photo book software with an exclusive built-in code, which enables photo retailers to track the use of every copy of Artography software they sell, and to recover a commission for every photo book, calendar or other photo keepsake made using its copies.
Under the agreement, Spira would acquire the Albumprinter licensing agreement, Rieger Communications’ Artography client relationships, and all operations of the former Rieger subsidiary. Tom Rieger, president of Rieger Communications, said he was interested in selling Artography because Spira is in a good position to focus fully on the business.
Kodak has profitable quarter, consumer digital business posts gains
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| Kodak CEO Antonie Perez |
Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y., reported fourth-quarter earnings of $92 million on sales of $3.22 billion (compared to $3.106 billion in 2006). Digital revenue totaled $2.262 billion, a 15-percent increase from $1.974 billion in the prior-year quarter. Traditional revenue totaled $951 million, a 15 percent decline from $1.117 billion in the fourth quarter of 2006. Digital earnings for the fourth quarter improved by $5 million, to $146 million this quarter, from $141 million in the year-ago quarter.
In all of 2007, Kodak earned $676 million, compared with a loss of $601 million, in 2006. Sales fell to $10.3 billion from $10.57 billion.
Antonio Perez, chairman and CEO, recently announced the company’s four-year restructuring is completed. According to a press release, Kodak also met or exceeded all of its key financial commitments and strategic goals for 2007, most notably:
- Delivering an 8 percent increase in digital revenue.
- Achieving digital earnings of $176 million.
- Net cash generation of $333 million.
- Aggressive entrance into new markets and product categories, including the introduction of the Kodak All-in-One Inkjet Printing System, Kodak digital picture frames, Kodak InSite enterprise management software, and the Kodak Nexpress S3000 Digital Production Color Press.
- Achieving targeted cost model for the year and reducing full-year Selling, General, and Administrative costs from 18.5 percent to 17.1 percent of revenue.
Kodak’s digital revenue grew 15 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007, driven by strong year-over-year increases in all key digital businesses, partially offset by a decline in snapshot printing.
The company achieved $146 million in digital earnings for the fourth quarter, driven by an expanded product portfolio, intellectual property arrangements, and operational improvements, resulting in strong full-year earnings performance across the company’s digital business units, the company said. For the full year, the company delivered $176 million in digital earnings, a $189 million improvement from the prior year, significantly outpacing a $30 million year-over-year decline in traditional earnings. Earnings from continuing operations before interest, other income (charges), net, and income taxes were $130 million for the quarter and a loss of $230 million for the year.
People on the move
· Canon U.S.A. Inc., Lake Success, N.Y., announced Tamotsu “Ted” Nakamura as the new executive vice president and general manager of Canon U.S.A.’s Imaging Systems Group. Nakamura succeeds Ryoichi Bamba, who transferred from Canon U.S.A. to become president and chief executive officer of Canon Europe. Nakamura joins Canon U.S.A. from Canon Canada, where he was president and chief executive officer since 2001. Prior to Canon Canada, Nakamura was president of Canon Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V. He joined the Canon family in 1984 and has held various planning, marketing and management positions throughout the Company over the years, including positions with the Canon Electronic Typewriter Division and Canon Business Machines Inc.
· Walgreens , Deerfield, Ill., recently named current board of directors member Alan G. McNally to the position of lead director. McNally has served on Walgreens board since 1999. McNally was CEO of Harris Bank from 1993 to 2002 and chairman of the board of Harris Financial Corp. from 1998 to 2006. He is currently retired from those positions but continues to serve both organizations as a special advisor.
Industry notes
· Winners at the PMA 08 Golf Tournament, played at the Legacy Golf Club, Jan. 30, included Bruce McBriar (men’s low net) and Rex Jobe (men’s low gross). Runner’s up included Randy Shimomuro (men’s low net) and Bill Durvin (men’s low gross). The women’s low-gross winner was Mary Wellington. Wellington was also the winner of the women’s longest drive contest.The scramble low-net winning team was Hon Yu, Kevin Kopec, Dan Durso and Matt Darby. The runner-up team was Beau Beavers, Matt Teeter, Frank Farino and Sam Gunn. Ciril Falkner won the men’s closest to the pin award on hole #15. Dan Durso won the longest drive for the men.
· The PIEA International Student-Teacher Photo Competition winner exhibition took place at PMA 08 in Las Vegas, Nev. PIEA received about 6,150 images from 1,310 contest entrants hailing from 115 schools. Entries were received from nine countries: Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. A total of $159,733 in prizes from 81 sponsors will be awarded to winners. Winners of the contest were recently announced, and the official list and photos for the 2008 contest winners are posted at http://pieapma.org/gallery/2008.
· Imagine adding 50 additional products to your lab’s offering in time for Christmas. That’s what Phil Gresham of Fotofast, Brisbane, Australia did. In this week’s DIMAcast, Gresham tells Bill McCurry how he did it and why. McCurry also interviews Richard “Robbo” Robertson, Ted’s CEO. Robertson invites photo retailers around the world to start a new exchange program for staff where they can go to other countries like a student exchange program. Additionally, McCurry visited Angela Haig McAuliffe shortly before her new daughter Frankie was born to get an update on how Prolab is fighting back against losing professional photographers. Haig McAuliffe has developed a three-tier pricing system that is being well received among her current and future customers. Details from all these retailers and transcripts are available at www.DIMAcast.com. Dreamstime, Brentwood, Tenn., a global stock photography agency, expanded its editorial license policy to accept non-model released and non-property released images that are directly pertinent to current events, news and political stories, and social and cultural scenes. Editorial images can be used in print, electronic or broadcast media only. The non-model released and non-property released editorial images will not be available for commercial use.
· Sequoia Media Group LC, Draper, Utah, developer of the aVinci Experience product line, announced an agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products to feature “The Polar Express” licensed media in the aVinci photo movie templates. Sequoia’s patent-pending technology turns personal digital photos into professional themed DVD movie productions, as well as posters and photo books. Sequoia’s first licensed media product offering, “The Polar Express” from Warner Bros. Sequoia says it is developing an extensive line of themed templates featuring licensed media from popular movies, TV shows, and music artists with scheduled release dates throughout 2008.
· Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y., launched the “Pricey Ink — You’re Fired!” photo contest. The contest, powered by Brickfish, the online content marketing platform and inspired by Kodak’s appearance on The Celebrity Apprentice, invites people to submit a photo or video of their favorite “Knockout Kodak Moment” (a treasured personal memory). Kodak will select the winners (based on 50 percent creativity and 50 percent content) for four of the five categories: most artistic photo, best friends & family photo, wackiest photo, and most interesting video moment. Each of the five category winners will receive a Kodak EasyShare 5300 All-in-One Printer autographed by Donald Trump. In addition, Kodak will select the grand prize winner, who will receive a trip to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway on July 12, and a Kodak EasyShare 5300 All-In-One Printer autographed by Donald Trump. The “Pricey Ink — You’re Fired!” photo contest ends March 1 and can be accessed at www.kodak.com/global/en/corp/apprentice/Contest.html.
· Cobalt, Granite Falls, Wash., announced an exclusive distributor agreement with Pakor Inc., Maple Grove, Minn., to sell their complete line of equipment because of Pakor’s commitment to customer service and distribution efficiency. Cobalt is a manufacturer of photographic negative sleeves, trail re-shapers, and film stands by acquiring Crown Photo Systems. Pakor has been a leading distributor since 1912.
· General Imaging, Torrance, Calif., the worldwide exclusive licensee for GE-branded digital cameras, and RadioShack Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, announced the consumer electronics retailer will add two new models to its GE lineup. RadioShack says it will begin carrying the two new models in some neighborhood stores by February and system wide by March. RadioShack will offer the A735 in both black and red and the E840s in black. All the GE digital cameras will also be available on the Web at www.RadioShack.com as well as through the company’s Ship-to-Store and Direct-to-U programs.
· Winners at the PMA 08 Golf Tournament, played at the Legacy Golf Club, Jan. 30, included Bruce McBriar (men’s low net) and Rex Jobe (men’s low gross). Runner’s up included Randy Shimomuro (men’s low net) and Bill Durvin (men’s low gross). The women’s low-gross winner was Mary Wellington. Wellington was also the winner of the women’s longest drive contest.The scramble low-net winning team was Hon Yu, Kevin Kopec, Dan Durso and Matt Darby. The runner-up team was Beau Beavers, Matt Teeter, Frank Farino and Sam Gunn. Ciril Falkner won the men’s closest to the pin award on hole #15. Dan Durso won the longest drive for the men.
· The organizers of the 6Sight Future of Imaging Conference, Future Image Inc., the Association of Imaging Executives (AIE), and PMA, announced the 2008 event will be Nov. 18-20 at the Monterey Conference Center in Monterey, Calif. For more information about the 6Sight conference, visit the website at www.6sight.com. The 2008 event will explore advancement in technologies as applied to new applications for image capture. Also, for the second year FotoNation is a part of the 6Sight conference. Additionally, public access to the 6Sight Live online video library of session content from the November 2007 event is now available. 6Sight Live can be accessed at www.6sight.com/live using the Access Code: 6Sight07key.
· Tripod Ventures, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, officially launches after months of preparation. The company is led by three executives with roots in the photography, retail, and technology sectors. The mission of Tripod Ventures is to deliver Web 2.0 retail technology solutions that combine user experiences with operational quality, says the company. Tripod Ventures was co-founded by Shant Balayan, Vahe Kassardjian, and François Parent. At this time, the company is privately financed by the executive team.
· Exclaim, Trenton, N.J., a platform provider and publisher of consumer wireless applications for user-generated content, announced a partnership with Athentech Technologies Inc. that brings their Perfectly Clear image-correction technology to Exclaim’s Pictavision DMM (Digital Media Management) platform. Pictavision DMM is the industry’s first user-generated, content exchange platform for wireless carriers and digital consumer electronics vendors that connects wireless devices with a range of consumer Web 2.0 brands, retailers, and digital home consumer devices. Perfectly Clear will be integrated into the Pictavision DMM server platform, which will automatically detect the cameraphone model, and through a database of features for the specific phone, will automatically correct photos without users having to select and edit individual photos. Perfectly Clear will be available as part of the DMM platform for service providers and digital consumer electronics vendors in second quarter of 2008, and deployed as an inclusive service for customers who purchase Pictavision and Teleprints mobile applications directly from carriers in third quarter of 2008.
· Lucidiom Inc., Vienna, Va., is partnering with Centrics LLC of St. Louis, Mo., to give retailers one-stop shopping and fulfillment for photo gifts through Lucidiom’s EQ Complete Imaging System, says the company. Retailers now can sign up with Lucidiom’s EQ Gifting to handle the order logistics. Retailers can track orders through one system, get one invoice from Lucidiom, and offer new photo gifts to their customers, says the company. Retailers pay no subscription fees for the service.
· Cord Camera , the privately owned retail imaging company based in Ohio, launched its new online imaging solution, provided by LifePics. The LifePics solution delivers a fully customizable platform, a very broad selection of prints and photo products, and provides consumers with Live Help, a service assisting consumers with creating products and placing orders online. Live Help is staffed by trained, semi-professional photographers, and is available 364 days a year, the company.
· HP Co., Palo Alto, Calif., has developed a recycling system that enables the use of post-consumer recycled plastics in the production of new original HP inkjet print cartridges. More than 200 million cartridges have been manufactured using the process thus far, says the company. HP combines plastic from the inkjet cartridges with recycled bottle resin and a suite of compounding additives to develop the cartridges. The amount of recycled content in the HP inkjet cartridges varies between 70 to 100 percent of the total plastic used, says the company.
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