Pano of Monterey shoot on the iPhone enhanced with the IM app from imsense
In today’s DIMAcast, host Brian Mundy does double duty -- bringing you interviews of his own, conducted at the 6Sight Future of Imaging Conference, held Nov. 10-12 in Monterey, Calif. Listen in as Mundy talks to Ramesh Raskar, of the MIT Media Lab; Jim Calverley of Fujifilm; and Philippe Dewost of imsense. Also we have a bonus interview with ImageSpan’s CEO Iain Scholnick.
Be sure to tune in next week for part two, in which Mundy interviews 6Sight speakers Stephen Johnson, digital imaging pioneer; and Rick Smolan, publisher of the“The Obama Time Capsule.
CanvasPop cofounders Nazin Ahmed (left) and Adrian Salamunovic
CanvasPop is a new company allowing users to customize and print their photos, from any source, of any size and resolution, on canvas. To mark the launch of the new business, the first 100 customers of CanvasPop will have their photos displayed on the Reuters Billboard in New York City’s Times Square for 15 seconds. In today’s DIMAcast, CanvasPop co-founder, Adrian Salamunovic, explains how this promotion came into being, and why it demonstrates how CanvasPop intends to stand out from the crowd.
As managing partner of investment bank Woodside Capital, Rudy Burger specializes in digital technology business development. At the 6Sight Future of Imaging Conference, which will be held in Monterey, Calif., Nov. 10-12, he will speak about the future of 3D imaging. Get a sneak peek into his thoughts on this topic in today’s DIMAcast.
Interview starts :4:35
Interview ends :21:51
6Sight Future of Imaging
Conference in Monterey, Calif
www.6sight.com
Opening new camera stores? Buying existing camera stores? Are these things happening this century? Bill McCurry took the DIMAcast microphone to a recent PRO educational gathering and found executives under the age of 40 who own or manage imaging firms. They’re excited about their future and they’re investing their money, their talents and their passion. You can hear their stories, their joys and their challenges in this week’s DIMAcast.
Interview starts :3:14
Interview ends :20:04
6Sight Future of Imaging Conference in
Monterey, Calif
www.6sight.com
“Desktop software maker, Preclick, has been in the news lately, with the acquisition by multimedia greetings company Smilebox. In today’s DIMAcast, PMA Publisher Gary Pageau talks with Preclick founder and Smilebox vice president, Brian Smiga, about what his means for web-to-print opportunities for retailers.”
It may seem as though new camera innovations are coming out every day, but photographer, author and digital image pioneer Stephen Johnson of Stephen Johnson Photography, Pacifica, Calif., says new technology are not meeting the creative needs of professional photographers. In today’s DIMAcast, who will also speak on this topic at the upcoming 6Sight Future of Imaging Conference in November, shares his thoughts on what technologies are needed, when they might become available, and how they will affect pro photography, consumer imaging, and the industry as a whole.
Dan’s Camera City is well known for its innovative approaches to retailing. In today’s DIMAcast, Steve Olock, former DIMA president and director of technology for Dan’s, shares insights about how the store is expanding off-site services, breaking free of the confines of store hours and location.
“I can buy that elsewhere and not pay tax” These are chilling words to many retailers. Wednesday night Massachusetts Senate Minority Leader Senator Richard Tisei spoke to the New England PMA Division Meeting. Bill McCurry was there with the DIMAcast microphone inquiring about the results of Massachusetts 25% sales tax increase. McCurry asked the Senator for his solution to tax policy. Hear why the Senator thinks abolishment of sales taxes may be the solution to government creating favoritism of one form of retail compared to another form of retail. It’s not your traditional politicians’ answer. Food for thought as governments struggle to grab new taxes and revenues.
Interview starts :2:22
In the new episode of the DIMAcast, Lenny Lipton, inventor of the current state-of-the-art 3D technologies being used by Disney, Pixar and other top Hollywood filmmakers, discusses how 3D technology will impact still imaging. Lipton will also tackle this topic at the upcoming 6Sight Future of Imaging Conference, to be held Nov. 10-11 in Monterey, Calif.
Every year, the 6Sight Future of Imaging conference brings together visionaries and networking opportunities to share, shape and create the industry of tomorrow. In the new episode of the DIMAcast, conference chairman Alexis Gerard, president of Future Image Inc., San Mateo, Calif. discusses the upcoming event, to be held Nov. 10-11 in Monterey, Calif., and what attendees can expect.
In today’s DIMAcast, mixed media artist Bonny Lhotka of Digital Atelier, a printmaking studio with 3 locations across the United States, discusses 3D imaging, the convergence of traditional and digital art, and the future of fine art imaging. Lhotka will be a speaker at the upcoming 6Sight Future of Imaging Conference in Monterey, Calif., in November.
What's the impact of one disappointed customer? In 2001 a customer was so disappointed in the service from a store in Sydney she and some friends opened a website offering to treat people fairly. This year that company is projected to sell over $30 million retail in photographic products by treating every customer the same, fair and square. Listen to this week's DIMAcast featuring Digital Camera Warehouse headquartered in Sydney, Australia and hear how their simple but unique strategies have served them and their customers very well. A written transcript with illustrations is also available for download at www.DIMAcast.com
In 2006, DIMAcast featured an interview with Thor Sigvaldason of On Demand Books, when the company was installing the first units of its Espresso Book Machine, (EBM,) which automatically prints, binds, and trims, on-demand at point of sale, perfect-bound, library-quality paperback books. In today’s DIMAcast, PMA Senior Editor Jennifer Barr Kruger revisits the topic in an interview with Andrew Pate, senior vice-president of Business Development for On Demand Books. He explains what changes have occurred over the past 3 years.
In today's special DIMAcast, Sony today beefed up its digital SLR line with three new models that promise to bring better price/performance to the field including an affordable full-frame camera. For more on the new models, 6Sight Report Editor Paul Worthington spoke with Mark Weir, digital imaging senior technology manager at Sony Electronics.
Today’s DIMAcast presents an interview with Dr. Ramesh Raskar, who will keynote the upcoming 6Sight Future of Imaging Conference at the Monterey Conference Center, Monterey, Calif., Nov. 10-12. Raskar is head of the Camera Culture Research Group and co-director of the Center for Future Storytelling, both at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab. In this interview, he explains the work he’s currently doing, what he will discuss at 6Sight, and how photography will be vastly different in the future than it is it today.
What role is digital imaging playing in printing, photo merchandise and social networks? Find out in today’s DIMAcast with David Haueter, associate director of InfoTrend’s Photo Printing Trends and Photo Merchandise services, who is interviewed by PMA Publisher Gary Pageau. Haueter’s responsibilities include product coverage, trend analysis, primary market research, and gathering forecast data for the photo print and photo merchandise markets. Prior to joining InfoTrends, Haueter was principal analyst for the Digital Documents & Imaging group at Gartner. In this role, he focused on digital camera, photo printing, inkjet printer, and multifunction product markets.
InfoTrends is hosting the Digital Imaging '09 conference Sept. 16-17 at the Hyatt Regency SFO, Burlingame, Calif., offering attendees a new format to create a customized educational agenda - matching interests with content on future market directions, opportunities and trends. The interactive two-day conference brings together leading digital imaging executives including providers of hardware, software and services, corporate content owners, publishers, photofinishers, labs, photo retailers and digital print providers. DI ‘09 is for digital imaging executives wanting to build partnerships and secure new business for 2010, according to InfoTrends. To learn more, visit www.digitalimagingconference.com.
Samsung has brought innovation and style to the compact camera market. In this special podcast, Samsung director of marketing, Rich Campbell, talks to PMA publisher Gary Pageau about three new innovative cameras, announced today: the wireless and geo-aware CL65 and the dual-LCD and social-media driven TL225 and TL220 models.
The world of book publishing is evolving at a break-neck pace, and changing with it is the concept of a photo book. In today’s DIMAcast, Rochester Institute of Technology professor Frank Cost explains how simple photo book publishing has become, how photo books are perceived by young consumers, and why the method we use to share an image affects the way it is viewed.
This week’s DIMAcast is live from the PRO Group’s Annual Convention where members shared quick BRAIN BUZZES . . . these are snippets of ideas that cause the brain to buzz with excitement and exploration of new profit enhancement concepts. Ginger Gauthe of Lakeside Camera Photoworks (Metairie, LA) reveals the how and why a $129 scan job averages $300. Anne Thompson of Thompson Photo Products (Knoxville, TN) shares how encouraging one of her customer’s photographic talents led to a new acceptance of photography as an art form, and improved Thompson’s business. Britt Baker of The Film Center (Altoona, PA) uncovered sales potential that was right in front of him for years that is probably right in front of you as well. Fred Silvers of Bel Air Camera (Los Angeles, CA) uses free media to accelerate used equipment sales as well as fill his store with students for events and classes. Rob Muller of Schiller’s (St. Louis, MO) is successful using Facebook to communicate with customers and promote in store events. Joaquin Freixas of Swanlund’s (Eureka, CA) has a DSLR club that keeps customers loyal and reminds them to visit Swanlund's. Jeff Beauchamp of Bedford’s (Springdale, AR) reports on use tax laws and what states are doing to help retailers level the playing field so consumers know most internet sales do require use or sales taxes be paid.
Erin Manning’s career thus far has included such varied occupations as model, professional photographer, teacher, author and television host. Now, Manning adds another role to her resume: DIMA board member. In today’s DIMAcast, she tells PMA Senior Editor Jennifer Barr Kruger about her interesting history in the photography industry and her goals for her time on the board.
In this week DIMAcast Bill takes us live to the IPI 2009 Convention and Trade Show. Now usually Bill talks to many people at a convention like IPI, but what he heard from Diana and Scott Schmitt were so insightful this entire show is all about how they run their unique business in San Juan Capistrano.
Some may think online photo retailer Photojojo started strangely: it began as a newsletter (and it still is one) that grew into a store. In today’s DIMAcast, Photojojo founder Amit Gupta explains how that happened, why he chose an anti-“Long Tail” approach to retail, and what made the Photojojo newsletter – which features tips like how to turn a broken camera into a flower pot – become an industry phenomenon, with more than 275,000 subscribers.
On this weeks DIMAcast, Great ideas included such things as how to make an empty camera display into a selling tool, turning personalized photo products into souvenirs, low cost way to sell more to passport photo customers, the power of free, joint promotions with jewelers, selling quantities of photo books including parties as well as promotions through schools and other profitable ideas . . . all yours for the listening/reading in this weeks Marketing Idea Exchange DIMAcast, live from Sydney Australia and the PMA Australia 2009 Imaging Technology Show . . . .
HP recently announced a fully customizable coffee table book showcasing President Barack Obama’s journey to the White House and first 100 days in office. Built using both old and new technology, the book promises to bring on-demand, custom printing to a new, wider audience. In today’s DIMAcast, Andrew Bolwell, director of new business initiatives for HP, explains how the “The Obama Time Capsule” is ordered, customized and printed, and what it may mean for the future of press products.
Joining the DIMAcast for the second time is Gabe Cano. He was first interviewed by Bill McCurry, who learned from Cano why Facebook is an important business tool. Today, Cano speaks as one of the newest members of the DIMA board. He tells PMA Senior Editor Jennifer Barr Kruger how he got his start in the imaging industry, what led him to become part owner of Specialty Color Services in Santa Barbara, Calif., and why he chose to served DIMA as a board member.
Michael Deng is founder and CEO of Arcsoft, the company behind the embedded technologies providing key features and functions of many of the world’s most popular mobile phones, digital cameras and other devices, as well as an array of consumer imaging software. In today’s DIMAcast, discover how Deng came to start the company, and why he believes it’s become such a tremendous success. Deng also shares his insights on the future of his company, and the imaging industry as a whole.
Learn how FaceCake’s FrameWizard brings still image to life on today’s DIMAcast. At PMA 09, FaceCake Marketing Technologies, Calabasas, Calif., launched a new product called the FrameWizard. This twist on the traditional digital frame, which allows “still” digital images to move in the frame, garnered so much attention, the FrameWizard was selected as a PMA 09 Retailer Hot Pick. In today’s DIMAcast, FaceCake CEO Linda Smith tells PMA Senior Editor Jennifer Barr Kruger all about the FrameWizard and the company’s interesting path into the digital imaging area.
Hear the best-of-the-best ideas from photo retailers on today’s DIMAcast
Frequent DIMAcast listeners know Bill McCurry presents a new Marketing Idea Exchange podcast on the first Monday of every month, in which he interviews photo retailers all over the world about their best ideas. Today, McCurry wears a different hat – as an interviewee. PMA Senior Editor Jennifer Barr Kruger asks McCurry to share some of the greatest insights he’s come across in his many years doing the Marketing Idea Exchange. Learn more about McCurry’s own background as a retailer, and hear his thoughts on what will bring about success in the future.
Meet new DIMA Board member John Eakin in today’s DIMAcast
John Eakin, Technical Director of Studio Photo Imaging, Hollywood, Calif., is a new member of the DIMA board. In today’s DIMAcast, he shares the story of his career as a photographer, taking pictures for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Edwards Air Force Base; and how he came to join Studio Photo Imaging, a lab specializing in motion picture stills for movie studios. Learn why John chose to join the DIMA board and more.
In today’s DIMAcast, Jennifer interviews Dan Simpkins, CEO of Hillcrest Labs, the company that created the interactive digital media technology used in the Kodak Theatre HD Player. It allows consumers to view their images and video on a TV, as well as surf the web and more.
In today’s DIMAcast, Jennifer interviews Carl Taussig, director of Information Surfaces at HP Labs, about a prototype of a new flexible electronic display technology that uses less power than current flexible displays. HP predicts the technology may replace computer displays all together.
What makes a conservative southern business person turn into a “sleazy discounter”? It’s not a mid-life crises, it’s a well thought out business plan that promotes 4x6 prints at nine cents and drives profitable traffic into the retail store. Some think Ray Bailey (Camcor, Burlington, North Carolina) may have lost his conservative roots, but Ray says he’s actually building margin. That’s what he tells Bill McCurry in this week’s DIMAcast which can be downloaded in either audio format or pdf file (with images) from www.DIMAcast.com – If that’s not enough, Larry Carrillo, former owner of Shutterbug Camera was in the audience and added some insights to retailers seeking higher margins. It’s a 2 for 1 special on this week’s DIMAcast Marketing Idea Exchange.
At the DIMA 2009 Annual Conference last month, DIMA elected Chris Lydle of Chris’ Camera Center its 2009 president. Today’s DIMAcast gives our listeners the chance to get to know Chris a little better. Jennifer interviews him about his history in the industry and his goals for his term as president.
Today on the DIMAcast, Eric Zarakov, VP of strategic marketing for Tessera, talks to Jenifer about new in-camera technologies that help people take better pictures.
With 8 locations in smaller cities, Harold's Photo has looked for new revenue sources for over 100 years. While most imaging retailers have rarely sold graduation cards, Bob Hanson and (fourth generation in the business) son Andrew share not only how they got into the gradation card business but how they took a formerly non-existent category and expanded it beyond just "traditional" graduation cards. The download transcript includes images of the product and promotional materials Harold's uses to sustain and grow their sales.
Come join us on this vary special 3rd anniversary show. Get a chance to hear this live interview with the DIMAcast team Bill McCurry, Gary Pageau, Jennifer Kruger, Chad Munce and Brian Mundy your host of the DIMAcast.
Last October, HP announced a partnership with MySpace to integrate HP printing technology across multiple areas on the social networking site, including all photo sections. Today, Tuan Tran, Vice President and General Manager within HP's Inkjet and Web Solutions Business, is joining us on the DIMAcast to tell us what’s happening with that new partnership. Hello, Tuan.
DNP Photo Imaging America has provided innovative kiosks for many years. This year, the company’s TOMO interface offers a new look at consumer interaction with their pictures. PMA Publisher Gary Pageau talks with Kerry Lash, product manager, Tomo, and Trey Adams, software development manager, Tomo MT, about the latest DNP innovations. Also included in this edition is a video demo by Adams of the Tomo MT interface on a Microsoft Surface table computer.”
You asked, you e-mailed and you want to know more about e-mail marketing. So listen in to what DIMAcast host Brian Mundy has to say about his year long e-mail marketing campaign. The up and downs and even some new trick to get your message out to more people and potential customers.
Yes you even get to hear the sprinklers on in the background.
“LifePics is behind the scenes, offering online services to more than 450 retailers. In today’s DIMAcast, PMA Publisher Gary Pageau talks with LifePics CEO Rick Patch about the company, it’s eight-year history and philosophy, and it’s future opportunities.”
DIMAcast takes you live to PMA and DIMA 2009 as you listen into the ideas shared at the Marketing Idea Exchanges. Being there is the best thing, but we've brought you some audio from last week's DIMA and PMA Marketing Idea Exchanges. We apologize for the technical challenges as some of the audio was totally unusable so we are not able to bring you all the ideas that were shared. We were able to salvage a lot of it and you'll hear it, we debated between cutting out the marginal audio or allowing you to listen to it - it seemed the best decision was to leave it to our listeners who can chose to fast forward through the weaker parts, or go to www.DIMAcast.com and read the transcript.
Imagine wandering around the New York New Jersey Division Meeting asking anyone you see what they are doing to drive business or improve their results. Bill McCurry talks to retailers who are doing things differently than last year to drive business in these interesting times.
Link to the Transcripts
Imagine wandering around the New York New Jersey Division Meeting asking anyone you see what they are doing to drive business or improve their results. Bill McCurry talks to retailers who are doing things differently than last year to drive business in these interesting times.
Despite the challenges of today's economy, there is a large segment of consumers who still want high-end goods, and are willing to pay for them. Today's DIMAcast presents an interview with PMA 09 Keynote speaker Michael Silverstein of Boston Consulting Group, author of "Trading Up: Why Consumers Want New Luxury Goods... And How Companies Create Them." He explains the emotional satisfaction consumers feel in paying premium prices for high-end products, and how imaging industry members can tap into that emotional draw. Catch his joint Keynote on March 2, 2009 at noon, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev.
Today's DIMAcast welcomes PMA 09 Official Business Session speaker Dr. Geoffrey Moore, a managing director at TCG Advisors. Moore is also a bestselling author of several books, including his latest, "Dealing With Darwin: How Great Companies Innovate at Every Phase of Their Evolution." In this interview, Moore gives DIMAcast listeners a taste of what he will cover in his upcoming session, titled "Breaking the Back of the Innovator's Dilemma." Catch his Official Business Session at 9:00 a.m. on March 3, 2009, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev.
Craig Newmark is the founder of Craigslist, the online classified ad site that began merely as an email exchange service in 1995, and has now grown to attract 50 million unique visitors per month and serve 567 cities around the globe. He is also a PMA 09 Official Business Session speaker, discussing the future of online communities and commerce. Get a sneak peek into his session, and learn how he thinks Craigslist has changed the landscape of e-commerce, in today's DIMAcast. Catch his Official Business Session on March 5, 2009, at 8:00 a.m. at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev.
How does a 50 year old company reinvent itself for new markets and still stay keep its base market growing? Calagaz Photo has grown over the years to be a powerhouse of a camera store and lab services operator in Mobile, Alabama. At the same time they have expanded internationally into the printing business shipping printed pages all over the world. It isn't easy and it's wasn't quick, but the Calagaz name is now well established in two different marketplaces, thriving in both. If you're a lab, a camera store or a digital printer you'll want to hear and see how the Calagaz family keeps the customers calling, clicking and coming into Calagaz Photo.
“PMA has recently conducted extensive research on the youth digital photography market. Today’s DIMAcast features PMA publisher Gary Pageau interviewing Dimitrios Delis, PMA director of marketing research, about research highlights, and what it means for the future of photo/imaging products and services.”
Social networking has become a way of life for young consumers, and increasingly, older consumers are following in their path. Many businesses are discovering that marketing through these sites can be inexpensive, quick, and very effective. Today’s DIMAcast presents an interview with Lorrie Thomas, who is both head of Lorrie Thomas Web Marketing, a firm that specializes in helping small businesses tap the power of social media marketing, and an instructor of web marketing at University of California, Santa Barbara, and University of California, Berkeley. Learn what sites are best for your business and how to get started.
Educational photography tours to destinations near and far generate sales, word-of-mouth marketing, and customer loyalty for Paul’s Photo, Torrance, Calif. In 2007, the DIMAcast presented an interview with Mark Comon, who leads the tours for Paul’s Photo. In today’s DIMAcast, PMA Senior Editor Jennifer Kruger revisits this topic with Comon, to learn how the tours have changed and evolved over the past year.
Interview starts :4:49
Interview ends :29:24
Mark Comon
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On today's DIMAcast, Bill McCurry brings us another great Marketing Idea Exchange. McCurry interviews Gabe Cano and Glen Hodges from Specialty Color Services in Santa Barbara, California.. There going to let us in on the secrets of marketing on Facebook.
Gabe Cano (left) and Glen Hodges, partners in Specialty Color Services holding up the “Film Toss Champion” Tee Shirts available to the winners whose film orders end up in thee eafter hours basket.
Now is Your Chance to Win Big From PMA! Enter your best consumer photo gift promotional campaign in the PMA Custom Photo Gift Promotion Competition, and you might win big! How big, you may be wondering? $25,000 big!
Visit www.pmai.org/winbig for rules, entry forms, and everything else you need.
Learn how Australian retailers are capitalizing on the mutli-kiosk model in today’s DIMAcast
Dave Marshall, managing director of Fujifilm Australia in Sydney, has played a major role in developing the multi-kiosk model embraced by many photo retailers in Australia. In today’s DIMAcast, Marshall explains how and why the model has been such a monumental success Downunder, how it may work in other parts of the world, and what he predicts for the future of the retail photo kiosk.
Interview starts :4:12
Interview ends :21:54
Now is Your Chance to Win Big From PMA! Enter your best consumer photo gift promotional campaign in the PMA Custom Photo Gift Promotion Competition, and you might win big! How big, you may be wondering? $25,000 big!
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In today’s DIMAcast, Jennifer interviews John Barber, vice president of marketing for Varioptic in Lyon, France, a company that has a patented Liquid Lens technology being used in all sorts of imaging devices.
Now is Your Chance to Win Big From PMA! Enter your best consumer photo gift promotional campaign in the PMA Custom Photo Gift Promotion Competition, and you might win big! How big, you may be wondering? $25,000 big!
Visit www.pmai.org/winbig for rules, entry forms, and everything else you need.
Now is Your Chance to Win Big From PMA! Enter your best consumer photo gift promotional campaign in the PMA Custom Photo Gift Promotion Competition, and you might win big! How big, you may be wondering? $25,000 big!
Visit www.pmai.org/winbig for rules, entry forms, and everything else you need.
Pano of Monterey shoot on the iPhone enhanced with the IM app from imsense 
Michael Silverstein
