Hidden jewels uncovered at PMA 2010

PMA Hot Picks

Retailers from around the world found many money-making opportunities on the floor of this year's PMA trade show in Anaheim, California. Catherine Logue reports.

Their task was to investigate each exhibitor and find something that would be their company's 'Hot Pick' for 2010.

The 'buzz' on the exhibition floor was infectious. The volunteer 'reporters' were excited by the variety of new adaptations of products and services along with the profit potential.

One of the most popular items was i-a-Peel.

This product offers printable skins for end-users to print personalised electronic product covers that can be removed easily once they tired of the design. Skins were available for phones, games, iPods and a variety of gadgets. Check it out on www.iapeel.com.

Several business operators, Phil Rigby (Spectrum Imaging, UK) Gabe Cano (Color Specialty Services, US) Paul Boniface (Scone Digital Imaging, Australia) and Michael St Germain (Concord Camera Store, US) all selected i-a-Peel as their personal ?Hot

Another selection, supported by multiple retailers was the software plug-ins by Topaz Designs.

This offers the team members working in Photoshop, an option to make corrections, changes and adaptations quickly, economically and simply. Allen Showalter, (King Photo, US) Gaby Mullinax (Fullerton Photographics, US) and Bob Sager (Bob?s Camera & Video, US) were keen to add this item to improve their processing system.

Popular with two reporters was the Zipshot tripod by Tamrac. Tor Weatherstone (Scandinavian Photo Consult, Norway) commented, "I travel a lot and this will be very practical for my luggage".

Bill Eklund (Sharp Photos & Portraits, US) was impressed with the design of the tripod and the potential to add it to so many camera sales. It offers the photographer a compact, sturdy yet versatile tripod which is light to carry.

An unusual ‘Hot Pick’ was a business service that made retailers more effective and profitable.

‘Hot Picks’ host Bill McCurry selected the Marketing Toolbox available through the PMA Plus program.

The toolbox allows retailers the time to work on their business while the PMA Plus team thinks and develops marketing materials and ideas to add to their business model.

Peter Michael (Michael's Camera & Video, Australia) announced that he had signed up for PMA Plus as well as joining the US buying group Independent Photo Imagers (IPI).

Michael said the economic buying programs might not help his business half-way around the world but the marketing insights, business tools, technological support and the low cost of joining made it a 'simple' decision.

Other ‘Hot Picks’ included:

• Tensador II, a semi-automated canvas stretching frame selected by DIMA president Phil Gresham, (Fastfoto, Australia) as a production improvement tool.

• Magic Wand portable scanner by Vupoint, selected by PMA past president Mike Worswick (Wolfe’s Cameras, US)

• The ringlight by ToCAD with its quick, easy attachment system was picked by DIMA past president Chris Lydle (Chris’ Camera Center, US)

• Personalised camera straps by Riley’s Strap Works, made from recycled leather from Ferrari, BMW, Mercedes and other top-end auto makers, selected by Gabe Cano (Specialty Color Services, US).

• The Jellyfish Strap by Delkin for its adaptability for the underwater photographer was chosen by Paul Comon (Paul’s Photo, US). (Paul especially appreciated the built-in beer bottle opener.)

• Black Rapid’s low profile camera strap was selected by Lisa Otto (Banff Photography, Canada) for its practical application for the female photographer’s body shape.

Some 30 items were selected by the retailers attending the event, providing a great opportunity to share knowledge and profit opportunities with their fellow business operators.

The 'Hot Picks' segment provided the 'final day check out that item rush' for those wanting to maximise their return on investment attending the PMA 2010 show. Watch for 'Hot Picks' 2010 coming soon to PMA-TV.