Hot Picks cover all bases

The "Hot Picks" program, introduced at PMA 09 in Las Vegas, was also adopted at the PMA Imaging Technology show in Sydney.

Hot Picks involves a group of retailers scouring the exhibition stands on the trade show floor for products which stood out as real profit generators. They came up with a broad selection of new lines.

The exhibition ovreall had a very positive feel and certainly offered some new products and creative enhancements to some well-known products. The range of ideas and products on display offered attendees a refreshing boost for their business, whether it is a department store, camera store, photo lab, picture framer or a studio.

Two popular software offerings were selected. One was the Creative Production Software by Kodak; this software provides retailers with inexpensive in-store solutions when combined with the new Kodak DL2100 duplex (electrophotographic) printer that it supports. This equipment was the Hot Pick of Tim Jones, Perfect Prints Hobart, and Alan Logue Hutt St Photos. Tim was so taken by the new printer that he placed an order for one at the show!

Similarly, Lucidium photo gifting software, which allows retailers to offer standalone in-store software was selected by Paul Boniface, Scone Digital Imaging, NSW.

There was a lot of positive discussion around this software when Hot Picks participants gathered to discuss their choices. A unique feature of the Lucidiom software is the option of choosing a theme, like children's birthdays, or Christmas, with the kiosk then offering a menu of options around particular themes.

Inkjet Balloons by Power Digital was selected by Penny Valentine, Valentine's Camera House Fremantle WA. This product offers an inexpensive category with a difference, offering the retailer a high profit margin item that is easy to produce and great to merchandise.

Nik software was chosen by Paul Dawson of Hydro Photographics as a powerful plugin for Photoshop.

The ‘Flattenme' series from Photo Create offers retailers a new concept in the gifting category, providing cards for invitations and announcements, and a personalised story book to include the child, or children's faces along with their name.

Cameras and accessories which were selected as ‘Hot Picks' included:
- Olympus Pen, a retro-looking digital camera (based on a 1959 model) which will use current and old interchangeable lenses was the selection presented by both visiting International PMA president Rainer Schorcht of Ringfoto and Paul Atkins, Atkins Technicolour Adelaide. 
Fuji 3D Camera and Frame, was the choice of 2008 Young Achiever, Brendan Cassidy.
Fujifilm E-wrap, a vinyl cut laser designer cover for phones, laptops and iphones, was also chosen by Brendan Cassidy.
- A Ring Flash from Film & Video Extras was selected by Andrew Dorward Croydon Camera House Victoria
- Lenspen's Sensor Cleaning Kit available from Tasco was selected by Jann Gallen, Digital Prints & Images, Bathurst, NSW.
Other products chosen included: Photo Lamps by Sleeman Imports, chosen by Michelle Morrison Hydro Photographics Pt Macquarie; and Chromalux, a high gloss finish for a range of gift lines by GJS Supplies was selected by incoming DIMA President, Phil Gresham, Fotofast Brisbane, OLD.

Some items in the framing category include:
Inkjet Pro Acrylic Panels by Giclee Media Supplies was selected by Luke Valentine, Valnetines Camera House, Freemantle, WA
You-frame offering an easy to use frame solution for both canvas and paper, by Independant Photo Supplies was selected by Alan Logue of Hutt St Photos Adelaide
Hahnemule Gallerie Wrap, supplied by Photo Direct is Australia, was the selection by Jim Kent-Hughes, Laser Image, Geelong, VIC.

The opportunity to find that something new that will earn profit has been a great innovation at the PMA Convention in Sydney and will hopefully help guide fellow PMA members to some new business opportunities.