2010 Imaging Industry Roundtable
Our panel of experts tackle social media, mobile imaging, channel conflict and 3D…among other things.
November 1, 2010
There was a time, not so many years ago, during which imaging retailers sold cameras and various photo accessories, offered photography advice, perhaps sold and developed film and enjoyed life in what appeared to be a rather mature industry—one many referred to as a “cash cow.”
Those days seem like they happened a very, very long time ago to many.
Well, that was then and this is a very different and complicated now. That you only have to travel back about 15 years to that aforementioned time makes the developments in the imaging industry since then all the more amazing.
Digital cameras are capable of tricks no one imagined, the Internet is as much of a part of your customers’ lives as breathing, mobile imaging technology has put very compact and easy-to-use still and video cameras into the hands of billions and social networking has opened doors to sharing life’s moments minute-to-minute as opposed to moment-to-moment.
What all the above has done to the imaging industry is explosive, game-changing and, perhaps most important to remember, just beginning to be realized.
Based on all that and a bit more, we came up with eight questions we felt touch upon most of the issues inherent in all the noise and rounded up a panel of experts we think represent the four corners most important to this industry—retailers, manufacturers, distributors and researchers/analysts. We even added another voice—that of your customers as a few of them weighed in on some of the questions as well.
Space constraints prevented us from printing every response but the text that follows represents the responses we feel best addressed each question. Thanks again to all who participated. Enjoy their insights.
Regarding the social media craze and, more specifically, all the stills and videos consumers are uploading and sharing on sites like Facebook, how can imaging/mobile retailers best take advantage of these relatively new consumer imaging behaviors?
Mike Worswick, Wolfe’s Cameras, Camcorders & Computers, Topeka, Kan.: The social websites, especially Facebook, are capturing major blocks of consumer time capacity. Their recent decision to upgrade storage size of images is an opportunity. I am anxious to test the new Lucidiom option to view and print Facebook pages on our kiosks.
Mark Gustavson, Executive Director, Marketing & Communication, WYNIT, Inc.: Demonstrate, demonstrate, demonstrate. Interactive displays inside brick-and-mortar retailers that enable salespeople to show their customers just how these new technologies make it easy to upload and share are crucial. The value-add is the same as it has always been in photo specialty—position yourself as the expert with your customers, and engage their passion to participate, create and share.
Those days seem like they happened a very, very long time ago to many.
Well, that was then and this is a very different and complicated now. That you only have to travel back about 15 years to that aforementioned time makes the developments in the imaging industry since then all the more amazing.
Digital cameras are capable of tricks no one imagined, the Internet is as much of a part of your customers’ lives as breathing, mobile imaging technology has put very compact and easy-to-use still and video cameras into the hands of billions and social networking has opened doors to sharing life’s moments minute-to-minute as opposed to moment-to-moment.
What all the above has done to the imaging industry is explosive, game-changing and, perhaps most important to remember, just beginning to be realized.
Based on all that and a bit more, we came up with eight questions we felt touch upon most of the issues inherent in all the noise and rounded up a panel of experts we think represent the four corners most important to this industry—retailers, manufacturers, distributors and researchers/analysts. We even added another voice—that of your customers as a few of them weighed in on some of the questions as well.
Space constraints prevented us from printing every response but the text that follows represents the responses we feel best addressed each question. Thanks again to all who participated. Enjoy their insights.
Regarding the social media craze and, more specifically, all the stills and videos consumers are uploading and sharing on sites like Facebook, how can imaging/mobile retailers best take advantage of these relatively new consumer imaging behaviors?
Mike Worswick, Wolfe’s Cameras, Camcorders & Computers, Topeka, Kan.: The social websites, especially Facebook, are capturing major blocks of consumer time capacity. Their recent decision to upgrade storage size of images is an opportunity. I am anxious to test the new Lucidiom option to view and print Facebook pages on our kiosks.
Mark Gustavson, Executive Director, Marketing & Communication, WYNIT, Inc.: Demonstrate, demonstrate, demonstrate. Interactive displays inside brick-and-mortar retailers that enable salespeople to show their customers just how these new technologies make it easy to upload and share are crucial. The value-add is the same as it has always been in photo specialty—position yourself as the expert with your customers, and engage their passion to participate, create and share.
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