CES - Cameras, video & such...

Shoot me, shoot anything, point and shoot will ya? Digital cameras and their video cam counterparts are experiencing a big upheaval in their usability.  The 2011 CES was proof that things are changing for photo fans and professionals alike.  

I attended with the intention of seeing what was new. Features, add-ons, more mega pixels, what's happening photo-wise this year. Guess what? The standalone handheld digital camera is in trouble.  I saw evidence of it across the show floor. Companies were demonstrating cameras, but fewer "camera only" devices were touted by the exhibitors this year.  The convergence of devices that do more than just take pictures was evident. We all know what our smartphones are now capable of, more on that in a sec.  How's this for a stat -  Eighty (80) different tablet devices were introduced at CES. Knowing that the main weakness of the iPad is that it does not have a camera (forward or rear facing), camera features were included with many tablets as an entry point.  For example, the front runner in cool "all you can do" tablets was clearly the Motorola XOOM tablet. It has two digital cameras built in, a 5 mega pixel rear facing camera for Facebook and Twitter use, and a 2 mega pixel camera that faces the user for Skype.  Other manufacturers like RIM/Blackberry incorporated two cameras into their Playbook  tablet... soon to be a common feature I imagine.  Just look at the iPhone 4, it has two cameras that produce very nice results, plus an LED Flash!  Does the average user need more than that? Not just iPhones, many Droid devices feature very impressive cameras, things that as stand alone devices would easily serve you well.  Good zoom capabilities, autofocusing, time delay shutters, they have really come a long way.  I own a Nikon D90 SLR and love it.  I may now be past the point of needing a smaller camera to take with me that doesn't have a changeable lens option, why carry a mono-purpose camera-only device?  I cannot post my photos to Facebook and Twitter without a wireless feature or mobile phone service, so my gem shots languish on an SD card til I make the switch to mem card reader, hard drive, then upload to social media site.  Too many steps for 2011 dude!  The SLRs have add on capabilities, flash, a myriad of lenses, speed motor, external batteries, etc.  I think the days of having "just a camera" in your pocket are going to be behind us very shortly.

Tiffen Steadicam for iPhone.Photography also took center stage at Canon's both, where they showed off the industry's leading SLR bodies and lenses. My camp, the Nikon folks, had a sales office somewhere in the back of the South Hall that I never found [:( ], but nothing like what Canon brought. Canon had demo stations that attendees could engage, digital signage touting newest features, they came to impress and it worked. Polariod had a fun-inspired booth where you could use their latest cameras and yes, get the pictures to take home.  There's still something neat about watching the developing happen and keeping the picture in it's hardcopy format.  Kodak had several new products, a small video camera that was the size of a credit card, the Mini Video Camera.  No award for creativity on the naming of the product, it was neat to play with and it only retails for $70. An HD version is available for $129 They also had an underwater video camera, the Playsport, Kodak's first in that market. Perhaps trying to capture the growing action sports photo & video market, this should sell for under $150 I was told.  GoPro, the current choice for the active minded videographer, had their array of accessories to accompany their HD grade mini video cam, the HERO.  Have a look at what HERO does for yourself, rider, surfer, skydiver not included! See HERO videos What makes their offerings so appealing are the different mounts for the camera, from a helmet cam, chest cam strap to bolt on fixtures that allow for bicycle frame mounting of your HERO cam.  My final piece of impressive CES camera equipment was the Tiffen Smoothee, a balanced handle mechanism designed to allow for very reliably shake-free video.  Tiffen makes professional level Steadicam tool for movie and video use, now they've turned their attention to the casual iPhone or Flip Camera user.  Making anyone a "panning across the scene" expert, this tool helps you create videos that won't have your viewers running for the medicine cabinet.  I tried it on the show floor and it really was easy to load the iPhone into it's cradle and begin taking smooth videos.  It's price is $179-$199, depending on which Internet retailer you select.  A good tool for amateur video folks, like me!

Things have changed since CES 2009.  We have cameras and tiny video on our phones, and the use of both has expanded. Now  what we take as memories is commonly published in minutes to social sites.  The new tolls have it, the older ones remain at home in their cases or in a desk drawer...

-dm

The Pulse is BACK!

Shirts, hats, promotional products, that's EmbroidMe!Our custom apparel and embroidery franchise, EmbroidMe, has cut an interesting path through the recession of the last two years. Year 2008 saw some growth and new units opening and 2009 was a year of retrenchment for the brand. My experiences saw our franchisees recommit to following their marketing plan; with fewer buyers came the reality that you'd have to press a bit harder to get each order. Pricing has become more aggressive, clients demanded the same items and quality on lower margins. Thankfully some relief in this area did come from preferred suppliers. A few kept prices at previous season levels longer than expected, which helped our stores.  Employees to create, embroider and sell the products were readily available with unemployment reaching the highest levels of the decade.  To their benefit, some franchisees quickly realized that you could hire a top notch person below their market value as jobs became tougher to find. Those that adapted well to the rapid changes and tighter budgets have weathered a storm. They are uniquely poised to build their stores in an environment with less competition and tremendous opportunity.

There was a shakeout in the industry, some of our franchisees report that embroidery failures hit their competition locally. From our vantage point, we saw this too, some of our stores closed or were forced to relocate into less expensive leases and locations. To see an EmbroidMe fail is to watch a breakdown in the implementation of a business plan. Sales cures all. If the effort to sell product falters, the system is not prepared to operate normally.  Production, design, purchasing - all these vital functions need sales to fuel their existence. Indicators that our group survived better than the average business owner is all around us. EmbroidMe resells or resales, when a franchisee sells their business and book of customers but the store remains in the same location, were at regular levels and percentages over the past 18 months.  I have been in three EmbroidMe stores in the last 7 days. Things are on the upswing. The mood has improved, the need for the products is constant, and the spending restrictions some companies imposed upon themselves have been lifted, equating to more commerce in our stores. I believe that membership in the group, the franchise, aided people that may have faired otherwise had they been independent. I speak with EmbroidMe franchisees every day.  I work on projects that involve the business owners and their teams. The change is here and it's happening now. EmbroidMe is a viable business and a valued member of the business community.  This is a great time to be doing what we do... and for customers to GET NOTICED!

Re-entry...

World Expo 2010I've been missing from these parts - concentrating more on Facebook and Twitter posts and updates. I am overdue for commenting on what I see happening and how I feel about events.  We succeeded in throwing the conference we call Expo 2010 Orlando, producing a great show, working with suppliers and adding kinship to an admittedly smaller group than I'm used to seeing.  I feel those that attended the show came back to their businesses with an advantage. They said,"Yes", paid to attend, did flights, hotels, travel, and put themselves in the right spot to grow. The feedback I've received about the event was very positive. You'd expect me to say that, right? I thought that the "best of the best" believed enough of what we had said about the importance of the event to show up and build. The franchisees that are less "in tune" and "in touch" usually don't come to the event - not a surprise. They have a problem being fed more of what they heard at training, which they most likely didn't follow, so our Expo is like salt - sprinkled delicately into the wound. The cash-strapped (which is a taller number than in previous years) couldn't make the decision to spend more. We made phone calls trying to persuade them to come and help find resources and the remedies, but it's easier to not chance it and say, "Next year." I hope they make good on that statement!

I didn't spearhead the Expo this year, which felt peculiar. I knew what was going on, what should be happening, but didn't have the "keys to the building" as in years past. I thought it would be easier, attending, participating, having more time to be involved with our franchisees, all that.  I was correct until about a month before the event - that's when the Expo committee saw potential holes in the itinerary and needed help. The common theme of,"Dave's not running the conference this year, he can do that" rang through their heads. I had so many diverse things to do that all required different skills, what a crush this became as the Expo grew closer.  For example, I was responsible for the Saturday Roundtable Sessions, from getting the best topics to matching franchisees and Corporate staff with their proper tables and scheduling. I was responsible for the technology and A/V equipment that we brought to Orlando - cyber cafe, registration printers, laptops, projectors, computers and things all over the trade show.  Find a guest speaker? How about Dana M. Nelson, that was a bunch of fun for me, but time consuming, too.  Do a General Session technology update, as usual. Emcee the event with Brenda? Yup, got that one, too. I had to be very organized  and aware of what was happening at all times - for fear I'd miss something I was supposed to be doing! 

I'm glad I was a part of Expo 2010, this year from a different vantage point. To those franchisees that attended, I've already heard from so many of you thanking us and saying what a good event it was. I always enjoy the down time with friends from around the world - we do that well, don't we? (You know who you are people!) If you didn't attend, we have plenty of the materials on out new UFGtv site, downloadable through OSCAR, pictures on Flickr, all that. Expo was a whirlwind of planning and executing as always.  I have never missed one, Europe, Australia, USA, all notched off!  It's good to be back, even if in a different role.

Our World Expo

Here it comes again, your chance to boost your business and meet and reacquaint with old friends!

I'm heading to Orlando tomorrow for the big ISA show. We have our Expo as most everyone knows, it is also in Orlando at the end of July. I have been calling our franchisees about our event, this is what I'm hearing from you. The questions I field the most sound like this:

• Why should I attend?
• Money is tight, will it be worth it?
• Is it going to deliver what I need?
• Are there any special deals?

So, having been the chairperson for the World Expo for the previous three events, no surprise that I am a believer in the experience of meetings and the face-to-face contact with suppliers, other franchisees and industry experts. Here's what I say to answer the common questions that arise...

• Why should I attend?
  
  • The Expo is like "back to school" for those who have already been to school. Each of our respective industries changes every year, this conference is your opportunity to learn about these changes. You get to learn in a controlled environment, removed from your store and the day to day happenings back home. I like to tell people, "If you're going to do anything to improve your business, if you're going to attend one session to help your business, go to the event that is CUSTOM MADE for you." That's our World Expo.

• Money is tight, will it be worth it?
  
  • Only if you show up ready to grow. Just sitting in a seminar, wandering through the trade show or eating with the same people every meal may not make it worth your time. If you can gather some great concepts for your business each day; If you can meet and share with different franchisees during your stay; If you can focus before the event on what you need to accomplish - then go get it once in Orlando, yes, the World Expo will be worth it for you. Some franchisees include their staff, which is an added expense. Those that have done this felt the investment was worthwhile for key members of their team. Also worth considering as an incentive or reward for your best employees.
• Is it going to deliver what I need?
  
  • Yes. Have a look at the schedule - Wednesday is a special SEO (Search Engine Optimization) training for all brands. More time can be spent with suppliers and vendors because they are included in our Thursday night "80's Dance Party". There are plenty of brand specific workshops throughout the schedule on each day. (view the Agenda) We have so many options for things we have used to shuffle throughout Expo events, you will be very satisfied with the content of the conference.

• Are there any special deals?
  
  • So far, we have offered reduced rates for registration, the March Madness promotion with prizes, and more to follow. Airline wise, Orlando is an easy destination to reach. Understand, Tampa is one hour away also, if you're the person that wrestles Expedia for the absolute least expensive fares. Each year I do a quickie flight survey each year that estimates fares from major North American cities, keep an eye out for that, I'll do the same this year of course.  Remember it is the middle of summer. It's Orlando. Bring your family and share in vacation time before or after the event. The resort is wonderful, we have arranged for free busing to Disney, Universal and Sea World, take advantage of all of this!

The theme this year is "Brilliant Solutions, New Ideas For Changing Times." We are experiencing changing times as your franchisor. We know the climate is different for you, also. Come together for time well spent gaining knowledge and the confidence to push forward in your business.

ISA SignExpo 2010 Orlando

ISA SignExpo this week in Orlando!As always, we'll have good coverage and representation at the annual summit of sign professionals, the ISA SignExpo. It's in Orlando, just like our Expo, so I'm excited and I may stop at our Expo host hotel, Orlando World Center Marriott to have a look around & see familiar faces that are assisting us with our event. I know several manufacturers that have requested I stop by their trade show stands to see new products... I love that part!  Typically I see franchisees from the "home state" of the event, which as of the last 10 years have been either Florida or Nevada.  Are you attending? Sometimes we've organized an impromptu "meet up" after hours to chat, discuss our findings, and socialize.  If you're attending the show this year, do let me know - dmasterson@signarama.com and I'll attempt to organize something!  See you at the Orange County Convention Center!