Industry notes for the week of July 18

GaryPageau

 

Retail news

Future of Olympus cameras discussion with Aki Murata, President, via 42West

Adorama’s 42West blog interviewed Aki Murata, president, Consumer Products Group, Olympus Corporation of the Americas, about the impending sale of Olympus cameras to Japan Industrial Partners. Worth a look if you are wondering what will happen to Olympus camera servicing and future products.

Nikon School shuts down physical London location, moves online

Nikon School UK has announced its permanent move online and will be closing its physical presence on Margaret Street in Central London, according to ePhotoZine.

Printing News

Walgreens talks photo face masks

Walgreens posted a blog article on the how-tos of making personalized photo face masks. The blog post interviewed Laura Ruff, senior manager of digital commerce merchandising.

Events

drupa starts in 2021 with shortened runtime: April 20-28

drupa, the trade fair for printing technologies, has decided to reduce the duration of the trade fair from eleven to nine days for 2021: April 20-28.

CES Asia exhibition canceled ‘going forward’

Consumer Technology Association (CTA), in a post on the CTA website followed up on a mid-March statement about the cancellation of CES Asia 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic with an announcement the event is now canceled going forward. CES Asia was to take place on June 10-12 in Shanghai, China

CES 2021, Jan. 6-9, 2021, is still going forward, although CTA expects the event to be smaller.

“No Photokina? No Problem!” Webinar Series Replay

Hear from experts on how to tap into the multi-billion dollar personalized merchandise market

For over a decade, photo product personalization has steadily grown from a novel trend to a sought-after DIY premium option for many shoppers. Understanding how to quickly adapt your business to this new norm of expectations from a majority of consumers is crucial. Our webinar series answers audience questions and navigates through the business opportunities and considerations that are top of mind when stepping into an online product personalization offering. Learn more in the five-part series replay.

 

App news and website updates

Pikto to retire Impressed/Pikto mobile app

Canada’s Pikto is retiring its Impressed/Pikto mobile photobook app for iOS and Android after six years, effective Aug. 15. The company says web technology has advanced to the point of removing the need for a standalone app.

Financial news

Largan transfers $276 million from abroad to support factory construction

Digitimes reports smartphone-use lens module maker Largan Precision has disclosed it remitted US$276 million from abroad on July 14 to support factory construction in central Taiwan. The money is a return on non-operating investment in Astro International, its overseas subsidiary, Largan said. which started construction of a factory in first-half 2020 and will begin constructing another in second-half 2020, and another in 2021.

Interesting items from around the web

Rise Above Research Discusses Market Impact of COVID-19 in Imaging Alliance Webinar

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting everyone in one way or another, including the photo imaging industry. Looking for opportunities amid the pandemic was the primary topic discussed in a webinar discussion hosted by The Imaging Alliance last week, and Ed Lee and David Haueter both participated on behalf of Rise Above Research. Ed Lee and David Haueter both talked about how COVID-19 has impacted the imaging market

Australia’s IDEA trade group heads to endgame

Inside Imaging reports Australiia’s photo/imaging trade group, IDEA, is in the midst of winding down in a two-stage effort. First, the group will spend the IDEA’s surplus on a series of industry promotions and second, vote on closure at the AGM in November.

Open Positions

AAA Imaging

AAA Imaging is looking for a Product Development Manager, involved in creating new products that will be sold to photo retailers around the country.

Albelli

Albelli, the Netherlands based operator of European brands – Albelli, Bonusprint, Fotoknudsen, Onskefoto, MonAlbumPhoto, and Resnap – is looking for a Head of Performance Marketing at its Amsterdam headquarters.Popsa
Popsa is looking for a CRM Executive and a Customer Acquisition Specialist in its Soho HQ.

People on the Move

Photo-Me COO Eric Mergui departs board

Photo-Me International plc announced Eric Mergui, statutory director and Group COO of Photo-Me, left the board of Photo-Me on July 12, 2020, and will cease to be an employee of Photo-Me at a future date, but no later than July 12, 2021. Serge Crasnianski, Group CEO and Deputy Chairman, assumes Mergui’s duties.