CNBC/NRF: Retail monitor numbers show retailers had strong holiday season News 

CNBC/NRF: Retail monitor numbers show retailers had strong holiday season

GaryPageau ,
Retail sales continued to grow in December, completing a strong holiday shopping season, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions, released by the National Retail Federation (NRF). “December’s numbers combined with November’s results show retailers had a very successful two-month holiday season,” said Matthew Shay, CEO and president, NRF. “Clearly, retailers got it right this holiday season,... Read More
Panasonic debuts LUMIX S-E100 small and light medium-telephoto fixed focal length macro lens New Products 

Panasonic debuts LUMIX S-E100 small and light medium-telephoto fixed focal length macro lens

GaryPageau , ,
Panasonic announced the LUMIX S 100mm F2.8 MACRO (S-E100) L-mount lens, with a new optical design and a newly developed Dual Phase linear motor. The company claims the S-E100 is the world’s smallest and lightest medium-telephoto fixed focal length macro lens, weighing approximately 298 grams. The LUMIX S-E100 lens will be available at channel partners at the end of January... Read More
NRF: Economist says 2023’s consumer spending growth is ‘not necessarily sustainable’ in 2024 Market research 

NRF: Economist says 2023’s consumer spending growth is ‘not necessarily sustainable’ in 2024

GaryPageau
Consumers spent more than expected amid high inflation and high-interest rates during 2023, but spending growth is likely to slow in 2024, National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said today. “The 2023 U.S. economy was marked in large measure by the impressive resiliency of the consumer,” Kleinhenz said. “A year ago, many commentators were skeptical and calling for a... Read More
School Photographers of America announces leadership change People on the Move Press releases 

School Photographers of America announces leadership change

GaryPageau , ,
The Governing Board and officers of the School Photographers of America (SPOA) announce the resignation of the executive director, David Crandall. The separation is amicable and the association will continue its programs and services without interruption. The association leadership has immediately begun the executive search process for a successor. Crandall played a key role as one of the 10 founders... Read More
Apple Vision Pro available in the U.S. on Feb. 2 News 

Apple Vision Pro available in the U.S. on Feb. 2

GaryPageau ,
Apple announced the Apple Vision Pro headset will be available beginning Friday, Feb. 2, at all U.S. Apple Store locations and the U.S. Apple Store online. Vision Pro is a spatial computer that blends digital content with the physical world and unlocks powerful spatial experiences in visionOS, controlled by a user’s eyes, hands, and voice. An all-new App Store provides... Read More
Xerox going for yet another restructuring News 

Xerox going for yet another restructuring

GaryPageau ,
Now that financial and corporate activist Carl Icahn has sold his stake in the company,  Xerox Holdings Corp. announced a new operating model and organizational structure to further the company’s Reinvention plans. The reinvention will include a projected 15-percent workforce reduction, the company said. “The evolution of Xerox’s Reinvention aligns our resources in three key areas – improvement and stabilization... Read More
From Shutter to Startup: The Journey of Turning Photography into a Business with Dave Herring Podcasts 

From Shutter to Startup: The Journey of Turning Photography into a Business with Dave Herring

GaryPageau ,
Prepare to unlock the mysteries of transforming a passion for photography into a thriving business with guest Dave Herring. In this interview with Gary Pageau of the Dead Pixels Society, Herring unfolds his narrative, detailing his pivot from nonprofit pursuits to the bustling freelance photography scene. He shares the mechanics of establishing a photography business, the art of diversifying one’s creative portfolio, and the... Read More
Circana: U.S. camera sales a bright spot over Black Friday Market research 

Circana: U.S. camera sales a bright spot over Black Friday

GaryPageau , ,
U.S. sales of consumer technology products were generally lackluster over Black Friday Week and Cyber Week when compared to last year, in line with broader discretionary general merchandise spending trends, according to industry research firm Circana (formerly NPD). While sales declined during both of these two big holiday promotion weeks, Black Friday Week performed better with a 3% year-over-year decline... Read More
Pomvom to combine with private equity firm Acquisitions News 

Pomvom to combine with private equity firm

GaryPageau ,
Israeli “experiential content” provider Pomvom Ltd. announced business combination agreement with publicly traded special purpose acquisition company Israel Acquisitions Corp. at a total equity value for Pomvom of $US125 million. The combined company will trade on the Nasdaq and leverage Pomvom’s leading technology augmented with the expertise of the ISRL team, the company said in a press release. At the... Read More
Shutterfly’s Spoonflower acquisition brings new headaches News 

Shutterfly’s Spoonflower acquisition brings new headaches

GaryPageau ,
When Shutterfly bought Durham, N.C., design and decor marketplace Spoonflower in 2021 for $225 million, the deal was seen as a way to “enable Shutterfly to more broadly serve the fast-growing home decor marketplace by adding Spoonflower wallpaper, fabric, linens, bedding and other home decor soft goods to its product assortment and connecting Shutterfly’s 21 million active users to Spoonflower’s... Read More
NRF: $743 Billion in Merchandise Returned in 2023 Market research 

NRF: $743 Billion in Merchandise Returned in 2023

GaryPageau ,
Retailers have been focused on efforts to mitigate returns, as total returns for the industry amounted to $743 billion in merchandise in 2023, according to a report released by the National Retail Federation and Appriss Retail. As a percentage of sales, the total return rate for 2023 was 14.5%. According to the report, for every $1 billion in sales, the... Read More
Irina Werning receives 44th Annual W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography News 

Irina Werning receives 44th Annual W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography

GaryPageau
The W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund announced Irina Werning (Argentina) is the recipient of this year’s $30,000 W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography for her project, Las Pelilargas. Since 2006, Werning has been seeking and photographing women in Argentina with long hair, a style that is influenced by a blend of South American cultures and indigenous traditions. Now in... Read More
Tamron Americas announces Tamron User Photo/Video Contest 2023 winners Events 

Tamron Americas announces Tamron User Photo/Video Contest 2023 winners

GaryPageau
Tamron Americas unveiled the winners of the Tamron User Photo/Video Contest 2023. The competition, open to photographers and videographers/filmmakers in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, attracted entries in seven distinct categories: Travel/Landscape, Wildlife, Close-up/Fine Art, Portrait, Sports/Action, Photojournalism, and Video. The judging process was carried out by a panel of Tamron’s Creative Collaborative professional photographers and videographers. The grand prize... Read More
Retouch4Me reaches 100 country milestone for sales News 

Retouch4Me reaches 100 country milestone for sales

GaryPageau
Estonia-based AI photo-editing solutions provider Retouch4me said it set a new landmark by reaching sales in more than 100 countries worldwide in November. . Top 10 countries leading the way: USA Germany Poland United Kingdom Canada France Switzerland Italy Spain South Korea Professional photographers and retouchers from other areas, including Aruba, Zambia, and Cambodia, have also embraced Retouch4me’s cutting-edge plugins.... Read More