If you haven't yet made plans to attend the PMA Fall 2005 Imaging Conference and Mini Trade Show--get a move on!

The event is set Sept. 8-10 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, with a terrific lineup of sessions and speakers, tour tracks--Business, Diversification, Custom Frame Retailing, and Scrapbook Retailing--and a DIMA Hands-On Saturday.

On Thursday, Bob Radcliffe Jr., Display Dynamics, presents "Successful Techniques of Visual Merchandising," covering the most important elements of presentation and the benefits of cross-selling merchandise--both new and existing inventory--for increased sales.

William J. McCurry, McCurry Associates, otters, "It's Your People ... Really," based on his PMA book of the same name, on how to interact effectively with people every business day. He will be back to lead the "Marketing Ideas Exchange," an interactive exchange of ideas providing actionable, competitive ideas to make more money.

PSRO Director Jeanne Wines-Reed, Scrapbook Retailer magazine, will present "Shoebox Revelation--What Will We Do When the Shoebox Is Empty?" She will discuss how best to assist the photo imaging industry by encouraging printing digital images. Don't miss the latest research from PMA about consumer behaviors related to printing and archiving photos, consumer buying trends and, more important, the changes in how consumers use their photos.

Dirk Wentling, Wentling's Studio Inc., presents "Opportunities in Event Photography," with success stories of retailers using event imaging to boost profits and practical tips on how to do the same.

In "Application of Customer Service Plans," consultant Kesley Anderson will discuss customer service, often overlooked as one of the most important assets of a retail store. Participants will learn how to successfully train staff to surpass customers' expectations and to keep them returning to your store.

Independent dealers, minilabs, or portrait studios looking for new ways to bring in customers should attend "Attracting New Business through Scrapbooking," and look at growing scrapbooking opportunities to help increase sales and to help customers preserve their precious memories.

Seminars

A full-day seminar on Friday will cover all aspects of "The Business of Sports and Event Photography." Patrick Taylor of Pat Taylor Photography will discuss how to make presentations to win contracts; pre-picture day education and preparation: and staffing picture day, with a variety of staffing patterns to maximize efficiency, workflow, profit, and product displays to increase profits. Learn green-screen technology' application for all levels of sports, and how to create and customize posters and promotional pieces that are hot sellers to kids and parents alike.

Bob W. Carter, Frame Up, presents "Turning a Buying Advantage into a Selling Advantage." with successful retail strategies for an ever-competitive marketplace. Carter will teach the essential components of a successful promotion, as well as how to effectively plan a promotion, create a buying plan, and validate and monitor a sell-through.

Kesley Anderson will be back to present "Balancing Purchasing and Inventory for Greatest Profits," and show how to tame the purchasing and selling process to keep stock turning over consistently, the best practices of margin analysis, and cash flow management.

General Sessions

Nora Lee is on deck with Friday's lunchtime General Session. Author of the "The Mom Factor: What Really Drives Where We Shop, Eat, and Play," Lee will discuss how to distinguish oneself as a retailer to attract mothers and get them to become loyal customers.

PMA Industry Planning Advisor Dr. Glenn S. Omura will follow on Saturday, Sept. 10 with "Successful Imaging Retail Strategies, A Step-by-Step Plan to Build a Successful Business." analyzing the ways specialty retailers can differentiate themselves. He will present five key management areas found to improve business performance and facilitate growth.

DIMA Hands-On Saturday

Michael Ninness will present a one-day hands-on seminar. "Photoshop CS2: Beyond the Basics," for intermediate to advanced users with a minimum of one year of active Photoshop use and who are very comfortable using a computer. Ninness will cover "Photoshop Power Shortcuts," "The Digital Darkroom: Advanced Image Correction/" "Real World Masking and Compositing," and "'Black-and-White and Color Effects."

If a whole-day seminar isn't for you, there are several shorter tracks.

If kiosks are your craze, be sure to catch Brian Ainsworth, Photos Ar' Nice Inc., teaming up with Chris Lydle from Chris' Camera Center South to present "How to Build Your Own Kiosk." They will give resources to build and customize photo kiosks to fit perfectly in any retail environment.

Omura will present "How to Build Your Own Marketing Plan." leading participants through his interactive process of developing a customized marketing plan for a store. Find the answers to questions like: How much is your target market worth in sales dollars? Does your store have a viable "value proposition?" Do you know how to demonstrate your merchandise and services fitting into your customers' lifestyles'? How can you create visibility with no budget?

With the holiday season rapidly approaching, a great session will be, "How to Create Your Own Greeting Card and Calendar Template," by Jim Schwarzbach, Jim's Photo Lab. Cards and calendars will once again prove to be a huge profit generator for photo labs, but competition is fierce. To differentiate from big chain retailers, customize your greeting card and calendar templates to be totally unique. Schwarzbach will have practical tips on how to create or customize templates, and new ideas on marketing these highly profitable products.

Jerry Hughes, Phillips Lane Publishing, will present "Digital Photographs and the Scrapbook." Participants will learn the basics of posing, composition, lighting, and color correction guidelines and resources available to assist customers.

APCI is sponsoring, "Financial Gap: Identifying and Managing the Key Drivers of Cash Flow and Capital," led by with Steve Lefever, Business Resource Services Inc. Participants will work through case studies designed to illustrate the key "financial gap" concepts, and will get worksheets necessary to apply these concepts.

Wines-Reed will be back to offer "Profiting from Preserving Images," the business fundamentals of scrapbooking. This class will cover successful techniques of visual merchandising, how to market a business more effectively to increase store traffic, how to provide topnotch customer service to keep customers coming back, and the financial aspects of running a retail store.

A Saturday afternoon session focuses on "Competitive Differentiation and Increased Earnings through Understanding Information," teaching participants how to implement market research results and customer feedback for a greater return on investment.

Omura will also present, "Successful Imaging Retail Strategies, A Step-by-Step Plan to Build a Successful Business," analyzing ways in which specialty retailers can differentiate themselves. He presents five management areas found to improve business performance to grow the business.

Retail Facility Tours

Two retail facility tours are set for Friday, Sept. 9, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The cost is $20/member, $30/non-member.

Artrageous! is an art and framing retailer with three San Diego locations. Started in 1981, the company offers art sales, photo frames, and picture framing design services at its satellite locations.

The second stop is at Memories, located in Mira Mesa Marketplace in San Diego. Memories is one of the largest scrapbooking chains in the nation, and features classes, events, and everything for the scrapbook beginner or enthusiast.

A networking opportunity

The PMA Fall 2005 Imaging Conference and Mini Trade Show is the ideal venue to rally with colleagues in photo imaging, custom framing, and scrapbook retailing, for three days of nonstop learning, idea sharing, and socializing.

I'm pleased to welcome, for a second year, the Independent Photo Imagers. The old saying of "strength in numbers" is realized when you attend the PMA Fall Imaging Conference and Mini Trade Show. When we share the experience of networking, support, inspiration, and knowledge, we are individually stronger because we join together.

In the fluid world of imaging, the PMA Fall Imaging Conference brings you the most up-to-date information to keep you "up close and personal," while bringing into focus opportunities of the advancements in technology and the creativeness of members in our industry.

I urge you to join us at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego for the fast-approaching "don't-dare-miss" PMA Fall Imaging Conference and Mini Trade Show. I look forward to rallying together with you all in sunny San Diego!

Fred Lerner, President

Photo Marketing Association International

Digital and Wireless Imaging Summit

PMA has teamed up with iHollywood Forum to offer an all-clay event Thursday, Sept. 8, addressing the rapidly growing market opportunities and new business strategies in digital cameras, photography, and imaging.

Registration fee includes full access to the PMA Fall 2005 exhibit hall and Trade Show floor. On-site registration, Sept. 7-8, will cost $525. For more information, visit www .ihollywoodforum.com/Focus.htm.

Need-to-know information

Registration

Online registration ended Sept. 1. On-site registration will open at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 7, and will be open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day except Sunday, when it closes at 12 noon.

Cost

A Full Trade Show Badge, good on all show days, is $79/member and $99/non-member, with same prices for member/non-member spouse, and includes:

* Admission to most PMA educational sessions.

* Admission to all PSRO educational sessions.

* Daily admission to the trade exhibits.

* Admission to Thursday Networking Luncheon.

* Admission to Friday and Saturday General Session Luncheons.

* Two complimentary beverage tickets for Evening Receptions on Sept. 7, Sept. 8, and Sept. 9. Registration for a Single-Day Badge is $25/member or $35/nonmember, with a maximum charge of $35 per company, and includes: daily admission to the trade exhibits and Thursday Networking Luncheon for Thursday-only registrants.

For Sports Event Photography and Photoshop Tutorials, participants can pay $199 member/ $299 non-member for single-day sessions, or $299/member and $469/non-member for a two-day tutorial package. Prices also include Full Trade Show Badge registration.

Conference hours

PMA and PSRO Fall Conference hours 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8 Friday, Sept. 9 Saturday, Sept. 10

Trade Show hours 11:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8

1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9 Saturday, Sept. 10

For more in-depth coverage of all the sessions and activities--including PPFA sessions, Big Night, and Spouse Outings - check out an expanded PMA Fall Imaging Conference and Mini Trade Show article at www.photomarketing.com. Also check out www.pmai.org/pmafall for full conference details.

Kiosk Connection

Kiosks are hotter than ever--come compare the latest models. The PMA Fall Mini Trade Show will feature a try-before-you-buy lineup of self-service kiosks you can "test drive" at your leisure. Compare the features and benefits of each system to determine which one is best for you.

At press time, AAA Imaging Solutions, Digital Portal Inc., Lucidiom Inc., Minilab Supply Store, Noritsu America Corp., Sony Electronics Inc. and Whitech USA were set to take part, with others in the works.