Several major companies have chosen to give the PMA Digital Camera Expo which opened today at Darling Harbour in Sydney, a miss, among the no shows are brands like Sony, Samsung and Apple whose products are used by the bulk of the professional camera market.
Senior executives from several camera Companies said that they had cut back on stand space due to “tough conditions” in the retail market, they also said that several vendors were concewrned that retailers are looking to hit the digital camer vendors with demands for floor space fees.
Panasonic Canon and Nikon used the event to launch several new digital cameras.
Panasonic introduced two new compact system cameras and four new mini-camcorders.
Their new G3 is a 16-megapixel Micro Four-Thirds camera with a built-in live view finder.
They also introduced two new compact Full HD camcorders: the water-, shock- and dustproof WA10 and the DC1. The tough unit is available in orange and black, whilst the non-tough DC1 is available in pink and grey.
Nikon used the event to demonstrate their strength in the professional camera market by having several professional photographers demonstrate how to use a digital camera on their stand.
Canon Australia decided to split their stand up into three distinct groups with one stand for its compact cameras and printers and another stand for their commercial and pro products spanning both cameras and pro printing products.
According to Nick Segger Marketing Director at Nikon, who earlier this year rolled out a new brand marketing campaign, the market has “tightened up” with the Company now investing in additional in-store merchandising and training.
Several senior executives who did not want to be named said there was “real concern” among vendors that digital camera retailers were now starting to ask for floor space marketing fees.
“This is not sustainable, several senior executives have discussed this and while some have gone along with the demands of JB Hi Fi I think you will find that collectively several vendors will say no to paying an additional fee on top of margins and co-op dollars” said the CEO of a major digital camera brand.
Olympus who will next week launch a new Pen Camera that will compete with Micro Four-Thirds cameras from the likes of Panasonic said that conditions in the market was putting pressure on vendors.
“The demand for floor space fees is an issue for vendors” said Marc Radatt Managing Director of Olympus. There are only limited margins and retailers have to realise this. It is important that we have money left to market our brands other than on price”.
