Well, it's a sad day. Kodak has been felled by exactly what it espoused: universal access to cameras. – The Washington Post. That's true, but it's not the whole story. Kodak was also felled by its commitment to its legacy film business … even though it was a digital pioneer too. To be clear, Kodak says it isn't closing the doors, it's continuing to restructure, but still, it's sad to see a company (and technology) decline that brought so much good into the world - art created, memories conserved and stories told. Three things are certain: 1. Our world is changing, and we have to change with To View More >>

In 2000, when we started doing business in North America, our representative lived in Edmonton, Canada, and our very first clients lived in Houston, Texas, and Sacramento, California. No way could Darlene drop by! It’s a good illustration of our most interesting challenge as an international supplier: getting our products into new clients’ hands for them to touch and feel, no matter where they live. Getting started is an act of faith on your part, and an act of commitment on ours. “You take the first step and we’ll go the extra mile.” It gets even more interesting when the product is To View More >>

In 1981, I was on a fishing boat chugging from Tulagi to Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, taking the Asian Development Bank auditor to catch his plane. He said to me, “Have you heard of a company called Apple?” Ah, no. “They could change your life”, he said. “Anybody can have a computer now, and just imagine what it could do in your warehouse.” Back then, managing a boat yard in the Solomons involved importing everything from hammers and nails, and nuts and bolts, to the Caterpillar engines that drove the ten tuna pole and line catcher boats we were building. Our warehouse was a To View More >>

Like the Chinese gentleman who shared our table for Dim Sum at Aik Hoe, everyone in Penang seems to get by in at least three languages – Chinese, Malay and English. I do admire that in a person because, like most New Zealanders, I'm a monoglot. That wasn't the only reason I liked him, though. He was his own man. At 87, so he should be. Share each dish, he told us, you'll eat less and taste more. Start the day at five. Oatmeal for breakfast keeps you young – I've eaten it almost every day for fifty years. No cream or sugar. Work in your business every day [he has an electrical business with To View More >>

We like to say “We’re local” wherever we do business, but this story is as local as you can get… When we asked our regular clients to complete a survey, we promised a free album to one lucky respondent. We couldn’t believe it when the winner was a New Zealander, Liz March, from our own hometown! In fact she used to work not a mile from the Bindery. When we asked Liz to introduce herself to our readers, this is what she wrote: “About ten years ago I was working as an art teacher at a full immersion Maori school in Glen Eden. On my way to school one morning I picked up a hitchhiker who To View More >>

We've just removed the password protection from the knowledge base on our Partner website, making most of it accessible to anyone. Most of it's just detailed product and service information that our clients might want to check out from time to time - so it's not like Wikileaks would be interested! - but some of it's a bit sensitive, which is why it's been restricted. Some of you've been saying it's frustrating having to log in, however, which is why we've put most of the content out in the open. The only exception is the Marketing and Business section which is still locked down. That's where all To View More >>

This post won't mean much to those of you who's knowledge of social media is limited to, "You know, Facebook and Twitter etc". But the rest of us are trying to get good at it without feeling like it consumes all our time. Anyway, I've just been asked my opinions about automation and social media. It's something I feel strongly about, and my advice is to "approach with caution". Here's why. 1. We're in the 'intimacy business', and automation is usually the the enemy of intimacy. If I skype my wife, "Hi darling – love you!", we both feel good about it. It was impulsive and heartfelt. Automate it To View More >>

Click here to watch on Vimeo. In the second half of our conversation I talk to Kristie and Brett Harkness about: • dealing with high-end clients • word of mouth • the importance of tangible products • building a relationship with venues • maintaining your business in the the recession • avoiding being a "busy fool" • changing, adapting and diversifying, and • working together as a couple – the last but not the least ;) Oh, and Brett explains why their workshops and DVD aren't for beginners or the advanced, but those in between. Cheers, Ian To View More >>

Click here to watch the video on Vimeo. My father's family came from Westhoughton, only twenty miles or so from where Brett and Kristie Harkness have their studio in the North of England, so we're practically neighbours. Brett's a northerner born and bred (Newcastle), but Kristie's from Saskatchewan, where the population density is only slightly more than that of New Zealand supporters at an English rugby match. In the first of a two-part interview Kristie and Brett tell Ian how they got from working on a cruise ship to their high end studio, and: learning the business side of photography; letting To View More >>

My son is getting married in six weeks, and my daughter next year in May. So everyone's asking, “ Who did you pick to photograph your kids’ weddings?" That's not what I asked myself. I asked the same question as the people who come and see me: "How much is this gonna cost?" The answer really opened my eyes… When I analyzed it, I'm paying the photographer and their assistant for their time that day, and they are giving me the files. After the wedding, I personally will edit, color correct, create 4x6 proofs, order a proof box, design an album, do the post production work, order the album, To View More >>