A new sign of the times for Hoya/Pentax in Canada?

Hello All

Well, tonight I just returned from a very popular 2 day photographic seminar in Abbotsford, British Columbia. It was the 30th anniversary of this annual event which I have personally attended for the past 6 years.

Every year that I have attended it has been a full house sellout with 600 in attendance and it includes a trade show with many local and international suppliers of photographic services and equipment. There is always the usual photo competition, an opportunity of attending 4 of the 16 various workshops, a slideshow A/V presentation by a major professional photographer including his/her tips and advice, but best of all...a huge door prize draw with very good odds of winning one of dozens of prizes ranging from a dozen rolls of film to complete expensive DSLR kits, and everything in between from software to tripods. In other words, it is a major event in Western Canada and Northwest United States and is well known and attended.

At the trade show part of it, all the major camera brands are always represented with company booths staffed by friendly and knowledgable reps that let you handle and play with any of their latest cameras and/or lenses as long as you can lift them by yourself. (FYI - I did see a beefy steroid popper get a Canon 1Ds MKIII with grip -but no lens- off the table briefly but had to put it back down after a few seconds) But alas, NO PENTAX booth in sight anywhere there this year. I asked one of the APAC executive what happened to Pentax and he said they did not reply to any of APAC's repeated requests for them to attend the show. I was not at all surprised that was the case because I am personally still waiting for a reply to some e-mails that I had sent to Pentax Canada in July. I have since just given up on that vigil.

This year being a special milestone anniversary, the suppliers all donated prizes very generously indeed. There were very significant camera top prizes from Canon, Nikon, Olympus, and Sony, but sadly NO PENTAX goods. Not even a Pentax tee shirt or a Pentax ball cap or how about a Pentax pen...a balloon? NOTHING.

.......NOTHING AT ALL!!

Oops, excuse me. I have exagerated there a bit. Each attendee, upon entering the building, received a personal goodie bag that included several discount and special offer coupons, also a few brochures, a classroom map, a couple of magazine samples, AND (wait for it...drum roll please) one plastic Pentax bag...ONE EMPTY PENTAX BAG that someone could certainly use to contain all those nice glossy brochures and catalogues available at the Canon, Nikon, Olympus and Sony booths.

Thank you for the bag Pentax, you certainly made me proud but I have to also be thankful that I continue to love my little Pentax K100D and *istDs well enough that my empty Pentax plastic bag is still empty.

What is the future for this company anyway? Is this the new Hoya influence talking here? Unfortunately, none of their words were spoken aloud there this weekend but in fact, many Hoya/Pentax words were heard. Maybe I should just use my empty Pentax bag to put over my head.

Sincerely venting

Drew Peabody

I suspect that Hoya are still fine-tuning the details of their marketing strategy.

Bear in mind that these things need organising, and that a decision to attend the show probably had to be taken back in July when Hoya had just taken over.

G

so let me get this straight...Pentax did not reach into thier (miniscule compared to canon) budget and give away free stuff (after all the money does come from somewhere...meaning the cost of goods to you and I). Pentax was there. Pentax had still managed to get people to hide thier canon/nikon brouchures into a Pentax bag, leaving only the word Pentax showing to all the public as those (mostly brand loyal, already own a camera) photo enthusiists left the convention.....

If only our Government was so clever and frugal with our tax dollars!!!

Yes that could be a possiblity George, but planning for this event would probably be well before July (hell, it was sold out by July). In any event, the only thing they had to do was to put forward the plan they had in previous years and at least show their new Optio's.

Good one Don. You always dig deep to find the positive. hahaha
As for wishing the Government and Pentax to be alike? I'm not sure if I should laugh or just ask for another bag.

Drew