The future is “me”

9 October 2014 For Immediate Release

The future is “me”

The rise of personalisation provides new opportunity for businesses

AUCKLAND, NZ – Marketing experts have predicted that over the next five years, personalisation will be one of the biggest opportunities for brands to retain existing customers and attract new ones.

From online communications to bricks and mortar stores, beauty products to banking, fashion to nutrition – businesses in all sorts of fields are discovering that customers are increasingly expecting highly customised products and services.

According to a new study from Adobe, personalisation topped the marketers’ list as the one capability most important to the industry in the future.

“Social media enables everyone to create unique narratives about themselves,” says FUJIFILM NZ’s sales and marketing manager Peter Bonisch.

“Our individuality is celebrated and expressed more than ever before, and technology is aiding this new era.

It is a trend that businesses can only benefit from."

In New Zealand, Fujifilm is positioned at the forefront of this game--changing trend, offering customers ultra--personalised options for printing and creating with photos taken on cameras, smartphones, tablets and other devices.

In the past 12 months its network has expanded to more than 900 photo kiosks throughout New Zealand giving customers the ability to do everything from printing photos to designing and printing unique storybooks, gifts, albums and artworks.

“The industry shift from analogue to digital offered up an enormous opportunity for Fujifilm.

Today customers have all the power, and it is up to us to continue innovating and providing them with the products and services they want,” says Bonisch.

An international report* found that allowing people to customise products in real time leads to higher conversion rates.

“The creative aspect – the “I designed it myself” effect – increases a customer’s sense of ownership, and positively influences loyalty."

Driven by the new personalisation capabilities, New Zealand’s consumer photographic printing market is growing strongly.

It is worth an estimated $80 to $100 million annually, with Fujifilm having about 80 percent market share.

“The rise of the smartphone has led to massive growth in the number of photos being taken – 1.6 billion per year in New Zealand alone,” says Bonisch.

“Consumers are increasingly wanting to turn their creative efforts into tangible products, and the technology allows them to personalise their images on the spot.

The fastest growth is occurring in square prints, which are perfect for iPhone and Instagram, and photobooks which allow far greater personalisation than traditional photo albums."

Fujifilm photo kiosks are now in all Fujifilm Image Service, Harvey Norman, and Warehouse Stationery stores; and selected Life Pharmacy, Noel Leeming, Smiths City, Unichem, and independent photographic stores.

* Report: BDC

ENDS

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