| July 20, 2008 | |||
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November 2-5, the PIB attended the Chicago Ski and Snowboard Show at the Donald Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL and November 16-19, the LA SkiDazzle at the LA Convention Center. The Chicago Ski Show & Snowboard Expo is the Midwest's largest annual consumer ski show for the past 45 years with more than 285 exhibitors selling all kinds of ski and snowboard equipment. Exhibitors included ski resorts from Vermont to Colorado attempting to lure people from the Midwest, ski and snowboard equipment dealers selling every conceivable type of equipment used on the slopes, as well SUV‘s, clothing, jewelry, etc. Again the PIB always fits in and this year was no exception. Venders, skiers, families, etc all take pictures and as usual many stopped by the PIB to see the latest in digital cameras and equipment. We welcomed Steve Ostrander from Tamron who stopped by the booth for a few hours to lend his assistance. At times there were groups listening to our comments, as well as those giving serious attention given to a particular piece of equipment. All in all people felt they left with a little better understanding of digital photography and the newest sponsors equipment. Although there was considerable interest in the small P&S cameras it is again obvious that lots of people are looking at digital SLR’s. The questions were good and although smaller and less attended than the LA Show we met our objectives of talking to a lot of people and handing out lots of sponsors literature. ![]() © 2006 Art Netzer
![]() © 2006 Art Netzer
![]() © 2006 Art Netzer
![]() © 2006 Art Netzer
Two weeks later and for the 16th straight year the PIB set up at the 43rd Annual LA Ski Snow & Snowboard Expo held at the LA Convention Center at Staples Center. This is the nations largest consumer ski & snowboard show with over 480 exhibitors. This diverse show had booths advertising ski lodges from Alaska to South America each trying to get their share of the skiers and snowboarders from this vastly populated southwest area. There were wine, food and health products, electronics, airlines and car rental agencies, auto makers, binoculars and photographic equipment. The PIB is still one of the very few if not only exhibitor to show sponsors equipment without any sales pressure. ![]() © 2006 Art Netzer
![]() © 2006 Art Netzer
![]() © 2006 Art Netzer
![]() © 2006 Art Netzer
The popular Fireside Chat sessions were again held at this show. This open forum gave Art Netzer, from the PIB the opportunity to talk on subjects of interest to skiers and snowboarders. This year subject included a talk on "digital photography beyond auto" There is a lot of audience participation and everyone had the opportunity to ask questions about the current status of digital cameras and photography in general. Don Gale a professional photographer sponsored by Tamron and Fuji also had a booth at SkiDazzle promoting Don’s Photographic Workshops and the wonderful photographs he takes. ![]() © 2006 Art Netzer
As in previous years a large number of people stopped at the PIB to talk, look and ask questions about sponsors equipment. They often register for show prizes and usually pick up information and literature on sponsors products. Skiers tend to lean toward small and waterproof equipment to carry with them while on the slopes but there was a noticeable increase in discussions about SLR‘s from many who stopped to talk to us. There are all sorts of interesting people that visit SkiDazzle especially in LA. They live dangerously and do their own thing. ![]() © 2006 Art Netzer
![]() © 2006 Art Netzer
These 2 SkiDazzle shows concluded the first half of the 2006/07 PIB season which was aimed at exposing the newest photographic equipment to the busy Chicago and LA markets prior to the heavy Christmas shopping days. The season will resume in January with a tour of sport & boat shows in the Midwest. The PIB is sponsored by: Canon Nikon Panasonic Samsung Epson Fuji Pentax Tamron Olympus & Popular Photography
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