JACKSON, Mich.— The recently held PMA Australia presents Digital Expo 2010 in Melbourne, Australia, saw consumers, dealers, and professional photographers flock by the thousands, setting a record total registration greater than 23,000. Increased dealer support and significant advertising investments in radio, television, press, and social media resulted in droves of hobbyists attending the event at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, June 4-6.

Dealer support reached new records with photo supplements in metropolitan papers; radio and television advertising drove consumers into photo stores to collect a free entry pass.

The dealer drive to distribute free entry tickets to their customers was supported by a new social media campaign provided by Sunpro Games. Leading up to the show, more than 1,000 pre-registrations were created. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and blog upload activity also was conducted from the show floor throughout the event.

A group of retailers worked together to sponsor a special Digital Expo bus to transport attendees to and from the convention center. Brightly painted in show livery, the free bus service was heavily patronized and gave the show extra prominence in the key traffic area of Melbourne.

“As retail sales can vary quite significantly, we needed to put a little ‘science’ into determining the sales that resulted from the show,” saysPeter Michael of Michaels, the largest single photo specialty outlet in Australia. “We have done that conservatively, and we believe the show generated a 26 percent increase in sales during the three days of the show.”

The Photography Boot Camp educational program had 483 delegates attending the sessions.

The Digital Expo featured more than 100 major photo and digital companies from Australia and overseas, showcasing the latest photo gear and new product solutions. The PMA Australia 2011 event is scheduled for June 23-26 in Sydney.

Major PMA events coming soon:

• PMA Latin America Peru Expo 2010, August 18-19, 2010, Lima, Peru

• PMA Canada Photo Expo, September 11-13, 2010, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

• 6Sight Future of Imaging Conference, November 15-17, 2010, San Jose, Calif.

For more information on PMA events, visit the PMA home page.

About PMA – The Worldwide Community of Imaging Associations
As a professional trade association, PMA® helps the worldwide photo imaging community achieve business success and adapt to new technologies. Its commitment to members in 100-plus countries is part of an 85-year legacy that connects business owners to a network of knowledge and support. PMA furthers this purpose through the development of educational programs, marketing research, publications, and trade shows. As a not-for-profit organization, any success PMA achieves in its endeavors directly benefits the industry, providing the means to continually develop services and activities for members.