First . . . hot news for you negative types who can't see the forest for the trees . . . Yes, Vegas will be overflowing with folks interested in Consumer Electronics and imaging in January. At a press conference yesterday CES wheels admitted they have had a problem with getting attendees between the Convention Center and Riviera/Sands where PMA and many other events will be. CES (finally!) sat down with Las Vegas police, city council, etc. . . . new bus routes, coordination with traffic signals and pedestrian enforcement will cut the bus time by 50% to 75% . . . You heard that right. The complaints that have been piling up for years have finally been addressed. We salute CES for taking the action (and wonder . . . is it possible that PMA's influence helped push them to finally resolve this issue? We don't know . . . just seems interesting coincidence . . . Hmmm . . .)

In our intro we talked about Monday night's PMDA awards ceremony. Monday night is also the IPI member reception (members only). If you're one of those few successful labs that hasn't yet joined IPI you can get information at http://www.ipiphoto.com/howtojoin.aspx

IPI's event starts at 5pm so you can drop by for the latest hot rumors and ideas then sneak out to attend the PMDA event or other happenings in town.

Wednesday night (not confirmed, but our spies tell us it could happen) is rumored to be a first . . . International Buying Group gathering . . . for members of buying groups around the world gathering for PMA@CES. If you're interested in attending, email us and we'll get you the facts when they become finalized. email us

Sunday evening DIMA has a new thing . . . you'll like this one . . . Sunday, January 8, 4:30-7:00pm - a new kind of reception, DIMA Vendor Reception - besides the fantastic networking these events foster you'll be able to "sneak" peeks at new products and have more in-depth conversations with selected vendors. It's in response to attendees wanting some quality time with vendors . . . you asked, DIMA delivered.

If you're looking for complete info about PMA@CES check this link out: www.tinyurl.com/McCurryPMA2012

CEA held a New York press conference Tuesday . . . some highlights the rest of the media likely won't report . . .

CEA has to "stay on message" so they have a big 'style guide' to help everyone use the right terms, logos, etc. The event is officially called "International CES" it is not called the Consumer Electronics Show (that's so last decade!) . . . and CEA is the Consumer Electronics Association the entity that puts on the International CES.

Loyal MMIE readers read last week that we prophesized Black Friday would lose its luster as a magic one day event . . . CEA believes it already has happened with numerous retailers having Black Friday month . . . as far as early openings go Midnight is the new 5AM with many chains opening at midnight Thanksgiving night. Sigh.

Bigger retailers have bought goods to put on heavy promotion - customers are being trained to look for promotions . . . what will you have to talk about?

Some of our subscribers post videos on YouTube on a fairly regular basis. Arguably the most widely viewed such video - one that has truly gone viral - is the Camera Store's "Battle at F-Stop Ridge", which has been viewed more than 2 million times.

They claim that "no cameras were harmed in the making of this film."

We at the McCurry Marketing Idea Exchange don't know if the folks at the Camera Store are aware of it, but you can actually make money publishing videos on YouTube. Yes, as a YouTube partner you get a share of all those ads that pop up next to your video.

To become a YouTube Partner, you must meet these minimum requirements:

• You create original videos suitable for online streaming.
• You own or have express permission to use and monetize all audio and video content that you upload-no exceptions.
• You regularly upload videos that are viewed by thousands of YouTube users, or you publish popular or commercially successful videos in other ways (such as DVDs sold online).

How much can the royalties add up to? Not a lot for each individual viewing, but if you've got a few hundred thousand loyal fans it can add up.

This retailer won't let us use his name or city . . . but last year his assistant manager wanted to open at 6am on Black Friday.

They were doing the Nikon Flyer so he put in the bottom of the tag line "Open Black Friday at 6am" and put it on their website - no other promotion.

The owner felt he should support the employee who volunteered to open by himself at 6am. So he drug his tired ole body out of bed, went by Dunkin Donuts for coffee/munchkins for the manager. When he got to the store a few minutes after 6am he had trouble parking. The coffee was stone cold by the time traffic cleared enough for them to attack the goodies for their lunch.

This retailer is in a competitive market and doesn't want to identify where success happens - he thinks his competitors will continue to sleep in . . . .

You know you want to, you know you need to be at the DIMA Marketing Idea Exchange (Session D32) in Las Vegas, Monday, January 9, 2012 at 2:15pm. In 75 fast moving minutes you'll be exposed to dozens of new ideas and hear from imaging retailers around the world what they are doing in the new environment to maintain existing customers while growing new repeat and referral business. Register now http://www.pmai.org/PMA_CES.aspx?id=22028 See you at PMA@CES . . .