General Information for 2005

Testimonials for World Markets for Imaging Materials 2005

Eastern Europe is reaching out to the world to offer competitively priced products of good quality. Building market share takes time and requires the collecting of any information available on different market sizes and needs. This conference was a great place to discuss these things with representatives from many parts of the world. It was a great source for establishing new contacts, meeting some old friends and learning a great deal about world markets. Congratulations to The Tiara Group. I look forward to next year.
-Dr. Aydan Bekirov, Publisher, RECHARGEAST

Tiara provided a quality forum for discussing the major trends emerging from European and Latin American markets as well as several other territories. The speakers were well informed and I enjoyed the interaction of the attendees in posing intelligent questions and debate over several issues. I look forward to attending next year’s conference and would recommend this event to anyone interested in learning more about the latest information on world markets.
-Mr. Camille Cotran, Chairman & CEO, DENSIGRAPHIX KOPI INC.

No company can survive in the imaging industry without looking overseas for business. We are all learning more everyday about the opportunities. Designing a conference to specifically address developing markets, defining and anticipating the future probabilities, and allowing for an interchange of ideas are all important reasons why the Tiara Group should be commended for hosting an event that succeeded in fulfilling my expectations. We all learned something new and that’s a good thing.
-Ray A. Work, III PhD, Consultant, WORK ASSOCIATES, INC.

For Immediate Release:

AN EYE OPENER: WORLD MARKETS
FOR IMAGING MATERIALS

If you attended The Tiara Group's World Markets for Imaging Materials seminar at the Mandalay Resort in Las Vegas, August 21 to 23, you heard an assessment of business opportunities that spanned five continents. It took place just prior to Re-charger Magazine's World Expo which was also held at the Mandalay Bay Resort.

Presented by The Tiara Group LLC (Ojai, California) it was not only the first of its kind fo-rum to examine and explore global opportunities, but an eye opener for those active in or planning to enter the world marketplace.

Tiara Chairman Art Diamond launched the event with a few words of welcome noting that, “Here in the gambling capital of America we have gathered some of the imaging industry's top en-trepreneurs, experts, and market analysts to explore world markets. If the casino can be viewed as a buffet of games, each with its own set of risks and rewards, the world market for imaging materials may also be looked upon as an assortment of options and opportunities. Just as we can calculate the house edge in any table game, we're here to assess the chances of a winning entry in foreign markets. The key factors are market size, market access, sales channels, distribution, competition, import duties, and freight costs. These are the important items to watch for in the talks you'll hear over the next two days.”

Among the comments from Speakers at this event, Mr. John Shane, Director of Infot-rends/CAP Ventures estimated global consumption of toner for full color devices at about $4.5 bil-lion at retail pricing in 2003, more than doubling in five years to some $9.5 billion in 2008. This is by far the fastest growth sector.

Dr. Ray A. Work III spoke on ink jet inks and media in China, Japan, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. He said that Chinese consumers today are driven largely by price while those in Japan are more concerned with quality. “Margins are very slim in China,” said Work, “with many producers losing money. But these conditions will likely change over the next few years,” he added.

Dr. Aydan Bekirov, Publisher of RechargEast trade magazine, prefaced his remarks during the Panel Discussion by saying, “This forum is most symbolic as it is the first time a representative of the Central and Eastern European remanufacturing industry has been invited to sit on a Panel alongside his counterparts in the West and with an equal voice in the Proceedings.”

Mr. Enrique Stura, a Consultant with Uninet Imaging, Inc., confirmed that Brazil is the larg-est consumer of toner and ink jet supplies in Latin America. He pegged toner and developer con-sumption in 2004 at 5,566 metric tons (12.25 millions pounds) in 2004. Mr. Stura showed that Bra-zilian imports of ink jet cartridges accounted for 63% of the dollar value of non-impact marking materials (US$81.32 million) versus 37% for toner products.

Mr. William R. Duffy, President of the Imaging Supplies Coalition estimated the impact of counterfeiting on the global economy at a staggering loss of $450 billion! This represents some 5% to 7% of total world trade in over 20 diverse categories. Duffy awoke the group to a list of counter-feiters that include organized crime, terrorists and other sinister organizations.

Mr. Gustavo Molinatti, Publisher of Reciclador Magazine, detailed the imaging materials market in Argentina and described its position as a member of Mercosur, a free trade consortium created in March 1991. Allied with Argentina in Mercosur are Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and Chile. These signatories are important as they provide strategic access to Latin American mar-kets. Molinatti also provided detailed estimates of imported printers, copiers and toner products.

Mr. Graham J. Galliford presented an overview of market dynamics in China which includes manufacturers of toner products and OPC drums. He stressed the cultural and business differences between China and the western world, but noted that with a population of 1.3 billion China will soon become the world's largest consumer.

During the Panel Discussion, India was cited as a possible dark horse in the race for market dominance. Among its attractive features, India boasts a population of about 1.0 billion. English is virtually the first language for many educated Indians. For those who speak Hindi, or another native tongue, English is the second language. With its rather high import duties, India probably holds more attraction for investment in domestic production facilities, rather than as an export destination.

Mr. David Connett, Publisher of The Recycler Trade Magazine chronicled the growth of remanufacturers in Western Europe, noting the establishment of formal and informal trade associa-tions in eight countries. He said “There will likely be much consolidation in the years ahead.”
As the Seminar ended, Terry Gorka, Tiara's Managing Director said, “We are definitely on right track with this topic and hope to at least double the level of attendance here next year!”

2005 General Information

Go Global & Play to Win!
Shrinking margins and foreign competition are driving toner, ink jet and media producers to seek new opportunities abroad. It's the best strategy as Latin America, Central & Eastern Europe, and the Middle East become significant consumers of imaging materials.

If your game is Imaging Materials, we invite you to join the world's key players in Las Vegas for a first of its kind meeting to assess and explore World Markets.
Now is the time for you and your company to get in on the action. Don't gamble on the future. Don't roll the dice on next year's earnings. Let World Markets for Imaging Materials give you the inside information you need to turn your stake into a bundle. You can bet your bottom line on it!

Come to Las Vegas and get in the action at the Mandalay Resort & Casino.

As you can see from these early Program details, we are bringing together the leading experts in imaging market analysis:

• Dr. Aydan Bekirov, Publisher, RechargEast, "Trends & Directions in the Eastern European Market for Imaging Materials”
• Mr. Robert C. Bloom of Bloom & Associates, “The European Market for Imaging Materials.”
  
• Mr. William R. Duffy, of the Imaging Supplies Coalition, “Counterfeit Products: A Threat to World Markets”
  
• Mr. Michael Flippin, General Manager of Web Consulting, Inc.,“World Markets for Wide- & Superwide Format Imaging Materials.”
  
• Mr. Gustavo Molinatti, Publisher, Reciclador Magazine, “Argentina: Rapid Growth in a Latin American Market”
  
• Mr. Richard C. Norton, President, DocuTrends, “The Domestic Market for Office Imaging Materials”
  
• Mr. John Shane, Director, InfoTrends/CAP Ventures, “World Markets for Office Imaging Materials”
  
• Mr. Enrique Stura, “Brazil: Latin America's Largest Toner Market”
  
• Mr. Henry Sun, of Sun Dragon Pacific, “An Overview of Market Dynamics in China.”
  
• Dr. Raymond A. Work III of Work Associates, Inc., “The Asian Market for Imaging Materials.”

Add to the list a Cocktail Reception on Sunday evening, August 21, our Networking Session on Monday afternoon, plus a highly interactive Panel Discussion on Tuesday, and you've got the basis for an information-packed conference!

Created by The Tiara Group, World Markets for Imaging Materials is an exciting new event tuned to the trends and directions of the ink jet ink, toner, and specialty media industries. It joins our Imaging Materials Seminar® series as a platform for business interaction and a review of market size and structure, trends, analyses and forecasts that spans six continents.

Come for the Program; Stay for the Networking
Our highly interactive Imaging Materials Seminars feature: illustrated and documented Sessions presented by the most informed experts in the industry; a cohesive blend of technical and marketing papers that cover the most timely issues and topics; and, what we've been told is the best organized Networking Program in the imaging industry.In past years, registrants at this seminar series have included:

• CEOs, Front Line Managers, Production Managers and R&D Executives
• Market Managers, Product Managers, Engineers, and Product Planners
• Manufacturers of Ink Jet & Toner-based Imaging Hardware
• Remanufacturers & Refillers of Toner & Ink Jet Cartridges
• Manufacturers of Filling & Filtration Equipment
• Manufacturers of Printers, Copiers, and MultiFunctional Devices
• Suppliers of Dyes and Pigments for Ink Jet Inks and Toners
• Suppliers of Specialty Papers and Films
• Original Equipment Makers, VARs and Dealers of Digital Imaging equipment
• Journalists, Consultants and Market Analysts
• Government, Industry and Military Organizations

A List of Registrants, including name, address, phone and fax, will be e-mailed to each registered individual at least 12 days before the conference. This unique courtesy has proved valuable for those desiring to make special contacts or to arrange private meetings during the seminar.

Leave With the Best Information
You'll come away from Las Vegas familiar with changes that are occurring both in the technology and in the market place. You'll hear the latest views on opportunities and the forces driving these offshore markets

You'll also hear the latest views on the direction of future markets and future applications. This Seminar is designed to give you first hand knowledge about goals and objectives of the industry's key players. You'll possess a better understanding of the problems and challenges the industry faces and how these might spell opportunity for you and your company.

You'll take home this valuable information in a carefully compiled binder valued at over $335. It contains copies of all speakers' handouts (tables, charts, graphs and slides), along with complete address, phone and fax numbers of all attendees.

Space is Limited,Register Now!
For Seminar Registration click here to register on-line, to download a pdf of the registration form for faxing click here or call Terry Groka at 805/659-2298. If you wish, we'll be happy to hold a seat for you for a limited time until payment is received. Space is limited, so act promptly.

Hotel Reservations
To make a hotel reservation, please contact The Mandalay Bay Resort directly at 877/632-7800 or 702-632-7777 and mention the code S101C5. This is the code for Recharger Magazine's World Expo. Under the umbrella of World Expo's room block we are able to offer you the rate of $139. Book early to take advantage of the limited room block; all rooms will be sold on a first-come first-served basis.

You can visit http://www.rechargermag.com/conf/expo2005/display.asp?nav_id=151#hotel to book your hotel room online.