In September, Kodak opened a new Photo Zone at Wal-Mart in Burlington, Ontario.  This store delivers a one-of-a-kind experience and brings the future of photography to Canada.  We wanted to show consumers how they can create, print and purchase amazing keepsakes at the new KODAK Photo Zone so we decided to host a workshop in November with Kodak spokesperson, Kim Kerr.





Here's what we learned:



Cassandra has been using Kodak software to store and develop her pictures since 2004. She has a huge book full of CDs that contain her favorite photos. Cassandra is very proud of how organized she is when it comes to organizing and storing her photos.

She uses the kiosks at the KODAK Photo Zone to make a variety of projects, including calendars for her mom and various photo-gifts for friends and family. On November 18th, she visited the Photo Zone to create a photo book for one of her good friends.



Linda's daughter is currently traveling the world and often sends her CDs full of photos documenting her latest adventures and the sights she has seen. Linda loves to receive these photos and uses the kiosks at the KODAK Photo Zone to create calendars for her relatives in Europe.

Linda enjoys taking photos of her dogs and around the house and developing them at the kiosks. She finds the kiosks very easy to use and loves that fact that her calendars - and anything else she creates - can be completed in just one hour. She watched the store being built and is very impressed with what the KODAK Photo Zone has to offer.



Allison loves the KODAK Photo Zone and uses the kiosks all the time. She is very proud of the fact that she now knows how to "get her pictures off of her camera". Allison often uses the kiosks to develop photos but is really interested in learning how to create more detailed projects such as Picture Movie DVDs. She plans on practicing at the KODAK Photo Zone until she's a master of all things Photo Zone-related.
 


Beth really enjoys using the kiosks at the KODAK Photo Zone. She finds the entire process very convenient and loves the fact that she is able to bring her young son (and budding photo enthusiast) Matthew to the Photo Zone with her. Matthew loves to watch the developed pictures come out at the bottom of the kiosk. Because Beth is a busy mom, she appreciates how quickly her photos are developed.



November 18th marked Kirsten's first visit to the KODAK Photo Zone and also her first time using the kiosk. So far, she loves it! Kirsten thinks the kiosks are "fabulous" and finds them very easy to use, even for a first-timer.

Kirsten is admittedly not the most technology-savvy so she really enjoys the fact that the kiosks are so intuitive and user-friendly.



Mary has taken pictures of her son and his two best friends on their first day of school every year since they were three years old. On November 18th, she used a kiosk at the KODAK Photo Zone to create cards for them using this year's picture, rather than just giving them a framed photo. Mary believes the cards she created are much more personal than store-bought cards.



 

Have you been watching TLC's Trading Spaces this season?  Did you know Trading Spaces is the top-rated cable home makeover show in the U.S.?

If you have tuned in, you have noticed Kodak products have been integrated into 4 episodes thus far with the fifth integration scheduled to air this Saturday, November 22 at 10/9c on the TLC Network.

Trading Spaces episodes have featured a Mother/Daughter creating an inspiration wall using the KODAK EASYSHARE M1033 IS Digital Camera, competitive sisters sharing memories on the KODAK EASYSHARE M1020 Digital Frame, estranged best friends creating a scrapbook with the KODAK ESP 5 All-in-One Printer, and Sisters-in-Law enjoying photos and videos using the KODAK EASYSHARE HDTV Dock.

In the final episode of Kodak on Trading Spaces this Saturday 11/22 @ 10/9c, viewers will learn how to use the KODAK Picture Kiosk to create a personalized photo book.  On this episode, mom Cathy and dad George are excited and anxious about their oldest son Andrew heading off to college. They get to decorate their kid's dorm room, while Andrew and his new roommate get creative in the family living room.

Tune in to Trading Spaces on TLC Saturday 10/9c and go to www.kodak.com/go/paigedavis to see photo projects, videos and more from Trading Spaces' host Paige Davis.

Everyone was filled with the Holiday Spirit when they visited the Inspiration Tour pavilion after driving through the Holiday of Lights show or in anticipation of doing that next. 

One family came in and told us that their group represented four generations!  We had the privilege of taking a picture for them in the newly designed holiday backdrop, which included a festive Christmas tree and the jolly man dressed in red.  The great grandmother, to the best of our knowledge, was our oldest guest ever at 101 years old!  Since she does not get out very often, they were all very appreciative that we were able to take a nice holiday photo for them.  We added a title and a border on the picture using the Kodak Picture Kiosk and after their grandmother studied the photo for a moment she responded, "I think that might just be me!"  It was brilliant!

From 'Baby's first Christmas' to family reunions, we had the good fortune to meet and inspire thousands of people who were interested in all of the new Kodak products as they considered loved ones to buy for on their Christmas list.  Kodak Custom Creations software was very well received and the Kodak Digital Frames display and Kodak Gallery Product Wall provided plenty of holiday inspiration for prospective shoppers!

Thank you for your hospitality, Del Mar!  The Inspiration Tour will remain in San Diego for the month of December and begin the New Year at the Tournament of Roses post parade - A Showcase of Floats, sponsored by Kodak, in Pasadena, California. 

We spent three weeks in Phoenix taking in the sights and sounds at the Arizona State Fair (10.19 - 11.4) followed by an action-packed weekend at the Phoenix International Raceway (11.8 - 11.11).

We're pleased to report a record breaking 34,136 guests visited the Inspiration Tour pavilion to learn more about digital photography at the Arizona State Fair - more than any previous event!

A family of Native Americans visited the tent all decked out in traditional dress because they were performing at the fair. Their costumes were beautiful and they took pictures in front of all the photography backdrops.  While helping them make a collage on the Picture Kiosk, they told us that they had been watching the 4,000 sq.ft. tent go up - anxiously waiting for their chance to visit.  They had been performing at the fair for several years and the Kodak pavilion was their favorite exhibit.  It was even better because their youngest son was performing for the first year and now they have this wonderful picture to remember the moment!

We had a sweet lady bring in a hundred year old postcard of her grandparents.  She was very close to them growing up and it was one of the few pictures she had of them.  She kept it carefully wrapped in plastic and inside a special tin because it was one of her most prized possessions.  She told us that the only reason she came into the fair was that she had heard on the radio that Kodak would be at the fair and one of her friends mentioned "something about scanning?" to preserve her photo.  She trusted Kodak so she decided to visit. First, we scanned the post card using the Picture Kiosk and made a copy for her to keep and a few for her to send to relatives.  We adjusted the colors to compensate for the fading using the enhancement feature and she was ecstatic.  We scanned the postcard a second time, this time on the Kodak All-In-One Printer so that it could be saved to a memory card and uploaded to Kodak Gallery so she would be able to share it with family and keep a digital copy as back up. She was so appreciative and thanked us over and over.

Finally, we had a special day at the Fair to host firemen and their fire trucks from all over the valley and they set up right in front of our tent.  Kids were invited to pick up a "passport" and visit each of the fire departments as well as the Kodak tent and once they collected every stamp they would earn a teddy bear.  We provided one of the firemen with a Kodak Z-series digital camera and all day long the kids were able to get their picture taken in a fire truck wearing the authentic fire gear.  The Kodak staff printed out pictures and it was great to see the kids having so much fun!

Thank you, Arizona!  The Inspiration Tour is on the road again heading to Southern California where we will participate in the Del Mar Holiday of Lights near San Diego, CA 11.22 - 12.3.  We are privileged to have the opportunity to introduce so many people to digital technology and inspire others who just need help learning how to get those pictures off their digital cameras and computer hard drives and create beautiful keepsakes with their precious memories.

We're back and excited to share spectacular photos and delightful characters with you from the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. 

What a terrific event!  We have never had so many people specifically interested in photography, printing, getting the most out of their cameras, capturing bright, vivid colors and then of course, sharing those pictures quickly and easily with their friends and family that were not able to attend.

One chipper gentleman came in with a wonderful hat shaped like a hot air balloon that was covered in pins.  He was eager to speak with someone in the Kodak Inspiration Tour tent because one of his collections was all of the Kodak pins that were ever made for the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta since 1980!  The hat he had on was, in fact, his second hat.  The first one was at home and weighed nearly a ton he said!  He was excited to see that Kodak once again had a presence at the Fiesta and spent quite a bit of time in the tent learning about the "digital era" and uploading his recent pictures to the Kodak Gallery. 

Two friends came into the tent all decked out in their Balloon Fiesta regalia, sporting patches from the past 22 years!  The Fiesta has become a tradition for them to get together and it is even more of an event since one of them moved about 200 miles away.  They had a great time getting their picture taken in the No.12 NASCAR Dodge, and they couldn't believe how natural the colors were when they printed their image on the KODAK EasyShare G610 Printer Dock. 

We were privileged to meet 3 cousins and their aunt who were reuniting at the Balloon Fiesta after 45 years!  They had recently lost their last uncle of 6 and decided it was time to see one another again.  Tears of joy ran down the aunt's face while she was standing on the Olympic Podium photo backdrop as she realized this would be their first print of all of them together after such a long separation!

There was a tangible nostalgia in the air at the Balloon Fiesta and everyone seemed to be of high spirits and very receptive to the Kodak Inspiration experience.  We were constantly amazed at the splendid, rainbow colored and interestingly shaped balloons that flooded the sky at dawn and brilliantly glowed at dusk.  Every night brought magnificent fireworks over the Kodak tent and we captured some great shots using the fireworks scene mode on all the cameras that we have on display.  These pictures served as great examples to show off the next day and it was fun to see people compare the Kodak pictures to those they themselves had taken with other cameras. 

Thank you, Albuquerque!  Over 14,000 visitors toured the experience and inspired our team of dedicated Kodak Ambassadors in the process.  As we move on to the Arizona State Fair, our team is more passionate than ever to continue to educate and inspire others every day we open our doors.

US Navy Blue Angels, Canadian Forces Snowbirds, and spectacular fireworks were just a few of the sites guests enjoyed at the Salinas Airshow near Monterey, CA over the last weekend in September.  The Inspiration Tour visited the Airshow as well and captured some great photos and stories while entertaining and educating visitors.

We took a lot of pictures of people with their arms spread wide like airplanes over the course of the three-day event! We received positive feedback from everyone that came through and many people returned with others so that they could come and "check out Kodak" and our full suite of digital products and services on display.

One very friendly gentleman came in to check out Kodak's 4,000 sq. ft. exhibit and reminisce a while about his career as a pilot and how many years he had been attending the Salinas Airshow.  When he showed us all of the old, tattered photos that he kept in his wallet, we suggested that he scan the photos in on the Kodak Picture Kiosk and create a new digital copy to preserve them.  He was thrilled with the idea and left with an 8x10 collage and a Kodak Picture CD.  He told us he was going to surprise his wife with the special keepsake he created!

Thank you, Salinas!  The Inspiration Tour packed up and left the state of California to take up residence in Albuquerque, New Mexico for a couple weeks at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.  We'll be back soon with breathtaking photos from Albuquerque and visitor feedback from people we continue to have the privilege to inspire!