A Celebration of Community and Creativity at Canon PhotoMarathon 2024

  

The event attracted over 500 participants from all walks of life.

Canon Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Canon Singapore) announced the successful return of its iconic Canon PhotoMarathon as it welcomed over 500 photography enthusiasts at the event, held at Fountain Square @ Clarke Quay.

This year’s theme, “Every Lens, Every Age”, celebrated the diversity and creativity of the participants who captured Singapore’s beauty with their own unique perspectives. With two-hour submission windows assigned to each theme, the competition offered a dynamic and challenging experience, pushing photographers to think on their feet and produce one-of-a-kind visual stories. The three themes under both Open and Student Categories were Harmony, Clarity, and Wonder/Wander.

“It is exciting to see Canon PhotoMarathon back in action, and the creativity on display today is truly remarkable. We hope that this experience has given the participants memories that will last a lifetime. Our heartfelt thanks go to all participants, sponsors, and supporters for making this event a resounding success,” says Mr. Andrew Koh, Vice President and Head of Singapore Operations Group, Canon Singapore.

Empowering Photographers with Equal Opportunities

Canon proudly continues its long-standing partnership with APSN, a social service agency dedicated to providing special education, vocational training, and employment support for individuals with mild intellectual disabilities, at this year’s Canon PhotoMarathon 2024. In an exciting first, APSN beneficiaries participated in the student category, showcasing their eagerness to test and refine their photography skills. For Theme 1, ‘Harmony’, APSN Katong School student Zul Nuriman emerged as the winner of the second prize.

Since 2006, Canon has collaborated with APSN to foster equal opportunities for aspiring photographers. This partnership has included the provision of camera and lens equipment, the organisation of photo outings with staff volunteers, and photography workshops designed to boost confidence and spark creativity among APSN students. Through this meaningful collaboration, Canon seeks to unite individuals through photography — a universal art form that knows no boundaries.

Check out the full press release and all the winning entries here, each telling a unique visual story.

For more details on Canon PhotoMarathon 2024, please visit the Canon PhotoMarathon website, Facebook, and Instagram.

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About Canon Singapore Pte. Ltd.

Canon is a global leader in photographic and digital imaging solutions. Canon Singapore Pte. Ltd. is the headquarters for South & Southeast Asia driving sales, marketing and service strategies.

Besides handling the domestic market, the company covers 22 other countries and regions including subsidiaries in India, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The parent company Canon Inc. has a global network of more than 300 companies and employs about 169,000 people worldwide. Canon is guided by its kyosei philosophy that focuses on living and working together for the common good.

More information is available at https://sg.canon.

This Press Release has also been published on VRITIMES

ASEAN-UK Advancing Creative Economy initiative launched to foster collaboration and development across the region

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The UK Mission to ASEAN and the British Council are thrilled to announce the launch of the unique ASEAN-UK Advancing Creative Economy initiative, aimed at bolstering creative economies across the ASEAN region through collaboration with the UK. The programme will focus on professional development, knowledge exchange, and networking among policymakers and creative practitioners.

The programme started with a policymakers’ roundtable in Jakarta earlier this year, bringing together for the first time thought leaders from the UK and representatives from each of the ASEAN member states. The ASEAN-UK Advancing Creative Economy initiative represents a significant step forward in strengthening the creative industries across ASEAN countries.

UK Ambassador to ASEAN, Sarah Tiffin, said:

"The creative economy has an important role to play in driving growth and innovation in the thriving partnership between the UK and ASEAN. We are thrilled to collaborate with the British Council and the ASEAN Secretariat as we work to advance the sustainable development of creative networks throughout ASEAN. By combining our collective strengths and fostering collaboration, we can amplify the impact of the creative industries, strengthen cultural ties, and pave the way for a brighter, more innovative future for both the UK and the ASEAN region, "

The ASEAN-UK Advancing Creative Economy initiative is delivered by British Council with the co-funding by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and it is delivered in partnership with the ASEAN Secretariat. The initiative supports the implementation of the objectives outlined in the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025 and the ASEAN Strategic Plan for Culture and Arts 2016-2025.

British Council Country Director of Indonesia / Director of South East Asia, Summer Xia, said:

"In this first-of-its-kind joint programme between the British Council, UK Mission to ASEAN, and the ASEAN Secretariat, we aim to take a holistic approach to empower ASEAN policymakers and practitioners in creative economy, enhance the quality and diversity of festivals across the ASEAN region, foster cultural exchange and collaboration between the UK and South East Asia, and provide valuable insights and research into the ASEAN arts and creative sectors, a topic of great interest to many in the region."

The new initiative will consist of three main strands:

• Professional Development Courses

These courses will focus on creative economy policy development and festival development and management, offering tailored programmes to support the growth journey of policymakers, festival producers and creative professionals.

• Knowledge Exchange Between the UK and ASEAN

Through delegations to the UK for ASEAN festival managers and policy development roundtables, this strand aims to facilitate meaningful exchanges and collaborations between the two regions.

• Research into the ASEAN Arts Sector

This includes initiatives such as a regional perception poll, mapping of the arts and creative technology landscape in ASEAN, and mapping of ASEAN festivals, providing valuable insights for future collaborations and initiatives.

The ASEAN-UK Advancing Creative Economy initiative also delivers on ASEAN’s Connectivity agenda, with people-to-people connectivity one of the priorities under the ASEAN Master Plan on Connectivity. This initiative is one many by the UK Mission to ASEAN, highlighting the thriving partnership between the UK and ASEAN.

Companies, Stop Aiming for a Complaint-free Record

 

Your customers' complaints could be the goldmine you’re overlooking.

“We want zero complaints,” says every company in the world. But what if complaints are the secret competitive advantage your business needs?

"Complaints offer an intimate way of understanding your business through the eyes of your customers," Dr. Janelle Barlow, President of All Out Performance and author of A Complaint is a Gift, said during her talk, Turning Critics into Advocates hosted by Management Strategies on September 23, 2024, at Discovery Primea, Makati. The event explored a radical idea: complaints can be your greatest source of insight and revenue, if only companies dared to listen.

And listen they did. Senior management who attended the event came from private foundations, telecommunications, finance, real estate and hospitality industries.

Silence is worse

If complaints aren’t bad news for companies, why don’t more customers speak up?

Many don’t think anything will get done, or the situation could worsen further. Dr. Barlow shared an anecdote about people being afraid to complain to their doctors, worrying that voicing their concerns might lead to worse treatment.

The same logic applies in business: silence from customers can be far more dangerous than complaints. These are the customers who simply walk away–the 50% you’ll never see again.

But, here's the twist: 60-70% of customers who have their complaints resolved satisfactorily go on to buy five times more than they initially would have.

"If you solve their concerns instead of over-apologizing, they’ll actually come back to repurchase five times more,” Dr. Barlow said. “This is the power of complaint handling in the language of revenue and results.”

Everyone owns the complaint

Only 1 in 10,000 written complaints ever make their way to senior management. In the US, companies are losing 1 trillion dollars due to poor complaint handling.  

Dr. Barlow emphasized the need to break down silos. Businesses must instead foster a culture where everyone feels responsible for addressing customer concerns.  

Too often, companies are laser-focused on acquiring new customers, missing the retention goldmine. 

Retaining existing customers is significantly cheaper than attracting new ones. And the rewards are exponential. A small increase in retention can lead to a dramatic uptick in profits.

“Most companies spend half of their revenue attracting new customers,” Dr. Barlow revealed. “But retaining even just 5% of your customers can lead to up to 95% profit increase.”

Turning critics into advocates

So what can businesses do in face of complaints? Dr. Barlow suggests three power tools that will turn even the worst critics into staunch advocates.

First, widen your customers’ tolerance zone. “When customers feel understood and valued, they are far more forgiving,” Dr. Barlow explained. A little friendliness and empathy go a long way in easing tensions and getting customers on your side. Instead of reacting defensively, aim to create an environment where your customers feel heard. 

Next, speed. “Above all, what customers want from service is responsiveness,” Dr. Barlow emphasized. Quick resolutions show that you value their time and concerns. When you act swiftly, you not only diffuse anger but also demonstrate your company’s commitment to resolving problems. 

Big data can speed up resolution. “Access to every data point can address the root cause of customer complaints and understand them beyond face value.”

Finally, fairness is more important than you realize. Customers aren’t just looking for their problem to be solved—they want it handled fairly. When your solution feels balanced and just, customers are more likely to leave with a positive impression, even if things didn’t start off smoothly. 

Behind every complaint is a gift. The question is: Are you ready to unwrap it?

About MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Management Strategies is a global consulting firm specializing in culture building and organizational transformation.

Today, with over 50 passionate consultants and coaches worldwide, the company continues to focus on bringing out the best in people and activating their purpose and strengths. For more information on the company and their services, visit their website at www.mgtstrat-asia.com

This press release has also been published on VRITIMES