Press releases

Pepper Stark - 4 Step Service for Going Global [24th October 2006]

At Pepper Stark, one of the services offered is the set up and management of international distribution networks for image collections. Pepper Stark currently represents 8 image collections ranging from rights managed, editorial, royalty free and subscription with a current total of over 165,000 images and it is looking to take on a variety of new collections over the next few months. To accommodate this growth area in its business Pepper Stark has recruited further International Account Managers to its team, speaking English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and basic Japanese. They have joined company directors Liz Pepper and Claudia Stark who between them have over 14 years experience in international sales networks.

Selling internationally and building a globally recognized brand is a hot topic at the moment with industry veterans looking to bolster already existing distribution networks to new production companies or photographers looking to develop a new stock photography product. Pepper Stark has set out a flexible service where it can advise and equip people to realize their global ambitions themselves or actively work alongside them to ensure they realize these goals as quickly and effectively as possible. Pepper Stark has therefore developed a 4 Step Service for Going Global which allows a client to choose those services they need.

Step 1	Is your collection ready for distribution? This is an initial diagnostic to orientate a producer and outline how ready they are for international distribution
Step 2	Get prepared for distribution Consultancy to include the following: product development, pricing, technical image specifications and strategy development to enable a client to get a product ready for delivery to a global channel network.
Step 3	Get the right distribution partners For clients who would rather outsource territory research and contract negotiations to Pepper Stark with its expertise in this area.
Step 4	Management is the key to success For companies who want to save themselves the time and additional overheads of staff to effectively manage an international distribution network, this whole area can be outsourced to Pepper Stark to its experienced team of International Account Managers.

Pepper Stark to launch new training programmes at Bapla PBF [1st May 2006]

Pepper Stark is a specialist consultancy, training and recruitment company for the stock photography industry worldwide. The company offers tailored in-house training courses for picture libraries on areas of sales development, the stock photography industry, product and licence models. The focus is on how a company can increase revenue and productivity through a more highly motivated and skilled workforce.

For launch at the Bapla Picture Buyers’ Fair in May 2006 Pepper Stark has developed its training portfolio and offering to account managers, art buyers, picture researchers and picture editors in advertising, communication and design agencies, on picture desks at news agencies and within the publishing sector.

Pepper Stark’s proposed new training courses will cover the following areas and be put together in consultation with the client to meet their specific training requirements:

Background to the stock photography industry and product overviews
The range and diversity of image libraries – specialist and generalist, niche archives, global producers, distributors and portals
What are the advantages, disadvantages, restrictions and limitations of both rights managed and royalty free licences
What licences permit and what they prohibit
What are the responsibilities of the image buyer and those of the image seller
Pricing overviews, negotiating pricing and usage
File sizes and technical specifications

Pepper Stark and PhotoSpin announce strategic partnership [22nd November 2005]

PhotoSpin www.photospin.com a leading royalty free stock subscription service in the US has appointed Pepper Stark Ltd www.pepperstark.com, a specialist consultancy, training and recruitment provider to the stock photography industry with many years experience in international distribution sales to work as their exclusive agent to set up and manage an international distribution network for its unique subscription model.

For one simple annual fee, PhotoSpin offers thousands of photos, illustrations, fonts, film and sound. This subscription model will be made available to distributors on a monthly fee basis, with prices tailored to their territory. The distributor will be able to translate the language of the site and with the use of the sophisticated back-end technology provided by PhotoSpin monitor client buying behaviour and manage their client accounts.

PhotoSpin would like to offer its subscription model to distributors worldwide and would partner them in developing sales in their territories by returning a percentage of their monthly fees so that they can acquire local content to add to the subscription service.

To discuss potential distribution rights of the PhotoSpin subscription model, please contact liz.pepper@pepperstark.com or Claudia.stark@pepperstark.com

Pepper Stark expands its recruitment services [3rd November 2005]

Pepper Stark has filled the long-awaited gap in the market for a specialist recruitment service. Clients and candidates alike can now benefit from Pepper Stark's in depth knowledge of this industry worldwide; its libraries, its products and personalities.

Following the increased demand over the last four weeks and successful placement of candidates across Europe and the US, Pepper Stark has expanded its recruitment offering.

For candidates, Pepper Stark now offers

A full career consultation service: from advice on CV writing to advice on entering or moving within the stock photography industry.
Help to candidates wishing to relocate as its recruitment service is worldwide

For recruiters, Pepper Stark now offers

To visit the client's offices to meet with the recruiter and relevant department. This ensures that the job role and person specification is fully understood and the personalities of the selected candidates fit to the culture of the company.
Larger recruiters a new retainer search service for immediate database search and targeted advertising for each position.
A job spec consultation including advice on market rates for salaries and penetration into new sectors or territories. This service is useful, if clients are looking to create a new role within their organisation.

For those companies wishing to train their new recruits or existing teams on the specifics of the product, licence models or in the areas of sales, marketing and management, Pepper Stark can offer personalized tailored in-house training programmes.

Pepper Stark - the first month trading and business is booming [1st August 2005]

Liz Pepper and Claudia Stark launched their consultancy, training and recruitment business at the CEPIC conference in Prague just over a month ago. Now with a growing portfolio of clients worldwide, and their website www.pepperstark.com just launched, Liz and Claudia talk about the success of their first month trading.

"We have been totally amazed and delighted by the positive response we received following our company launch at CEPIC" says Liz Pepper. "Claudia and I have been working in international sales and business development in the picture industry for a combined 10 years. We know a lot of people and have been overwhelmed by the interest so many have expressed in our services. We have already been commissioned by a total mix of clients from the UK, Europe, US and Asia- from smaller local representatives looking to expand within and beyond their territories to larger global players wanting to grow further and faster."

Pepper Stark was founded to fill a gap in the market for a professional consultancy, training and recruitment service dedicated to the specific needs of those involved in stock photography. In such a fast moving industry, continually evolving and becoming ever more competitive, Pepper Stark works with companies throughout the world who are looking to expand their business and develop their sales channels, turnover and profitability.

Particular projects that Pepper Stark is currently working on include assessing business practices for companies looking to streamline workflows and processes to improve sales performance and the effectiveness of their marketing spend; setting up and managing international distribution networks for RM and RF collections; tailored training programmes for sales teams conducted in English, French and German depending on the local language of the client and the placement of sales, marketing and creative personnel in vacancies worldwide.