Campaign to Support Olympic Sponsors & Kodak; Olympic Sponsors Defended as Consumers Urged to Purchase Their Products Despite Lackluster Interest in Summer Games.

Business, Sports Editors 

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 21, 2000

Calif. Photo Business Campaigns to Promote Eastman Kodak Company

(NYSE: EK).

So, what happens if this is the year nobody watched the Olympics? The question is firing up one California business owner to wage a crusade to entice more support of the Sydney, Australia Games.

In an unusual route to support the athletes and recognize the world-class brands and corporate sponsors, 30 Minute Photos Etc. is urging consumers to favor the sponsors' products and specifically only buy Kodak brand film and digital imaging products.

"Sometimes, the simplest ideas are in plane sight," remarked Mitchell Goldstone, president of 30 Minute Photos Etc. "As a spectator at most recent Games, and a loyal supporter of several of its worldwide partners, I was concerned about reports of lackluster interest in the Sydney Games. So, I initiated a proactive way for fans to get involved for the duration of the Games. We are encouraging them to watch and also support the companies that enable the athletes to compete on this vital world stage. Perhaps this effort wouldn't be necessary if the IOC did more to encourage people to support the sponsors who support them and the games," observed Goldstone.

Goldstone is creating enough buzz locally by convincing his customers to only buy Kodak brand products. And it's working. Since the Games began, nearly all customers at the Irvine-based photo center have cheered this move. 30 Minute Photos Etc. says it will not turn away competitors' film processing, but rather will encourage the purchase and use of only Kodak products. Its premium processing, along with producing Kodak Picture CDs for all orders in just 30 minutes is only available to picture-takers that use and buy only Kodak brand products. Locally, the push to promote Kodak will continue throughout the Games and will probably be extended through the balance of the key picture-taking holiday season into the New Year.

"There is great support for being patriotic. We make sure our customers understand that as the photo industry's leader, Kodak's sponsorship helps light the torch to enable the Olympic tradition to continue celebrating humanity. But Kodak is not the only influence that helps bridge athletes with their gold metal dreams. Each of the corporate sponsors fuels the Olympic spirit and furthers athletic competition and international unity. But as the longest-standing Olympic supporter, Kodak's 104-year Olympic involvement stands out and best communicates the Game's flavor and memorable images to every nation," said Goldstone.

"The idea urging consumers to seek out the sponsor's products was spawned from a Sept. 20th `New York Times' article," said Goldstone. It noted that Sydney is attracting the lowest TV viewership among all prior Games.

This grassroots campaign is expected to ignite other local and national retailers to also prominently display the various sponsors' products in premium positions.

"Just as the nation unites for sharing those special athletic moments, the country must also support its sponsors. Whether it's Coke (NYSE: KO), IBM (NYSE: IBM), UPS (NYSE: UPS), Kodak or McDonald's (NYSE: MCD), supporting the worldwide Olympic partners also helps communicate the spirit of the Games around the world. The sponsors reinforce their brands and showcase products while investing the funds needed to underwrite the Games. And, consumers get a double gold metal win by supporting the Games and the sponsors.

30 Minute Photos Etc., founded in 1990, is represented on the Irvine Chamber of Commence board of directors and is known within the photo industry for creative methods of promoting photography. More info: Mitchell Goldstone, president, 30 Minute Photos Etc. 92 Corporate Park Plaza, Irvine, CA 92606. Ph: 949/474-7654, e-mail: [e-mail].

Editors note: 30 Minute Photos Etc. is acting independently and this release is unassociated with the Intl. Olympic Committee, Kodak or any other corporate partners.