Manfrotto Launches New Website

Italian imaging accessory manufacturer Manfrotto announced a major update to their new portal website today. The restructuring makes the interface both more user-friendly and more accurately reflect the manufacturer's offerings.

Manfrotto Press Release

Manfrotto Launches New Portal Website Focused On Data Management and Integration - Website offers better service to distribution partners and end users

Bassano del Grappa, Italia (29 September 2005) - Manfrotto, the world's leading manufacturer of support products for pro video and photography, is proud to announce that it has launched the first phase of its new portal website. A natural evolution of the company's previous website, the new portal features many similarities in appearance; however, content and data integration amongst various business units has been enhanced, reflecting much more accurately the way Manfrotto operates.

For the first time, R&D, customer service, sales and marketing - all coordinated by the Bogen Imaging distribution arm - will use the same data. Proper processes have been incorporated throughout the new website to ensure that information is integral and unique throughout the various applications that the group uses, and that it is properly managed by those responsible for each part of its creation and maintenance. The aim is to gradually eliminate the incongruence and inaccuracy that naturally creep into systems where data is replicated in several different places. As a result, Manfrotto will provide better service to distribution partners and end users alike.

In terms of content, the Product section of the website has been updated to cover the range of the 1,000+ products currently available from Manfrotto. This is made possible by the portal's seamless integration with the company's ERP, which has been restructured to include much more in-depth product information, specs, features and suggestions for use including a series of "How To" lessons and pointers on how to get the most from support equipment in real life situations. In addition, presentation and categorisation of products is gradually being aligned between the web, catalogues and marketing for better consistency.

The Spare Parts section of the new website opens up access to all visitors as part of Manfrotto's commitment to providing outstanding after-sales service. Adding value to this service is the extended Warranty offers introduced on most popular products, whereby Manfrotto owners can register their new product on the website to receive an extra three years of warranty coverage above and beyond what is statutory by purchase.

Other sections added to the site include the Careers pages, reflecting the company's growth and investment in its human resources.

The portal is launched in English and Italian. Additional languages will include Spanish, German, French and Chinese, which are already underway and will be released in coming months.

Manfrotto products are distributed exclusively by Bogen Imaging in the United States. For information, contact Bogen Imaging at info@bogenimaging.com or 565 East Crescent Avenue, Ramsey, NJ 07446-0506.

About Manfrotto
Gruppo Manfrotto are world leaders in the manufacture of professional camera and lighting supports for photography, video, broadcast and entertainment. For 35 years, Manfrotto has been building the world's widest range of tripods, heads and dedicated accessories to support professional and semi-professional still cameras, from the traditional small, medium and large format to the latest digital camera. Every product in the Manfrotto range is designed to provide a perfect combination of important features such as: load capacity, size, stability, transportability, interchangeability and construction quality - guaranteeing unique inimitable reliability and longevity.

About Bogen Imaging:
Since 1959, Bogen Imaging (formerly Bogen Photo) has been a leading source for photographic, cinematic and video lighting, supports, and accessories. Many of the most respected manufacturers of precision products for the photographic, video, Cine and lighting are distributed in the U.S. exclusively by Bogen. These include Manfrotto and Gitzo tripods and heads, Kata protective carrying systems and accessories, Avenger lighting grip, I.F.F. ceiling mounted lighting suspension, Metz on-camera flash systems, Gossen light meters, Elinchrom studio lighting systems and a wide host of additional product lines which round out the most complete range of exceptional accessories in the business.