If you’re wondering where this industry is going . . . here’s your chance . . . An Open House like no other . . . where the “secrets” of the house will be shared with all who attend . . .

The New York/New Jersey Metro PMA is holding an Open House at Dan’s for photo retailers to better understand the opportunities that surround us.

What: NY/NJ Metro PMA Open House At Dan’s Camera City, Allentown, PA

When: 3:00 to 8:00 – Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Who: Chat with local retailers and invited guests such as Ted Fox, PMA’s Executive Director, Rich Duncombe, Hewlett Packard VP and other industry luminaries.

Where: Dan’s Camera City – 1439 West Fairmont St – Allentown, PA Phone: (610) 434-2313 Directions available at www.danscamer a.com

Why:

• Learn from one of the leading camera stores in the world (Dealer of the Year for Photo Trade News, Photofinisher of the Year for Photo Industry Reporter, Mike Woodland, Dan’s President, is a PMA International Trustee.)
• See newest photofinishing technology from HP – it is actually working and making money for Dan’s Camera City – Understand how this technology is changing your industry and can change your business . . . No theory – you can talk to the Dan’s people who are running it and understand the future because it’s now in profitable operation at Dan’s. See all three new systems: the Micro-lab instant 4x6 printer; Studio gift ordering system (photobooks, posters and more); the Z3100 twelve ink 42” wide format printer, all in operation.
• Hear from industry experts, Dan’s employees and NY/NY PMA members what the trends are so you can capitalize on your future.

Schedule of Events:

3:00 – Welcome and check-in Browse around Dan’s store & lab. Seminars will be conducted every half hour, registration not necessary.

3:30 – Dan’s Success Culture For those first time visitors to Dan’s Camera City, hear how Dan’s has one of the lowest employee turnover rates and highest customer retention rates in our industry. It’s not an accident, it’s a well thought out fine tuned process you can use in your business. Speaker: Manny Brodt, Retail Division Manager, Dan’s Camera City.

4:00 – The 21st Century Photo Lab How do you produce the products customers want today and tomorrow? Is it a retail lab? Wholesale lab? Custom lab? Yes, Dan’s can be all those or none of them – come see for yourself how Dan’s keeps customers lined up to take advantage of the unique services and opportunities that Dan’s offers. Your attitude toward making money from services won’t be the same after you finish this tour. Tour guide: Steve Olock, Director of Imaging Services, Dan’s Camera City & First Vice President, DIMA.

4:30 – Finally, Profitable Ink Jet 4x6 Hewlett Packard has heard the cry – and the PM1000 is the answer – an inkjet printer that can hold its own in a photofinishing environment. Whether or not you’re in the market for lab equipment you have to know what the state of the industry is today – and it’s from HP. Greg Kearnan is new to HP but not to our industry having spent 17 years with Fuji Hunt responsible for the success of Fuji-Epson in many labs. You’ll hear the straight talk on where finishing is going and how you can profitably be a part of it. Speaker: Greg Kearnan, Director of Sale, HP

5:00 – Give the Lady What She Wants Hear from Dan’s own DigiJulie how customers respond to what Dan’s offers. How and why does Dan’s add services? How do you train sales people and customers to order new or unique products? It’s only hard when you don’t know how. Learn from Dan’s secrets. Speaker: Julie Strauser, Dan’s Camera City

5:30 – Dinner and Insights from Ted Fox, PMA Executive Director

How has Jennifer changed since you first heard of her at the last PMA convention? Like all marketplaces, your target consumer is changing. Hear how you should be addressing these changes and what profit potential is in store for those who cater to Jennifer’s simple and unique needs. Ted will share PMA’s latest findings in time for you to catapult your holiday results. Speaker: Ted Fox, Photo Marketing Association {Dinner compliments of HP}

6:30 – Lessons Learned from the Digital Café Dan’s pioneered the digital lounge concept . . . what lessons have they learned? What are they still learning? Hear the nuts and bolts of what’s going right, what was fixed and what’s yet to be fixed . . . Save the angst and learn from those who have gone before you. Speaker: Mike Woodland, Dan’s Camera City

7:00 – The Future As Seen Through HP’s Eyes Come hear candid insights from a HP Vice President who shares how HP sees the future of imaging and retailing. HP bought Snapfish and then opened up “on- line” to retailers. HP doesn’t see things the way others do . . . Here’s your chance to find out why. Learn what some of the brightest people in our industry think the future holds. Speaker: Rich Duncombe, Vice President, HP

7:30 – Replacing Lost Margin – Labs can’t live from 4x6 alone Dan’s lab volume is higher than ever . . . and gross margins also are hitting new record highs . . . Warmly embracing digital and all the possibilities leads to increased profits. Hoping that somehow 4x6 D&P will magically reappear as your profit driver is folly – Hope is not a strategy. Look at what Dan’s and others are doing to leverage digital services for solid profit growth. Speaker: Bill McCurry, McCurry Associates

There is no cost to attend, but we must have your RSVP.

If you'd like to attend, please email Bill McCurry immediately at wmccurry @mccurryassoc.com. The store is only so big so we may have to limit attendance, get your RSVP in today.

Roger Christian - University Camera - Iowa City, Ia - www.ucamera.com

Submission 3 for the year, I think.

Bill:

First let it be known that I have been a Rotarian for 22+ years. I use the Rotary Four Way Test to guide me in most of my daily decisions. Shorter than the Ten Commandments, and from my standpoint most of those don't apply, since I don't do most of that stuff anyway. It's been a long time since I coveted my neighbor's cow. This issue falls under Rule #3: " Will it build goodwill and better friendships". "Of the things we think, say or do:

• Is it the TRUTH?
• Is it FAIR to all concerned?
• Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
• Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"

She got it home and found a fly in the viewfinder, I didn't have another XT in stock at the time, but she said she would keep it, and send it in after sports season was over. She brought it back to us around the end of September, said she needed it back in 2 weeks for a trip to Europe. I said no problem, sent it to Canon in Chicago, where it should have been handled promptly. Well, you guessed it, they sent it to LA, and so the camera was not back for her trip.

When she called me in a panic since she was leaving in two days, I stewed over this for a few hours, and after getting the note about the transshipment, talked with my banker friends, who are also Rotarians, and we discussed the issue of damage and damage control. Note: new Rebels XTi's are hard to get, and I had no Rebel XT's to loan. My final decision was, reluctantly, to go to Best Buy, buy a whole new XT camera, strip the body from the kit, and deliver it to her home, in time for the trip. $800 out of my pocket.

Well, it appears, it MAY have been $800 well spent, since she is singing our praises to her friends, now.

Why did I hesitate about replacing her camera? Frankly, in reports from my employees, every time she has been in previously, they commented she had been rude to them, so, I was hesitant to help her out with the replacement camera. Maybe a petty thing, but I don't take rudeness to one of the best counter crews in the United States lightly. So we shall see how it plays out next time she comes in.

BTW: her original camera is still not back, a month later, after she is back from her trip, and Canon figured the fly in the viewfinder was not a warranty issue, so they have tried to bill me for the repair. We are still arguing over that.

In 37 years, this is about as far as I have ever gone to help out a customer; sure, like most stores, we do a lot of the smaller things all the time, but this is a bit over the top, at least in my opinion.

The last issue of the McCurry Marketing Idea Exchange will be published Wednesday, November 22nd, so you can read it before the USA Thanksgiving holiday.

We will resume publication January 4, 2007.

You can still earn your sweet reward by sending us your idea before our hiatus, even if it doesn't get used until next year.