Issue 96 – January 26, 2005

Welcome to Issue 96 of the McCurry Marketing Idea Exchange. You requested to receive this newsletter.
Please send us your marketing idea as well as comments on those ideas posted by hitting your reply button or emailing to editor@mccurryassoc.com. You may offer free subscriptions to your colleagues by telling them to send an email to editor@mccurryassoc.com - Ask them to include their name, store name and city in the body of the email - privacy is protected, see below.
Please Enjoy, Consider and Profit from these ideas.
All the Best,
Bill

Parting comments about special issue 95½
 

Last week we sent you a special alert about the great article in USA Today’s Friday edition, “Memories Gone in a Snap”
That’s the one telling customers they should "use a professional lab to make prints. Home made prints generally fade . . ."
If you didn’t buy several copies to frame in your store, it’s not too late to view it at this site:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2005-01-20-digital-memories_x.htm
Incidentally, the McCurry Marketing Idea Exchange has never had so much response as we have to this posting! Kudos to all in our industry who helped make it happen.
 

Idea #1 - Take portraits in your business

Reid Webber, Sarasota Photo Center, Sarasota FL www.sarasotaphotocenter.com

Small businesses will be changing over the next couple of years and probably competing with other photographers, who are printing more at their office and not bringing you as much business. Compete! We have been doing business portraits in our small studio for 11 years now and this past year have started going out to take pictures at popular locations such as the beach. We now use a digital camera to shoot the portraits and a computer preview for the business portraits. It is easy to add $19.99 to fix a few wrinkles and problems, then save the image in different formats and put it on a CD.

Here’s the Marketing portion. When the customer comes to pick up the business portrait CD 30 minutes later, they leave with: the CD, written release to use the photo, a coupon for them and a coupon for a coworker and we are adding a sample business card layout. The business card layout will be a flyer with a sample of their picture and name and the prices. We can print 1,000 business cards for a cost of about $25. They take a while to cut, but sales for $139.99 should be a good profit. The bottom line is that the customer leaves with information to make additional purchases. We also add them to our internet email list for the monthly newsletter.

Idea #2 – Doing Good is Good for Your Business

Mitch Goldstone, 30-Minute Photo, Irvine CA, http://www.30minphoto.com

(editor’s note: Mitch chairs Irvine's community services commission and is constantly involved in charitable works. One side benefit of doing good is that your business can do well as a result of the favorable publicity that results.)

Here's the most recent info on Operation Photo, which several leading camera manufacturers are also supporting with donated digital cameras, including Kodak.

Operation Photo, a national campaign expects to raise 10,000 used and older model digital cameras for distribution to military families by Valentine's Day. The cameras are being distributed through http://www.operationhomefront.net a 501-c3, non-profit which will be sending receipts for deductions for the donated cameras, and www.30minphotos.com will be providing $25.00 online gift certificates to each person who donates a camera , but for other specialty dealers they can send cameras directly to Operation Homefront (see link above for address).

See below and I hope you will forward to your extensive contact list for those with extra, older model digital cameras that have already been placed in that infamous "appliance draw" or for camera stores with excess inventory that they are seeking to donate and write off.

Idea #3 – The world is our community, particularly now

Rich Rosenberg, Phototek, www.phototek.com

Hi Bill: I was stunned by the enormity of the tsunami and the horrific loss of life and property, but none struck a need like the AP story from Galle, Sri Lanka. Special needs children died in their beds being unable to avoid rushing waters. We have started a foundation for relief of this shelter and welcome any of our photo business brothers to join in this mission, or to find their own relief-directed cause. Please visit www.specialkidsday.org This is a wonderful way to be part of kids giving to kids in schools, or any adult contributions from all over your market place. A sincere way you could share in giving back. Join us, start your own....but get involved; the rewards are profound....

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Scheduling Frustration at DIMA/PMA

Some of you already noticed that the Marketing Idea Exchange (Saturday, February 19 @ 1:15) is scheduled at the same time as Chris Lydle's session, Creating Loyalty and Profits Through Digital Photo Classes. Alas, when you have as many good sessions as DIMA does, these types of conflicts will occur. Your possible solutions:

1. This is why you want more than one person from your organization attending - so you can go to different sessions and compare notes.
2. If you're not able to have enough employees to cover all the sessions, then partner with another industry colleague. Determine ahead of time who will go to which session then plan on meeting immediately after the session to share notes with each other.
3. Order the tapes from the session.

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Bill McCurry’s Speaking Schedule At DIMA/PMA/PPFA February in Orlando
More information at:
http://www.pmai.org/dima2005/ or
http://pma2005.pmai.org/ or
http://www.pmai.org/ppfa2005/

At the DIMA Conference:
+ Saturday, February 19, 10:30AM - 11:30AM
D92 - McCurry Marketing 201
Nothing happens until somebody sells something – discover how you can sell more quickly and cheaply.
+ Saturday, February 19, 1:15PM - 2:15PM
D102 - DIMA Marketing Ideas Exchange
Where money making ideas are share, new friendships made, old friendships rekindled and your profits begin to grow.

At the PMA Convention:
+ Sunday, February 20, 6:30PM - 9:30PM
N1 - It's Your People. . . Really! Change Your Focus and Grow Your Sales
Hot off the presses – PMA’s newest book will refocus your team’s efforts to boost your sales for 2005 and beyond

At the PPFA Convention:
+ Monday, February 21, 8:00AM - 9:15AM
F303 Are You Talking to Me?
Communication is the problem and the solution – uncover techniques that reduce frustration, save time and make money.
+ Monday, February 21, 11:00AM - 12:20PM
FG3 PPFA General Session Luncheon - Big Bang - Little Buck...Effective Marketing on the Cheap
The title says it all.
+ Monday, February 21, 2:30PM - 5:20PM
F308 Direct Marketing - From Your Idea to Cash in the Bank
Focus your message, focus your target and hit the bull’s eye of increased profits. Find out how at this session.
 

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