SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION     Editor's Note:  We received the following note from David Guidry of Lakeside Camera and Imaging - a true genius in our industry. What you need to know is that the keynote speaker at this fun weekend in New Orleans is Bill McCurry. His topic is "Steps To Success" with the following sub topics:

• Marketing Without Much Money
• Positioning Your People For Profit
• Focus and Your Profit will Zoom

Rumor has it that Bill McCurry will be updating the successful Guerrilla Marketing For The Imaging Industry published by PMA. We hear that Bill will reveal some of his research for the new book at this event . . . this is just an unconfirmed rumor but we believe it is from a "reliable" source. David's letter follows:

Hello Photo Industry Friends,

   Please consider this a personal invitation from Sherry and me (and Susan) to come down to New Orleans to eat and drink well, have a good time and oh yeak, learn some good stuff that will make your business grow and prosper. I'm talking about the weekend of August 23, 24 and 25, 2002. This is the 2002PMA South Central Division Meeting and no divisional meeting is more fun. (This is my opinion but it's true!)
   An added attraction in New Orleans this year is the recent opening of a 2,800 square foot addition to Lakeside Camera & Imaging (my store). It's a state-of-the-art processing facility featuring digital labs from two manufacturers and it's the largest freestanding thermal foil radiant barrier structure in North America.
   Please come on down for a visit. While you're at it, bring someone special and pass this invitation on to someone else. The more folks we have, the better the idea exchange.
   For more information, please send me an email and I will send you a meeting agenda.
   Hope to see you in August.

David Guidry
Lakeside Camera and Imaging
3508 21st Street
Metairie, LA. 70002

david@lakesidecamera.com
Ph: 504-885-8660
Fax: 504-454-7872
www.lakesidecamera.com

P.S. Don't forget your appetite.

   So, come on down to New Orleans. Hear Bill's ideas, see David's new facility, learn lots to make you rich and have so much fun you won't remember this was supposed to be "work".

Idea #1 - Project Graduation Donations - Can It Boost Finishing?

Jerry Harmen, Madison Photo, Madison, NJ (www.madisonphoto.com)

   Just an idea, we will finalize the details before next March, when we'll need them. Each year we get letters to contribute $100+ to Project Graduation. Rather than contribute ca$h we will offer to contribute OTUCs with flash (One Time Use Cameras) to each graduate. We will buy the cameras, strip all the packaging, and label each camera with a graduate's name and a coupon for $2.00 processing for a print and a Picture Disk. Assuming we get the camera back, we will attempt to sell up to 2 each and a picture CD for $10. When the D&P order is picked up, we will include a 30 day coupon for 20% off any frame or album in the store. If that is redeemed, we will give the customer a new OTUC (with flash) and $2.00 processing coupon for $7.50 to start the cycle again. This is a new concept for us, but worth a try.

Idea #2 - Photofinishing Rewards Program

Frank Ponder, Bel Air Camera, Los Angeles, CA (www.belaircamera.com)

   Here's how our rewards program works: For every 12 exposures processed the customer gets a coupon that can be redeemed for any of the following:

• FREE PROCESSING or ENLARGMENTS or
• ICE CREAM from 31 Flavors Ice Cream Cones (across the street) or
• PEZ DISPENSERS AND OTHER GOODIES: Traveling in the 99 cent store I found PEZ dispensers for 25 cents each. I bought a bunch and put them into the redemption cabinet. They were gone within a week. Just keep your eyes open to bargains, and bring them in. For a $5.00 or $10.00 investment, you'd be amazed at how it works. Or they can choose
• STUFFED ANIMALS AND OTHER GOODIES - We found a stuffed animal supplier at the gift show, and purchased close-outs. Soon we found we were reordering, because not only were we using them as premiums, but kids were demanding Instant Gratification. We tripled our cost on the close outs, and soon found we were also buying new stuffed animals. It's become another profit center. Our stuffed animal supplier will be happy to help anyone in the photo industry with a similar promotion. Contact me.

We calculate each coupon is worth 50 cents at retail. We charge $0.42 per photo at the time of developing (12 x $0.42=$5.02). Everything we give out is calculated at its retail value, thus making our coupon cost at $0.25

Idea #3 - We're in a visual business, use visuals to sell

Mike Rausch, Colonial Photo and Hobby, Orlando, FL (www.colonialphotohobby.com)

   We have large poster displays in our front windows and also on the walls above our camera section. The posters vary, including shots from customers that used popular cameras with a Promaster lens. One of the best is a picture from Cuba of some men working on a car. We overlaid a Promaster name and a picture of the Promaster 28-105 lens. We also gave credit to the photographer, an amateur, who let us use her image and our digital graphics guy that laid out the art. When we have a customer looking at a package kit, we can point to the poster, 30 x 40 in size, and show them just how great pictures look with the Promaster lens! It works every time. We use the same idea in the front windows in 4 ft x 6 ft posters. We have Promaster Macro lens shots, Screw on close up lenses compared to the 100mm Promaster Macro lens also. We are in the visual business, give your customer good visuals.

Archives of these newsletters are at www.photoimagenews.com/mccurry.htm.