Welcome to Issue 109 of McCurry Associates' Marketing Idea Exchange.

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
 

Idea #1 - MAY is NATIONAL PHOTO MONTH... Promote it!

With thanks to Grant Hatch (Spectrum Photo, Wolfeboro, NH) You'll find detailed exhortations and ideas about May being National Photo Month on the PMA Marketing Community (www.pmai.org/communities - Topic: General Marketing Issues) Use National Photo Month as an "excuse" to contact your local media and be proactive to talk about the importance of capturing memories . . . making prints . . . preserving your family's heritage. You can get ideas to talk to your media from websites like Prints-are-memories.com, PicturesMatter.com, TakeGreatPictures.com or PhotoImageNews.com - Leverage on all promotions you can . . . National Photo Month is a great opportunity for you. Take advantage of it.

Idea #2 - Video tape duplicates

Robert Haase - Glynn Camera - Brunswick GA - www.glynncamera.com

Several years ago, we started doing video tape duplicates - nothing fancy - just plain old tape to tape copies for people that couldn't figure out how to hook up 2 VCR's. This has expanded into copying all the other formats to VHS. Last year I bought a relatively un-fancy DVD recorder and we are doing a nice side business making DVD's of customers' video tapes. This has led us into transferring movies from memory cards to DVD as well. No matter what people ask about, we can usually fulfill their needs. Even though this is the 21st century, we've discovered that folks still can't figure out how to use all their fancy gadgets and we are glad to be of assistance - for a price of course!
 

Idea 3 - Response to Randy Wright's email subject line protocol (MMIE #106)

Gary Grinaker - The Photo Express - Bismarck, ND - www.ThePhotoExpress.net

What do you think of the subject line of this email? Editor's note: said subject line was "Photo Express - Feedback"

Randy Wright made the suggestion on your marketing newsletter to use our store name in the subject line. It's less likely to be deleted as spam and (although he didn't mention it) is a little two-word ad sitting in their in box.

That said, it just doesn't feel right. Is it because it's new to me, because it's not common practice, because I'm shy about tooting my horn or is there a better way to do it?

The world awaits your determination of proper email etiquette. Editor's note: Got an opinion about this? Let's get a little online poll going: editor@mccurryassoc.com just say if you think it's a good idea or not.

Idea # 4 - Paying my dues (If you're curious about this subject line, remember you owe one idea per year to continue your subscription to the McCurry Marketing Idea Exchange - Don't let our dues collector come after you, you can "prepay" your subscription by sending ideas in early!)

Curt Reif - ACME Photo LLC - Madison, WI - curtr@acmephoto.biz

First, let me thank you again for all of the fantastic ideas !!!

Secondly, the seminars at PMA/DIMA were great (I got TWO candy bars)

From this last PMA I knew that scrap-booking was huge - I have just partnered with a local scrap book store with a link to our web photo order site, photo classes at both locations, "copy days" , "Pet Photo Day", and much more...

Two blocks away from our location is a local (non-chain) coffee shop - when an order is late for a customer (or even if they are early) I give them a photo coupon for a free cup of coffee with a map & name of the coffee shop on it. By the time they get there, enjoy a free cup of good coffee, and come back their order is ready and they are feeling a lot better.

Dog cookies - For all of our pet customers, when we see their dog in the car we give a photo coupon of one of my dogs in a Ziplok bag with some good dog cookies.

Keep em' coming!
Curt

Call for Ideas:

Many of our subscribers use eBay both to buy and sell. Send us your best eBay tips to ideas@mccurryassoc.com. And of course, your contributions on other topics are always wanted and appreciated!

Upcoming Bill McCurry Imaging Industry sessions . . .

Tuesday, May 10 - Fuji Image Service Retailer Conference - for New Zealand FIS Retailers only, to be held in Brisbane, Australia just before PMA Brisbane

Friday, May 13 through Sunday May 15 - Noon to 1:00, Bill will be signing his new book, "It's Your People . . . Really!" at PMA Brisbane, Australia

Tuesday, May 24 - "Improve Your Business and Your Life" sponsored by Adelaide's Minilab Training Centre - Adelaide, Australia - For more details phone (61) 08 8227 0310
 

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