Glynn Lavender - Camera Action Camera House - Melbourne, Australia

One of our stores was approached by the Melbourne News ( a free local magazine promoting our city) to see if we would like to offer their readers some prizes and in return have our stores name promoted in the magazine.

This store operates a HP Photo Studio so we thought this would be a good way to promote the new products we were offering.

We decided to run an email competition offering 5 prizes of a $50 HP Photo Book. People who read the Melbourne News had to email us and tell us what brand of books we were making (of course the answer was right in front of them).

The five winners were drawn at the end of the month and we received 120 entries.

The magic of an email competition is that we now had a way of easily contacting ALL entrants.

So we sent out an email announcing the winners to the 115 people who did not win AND offered them $10 Off their first book as well.

Barry Jenkins - Fotosound (Jersey) Limited - Helier, Jersey - Head Office Tel: 01534 759334

Hello Bill

Finally settling down after visit to UK PMA. Lots going on, so can't detail all at present. See attached as promised.

These run in the classified 'ads of our local paper under the 'personal, column hitting 24k homes in the island. Lineage only and at about £25 per insertion

It's a very cost effective way of getting the ladies' attention. They love seeing what everyone is up to in the personal column from mating/dating to personal health care and so on.

With 3 consecutive insertions we get one free.

Here are a few typical classifieds we're run:

Old movies to DVD. Keep your memories before they fade away Digital Photo Centre, 3 New St., St.H. Tel.758946

Robert Libbee - Quality Plus One Hour Photo - Craig, CO

Well, my father came up with this idea since hunting season is this town's biggest boost.

When a customer comes in with hunting pictures, film or digital, I try to pick out a picture that has them and their animal and print them up a free 5x7.

Then I print one for me.

My store front has nothing but windows so the 5x7 I have I put it on the windows and call it the "Wall Of Fame" so the hunter feels really good when he leaves.

That is, here's your chance to sign up on a trial basis without fronting any cash.

Personally I'd never go back to trying to run an independent retail store or minilab without buying group affiliation.

Starting November 1, 2007, Independent Photo Imagers is offering a free trial membership. Zero dues or up-front initiation fees. Take advantage of the IPI benefits - all for free until the eve of PMA'08.

What's the catch? They know that once you've experienced these savings for your lab, you'll want to be an IPI member forever - especially during the PMA show!

Trial offer savings are only good for purchases during this November, December, and January. Every purchase you make today without IPI savings is costing you money. STOP this today - for FREE!!!

Looking back at the gems we posted already I'm reminded of a track from the Firesign Theatre comedy group - "How can you be in 2 places at once when you're not anywhere at all?"

It's actually 3 places at once, those are the number of events we suggested at 9 am Wednesday, January 29th. Better bring more people to PMA week!

By now you've probably seen the program - what do YOU think will be a gem? Drop us a line.

From now until the end of the year, the Marketing Idea Exchange will highlight a few "gems" of the DIMA/PMA family of events in Las Vegas.

You may have noticed we think that anyone going to PMA should actually register for DIMA, because so much of photography IS digital these days.

If you register for a PSPA, DIMA, SPAA or PPFA badge you can go to any event within these four organizations,

This week's gem #1

Maybe we should call this a "Call to Action" because the tickets are going pretty fast.

Thursday, Jan 31 from 3:30 - 9:30 pm.

Session T1, "Planning a Photo Tour" with Mark Comon. We already recommended this $100, 6-hour special event but with all the publicity in the press and the DIMAcast, don't want our readers to be frozen out!

Gem #2

This year's Big Night has been scheduled early enough that attendees can still get to the airport in time for their red-eye flights back home. It's called The Ultimate Tailgate Party and it's at the Convention Center "End Zone", starting right after the drawing for the $10,000 Grand Prize.

From 4:30 to 8:30, talk to your friends and colleagues while you down drinks and food.

Sample the Great Chili Cookoff, and cast your votes for the DIMA team.

Our archive of gems is posted so you can refer to it while planning your personal agenda. http://photoimagenews.com/mccurrygems2008.htm

Shhh- here's your private invitation

Tony Miresse's Dealer of The Year Party, sponsored by PTN magazine, is Friday night 5:30-7:00

Not only you but all specialty retailers from anywhere in the world are welcome

Tony is a PRO and IPI member - always a great crowd to get brilliant ideas from. You might want to confirm the fact that he's worthy of the title by checking out one of his presentations at the show.

The Great Bill McCurry will host 3 formal sessions:

Wednesday, Jan 30th, 1:00 pm The Long Tail of Marketing - Marketing Products You Don't Make Session D53

Wednesday, Jan 30th, 2:30 pm DIMA Marketing Idea Exchange Session D63

Saturday, 7:00 am - Session 700 - Selling More for Less

Chris Lydle will be part of

Life Beyond the 4x6 Print Thursday, January 31, 7 am. Session 501 also features Wayne Welch.