Bruce Hallstrom - BisonPhoto.com - Newport Beach, CA

Hello Chris,

Here is my first marketing tip.

For about 5 years now I have stopped doing my holiday Christmas cards on the print head and only put them together in Photo Shop. By print head I mean I do not use my Frontier SP2000 or Pic station to put the cards together. This also allows for me to run just one card as a sample for my staff to double check spelling, cropping, color etc.

One other thing: when I save the file I put it in a folder labeled with the customer's name and date ordered, then label the file (250 4x8 ) & (35 4x8 reorder) or what ever size card the was made. Then I save them on a external hard drive.

The reason is this; I put a stuffer with their completed order stating that I have saved their photo card in my computer for easy reordering. Now a reorder is just a phone call away.

They must pay before I print any more, and I have a 25 card minimum. It has been very successful and the customers love it because when they call we have the order done in about a hour.

This way next year when they ask how many cards they ordered last year I can pull it up and tell them 285 4x8 and even show them the card on screen. Although they have already received their last year's card via mail the customers are very impressed that I can pull it up that fast.

Jim Schwarzbach created a unique Photo Shop action that produces locket photos.

He writes "I've had a couple of requests recently for the locket actions and files - would you like to post them on P/INN so that they are there for everybody forever? If so, they are attached. Feel free to modify the instructions to include the P/INN logo if you would like."

Thanks, Jim.

The illustrated instructions at now online at http://photoimagenews.com/locketinstructions.doc and the action itself is http://photoimagenews.com/locketcreator.exe.

Chris Lydle - Chris' Camera Center & Digital Photo - Aiken, SC - www.chriscamera.com

When you can fill your retail store to SRO, you've hit upon what consumers are looking for. That's what we've accomplished in Aiken. Here's what the store looked like about 1 hour into our 2nd Annual Digital Camera Drop-In Day School, held last Saturday.

My manager said he counted 42 consumers in the store at the peak of the event.

We'd promoted this by direct email, about $447 of advertising in our local paper, a window sign and by handing out 4" x 8" invitations based on the newspaper ad.

We also had it posted on our web site's home page with a link to this page:

We covered about a dozen topics in mini sessions, starting at 10 am. They were scheduled to repeat starting at 1:15 pm and end up a little after 4 pm Saturday.

About 9:20 the first attendees started arriving, several with the newspaper ad in their hands.

I taught several of the sessions myself. Store Manager Trey Martin did a couple, and so did staffer Milledge Austin. Milledge is a great sports photographer and I think that his session will lead to more sales of better DSLRs, monopods, and high speed lenses with image stabilization. He had images from the Professional Bull Riders event the night before.

You think as retailers we have to take a lot of bull? I wouldn't get on top of those critters for anything!

Like last year, we we did a decent amount of business during the day, by leading customer to the register behind the counters. Last year the week after this event was one of the best in our history, and we're hoping for the same in 2007.

Robert Caplis - Marketing Manager - PMA

Chris and Bill,

I've been reading the McCurry Marketing Ideas Exchange for some time. Though the threat of a mallet from my computer is enough to motivate/scare anyone into submitting an idea, I'm not a photo retailer.

I do, however, work for PMA and with Stephanie Fisher who suggested that I contact you to ask if the PMA 08 blog (http://pma08blog.com/) could be mentioned in your next Marketing Ideas Exchange newsletter. The blog is our way of providing event updates that range from what's new with our speakers to up-to-the-minute Las Vegas travel deals to show-related announcements.

Editor's note - we've seen it and it's a great place to check up on the most recent updates.

When we return in January we'll continue with recommended "gems" of the shows.

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 December 2nd Dimacast will feature a return of Denny Coleman (Northfield Moto Photo - NJ) and how he solved his January/February cash flow problems with lots of new additional business from new and returning customers, along with LeMoyne Johnson (Johnson Photo Imaging, FL) on making money with photo tours and a visit with Peter Sandrian (Sandrian's Camera Shops, NJ) on ways he's thriving in the digital era.

The January 6th Dimacast has insights for you to reflect on as you build your plan for 2008 - Tom Gramegna and John Tworsky (Bergen County Camera, NJ) share how they listen to employees and customers on an inexpensive, effective and scientific basis to guide their decisions. Haunani Kekuna (Moto Photo, PA) shares the success of her remodel. Her accountant questioned if this was the right time for her to invest more money in her business. Hear how going against her accountant's advice made her even more successful. We wrap up with Ted Nichols (New Hope Photo, PA) talking about planning ahead.

You can sign up for automatic DIMAcast delivery or view and listen at www.dimacast.com

We mention "view" because it's a more complete experience to download the illustrated PDF and look at that while you're listening, if you're on a computer.

Don't try this while driving your car!

With all due modesty, we think so. Check out these sessions:

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