Jim Schwarzbach - Formerly of Jim's Photo Lab in El Paso, Texas

Sometimes the brain won't stop working, even though I'm not currently a photo retailer!

What if a lab were to call, in slow January, every single customer who came in in December and said, "Mr. Jones - we've just been given 100 certificates for a free 8x10. Would you like us to hold one for you?"

If he says yes, make a note somewhere and go to the next person on the list. It is bound to drag some customers in during slow January, hopefully they will buy something else to make up for the packaging costs (and the almost incidental silver halide cost) of the free 8x10.

Tim Ulmer - Ulmerphoto - Stockton Ca . - www.ulmerphoto.com

Just recently I had a Bride ask me about a prepaid gift card for the online ordering.

Talk about a frying pan moment!!!

Absolutely, I'm a lifepics customer and happened to have some on hand. Seems she was giving them as part of a gift package to family and wedding party.

Now I've become both the photographer and the order filling company - not to mention I have the money upfront.

I also now have 25 folks guaranteed to be introduced to my site and if luck will have it they stay with me for other needs.

I sold her some 100 print count cards for $50.00 ea. That's very affordable by wedding reprint standards. May seem cheap for wedding photography but consider how little I'm really doing to gain this business.

Note: the first card used generated $98.00 in additional sales.

Gary Pageau - PMA - www.pmai.org

Hi, Chris and Bill --

Couple notes on this newsletter:

The URL for PMA is www.pmai.org, not www.pma.com, as indicated below, unless Chad has left us and is working at the Produce Marketing Association?

Also, an update on the PMA 08 Flickr group. It now has a sensible name: "http://www.flickr.com/groups/pma08/"

Best,

Jill Miller - Yorba Linda, CA - (714)695-0269

I am not your typical photo store owner. I came across your wonderful newsletter when I was working as Creative Director for the Hewlett-Packard scrapbooking website a few years ago. I am also finishing my MBA in Marketing at Cal State University in Pomona. I've enjoyed reading Bill's newsletter for years and really do want to support it so here's another idea.

Here's an idea for photo stores who also sell scrapbooking items.

I created a hybrid scrapbook in no time at all by embellishing a photo book from Snapfish with some 3D scrapbooking accents. I think stores would really benefit from cross sales if they displayed a photo book with 3D accents to busy moms who love the handmade look but just don't have the time. A photobook (or album) + scrapbook kit packaged together would be an easy sell because the results are beautiful and quick to put together.

If you do, you should have received a special invitation in the last two weeks.

It's confidential, but something independent owners of HP Studios should know about .

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