Lori Rupp - Kohne Camera & Photo - Perrysburg Ohio - www.kohnes.com

Hello!

I want to pay up for this wonderful subscription that seems to always help my business or spark an idea for future business.

I have been realizing lately how getting back to basics is a really grand idea in so many ways!

One way is thanking people for referrals. Thanking people is so powerful! Sometimes we forget how important referrals are to our business. We have had a referral system in place for about 4 years now and I am noticing it paying off more and more as time goes on.

When new customers come in, we always ask how they found us. If someone is mentioned, we have a simple form (see attached) to fill out. (If they answer "a co-worker" or a "friend", we always dig a little deeper to get the persons name so they can be thanked) The form is given to one person that handles our referral letters. We have three really simple form letters. We customize the first name and the first line of the thank you letter for the person referring.

We do this by telling the person in that first line about the product their friend purchased from us. Since it is a form letter, it is quick and easy.

Enclosed in the letter is a $5 gift certificate (see attached) that they can use on their next trip to our store. The regulars love the perk (they love saving $5 when they come in) and as time goes on, they are referring more and more people.

I feel like my sales force is increasing without the addition of the payroll expense!

Feel free to use the samples if it will be helpful to your business-

Here's that letter: (naturally it's on Kohne's stationery and hand-signed)

March 30, 2009

Dear Patti,

Thank you for recommending us to Noreen Hanlen! We're happy to have helped her with her new camera purchase. Our business and the economy in Northwest Ohio continue to grow because of such friendly referrals!

Please find enclosed a gift certificate as a token of my appreciation. By the way, if you haven't visited lately, be sure to check out our regularly updated website at www.kohnes.com.

We hope to see you soon. Thanks again!

All the Best,

Lori Rupp

Owner / Operator

Karl Kantrowitz - Village Camera and Video - South Orange, NJ, USA

Chris:

As you know, I can only print up to 8x10 in house with my dye-sub setup. Any print larger than 8x10 must be out-labbed. So this idea may not work for those stores which print everything in house. (ed - why not?)

On photo restorations larger than 8x10, I first make a "free" 5x7 finished print which I give to the customer before I have the larger print made. My motive, of course, is to gauge the customer's reaction when they see the photo restoration.

This "free" 5x7 has eliminated many costly remakes and also gives the customer assurance that any necessary adjustments will be made on the final enlargement.

Marvin Meister, Meda Inc. Photo Center - Los Angeles, CA, USA

We have been copying and repairing (now restoring) photos for quite a while.

After making a new sign for the window that read "Old Photo Copying & Restoration", copy orders increased about 200%.

With a computer and a good flatbed scanner, and some software, excellent results are available. The customer especially likes that their photos do not leave the store. You can use an on-line service for restoration, or use Photoshop yourself. If you have an artistic employee who can use a computer, amazing results are obtainable. And there is a good profit in it too.

September 10-11 PMA Canada Exposition 2009, Toronto, Ontario Info

October 22-24, 2009 PDN PhotoPlus Expo Jacob Javits Center, NYC, NY, USA - info

November 10-12, 2009 - 6Sight Future of Imaging Conference being held in the Monterey Conference Center, Monterey, CA, USA. www.6sight.com

February 19-23, 2010 - PMA '10 kicks off in Anaheim, CA. Conferences begin the 19th and the trade show begins the 21st.