McCurry Associates Marketing Idea Exchange Archives

Volume 39 - April 4, 2003

Bill McCurry McCurry Associates wmccurry@mccurryassoc.com (800) 553-1332

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Idea #1 - Mark Bolt, Sarber's Cameras, Oakland, CA - www.SarbersCameras.com

   We train our salespeople to incorporate into their sales presentations a warning about the risks of losing digital data. This drives the conversation toward CDs, printing, archiving, etc.
   Ask digital camera customers, "What did you do with the last five pictures you received via e-mail?" Most people deleted them or did nothing to save them. Suggest to the customer they send a real photograph (which your lab can do for them) if they want the recipient to keep the memory. 

Idea #2 - Pat Miller-Ott, Miller's Camera, Wenatche, Washington - www.millerscamera.com

   We hired one of our customers, a professional advertising videographer to put together an ad for us. We wanted to convey the message that "Digital Photography has never been easier." It's easiest at Miller's Camera with our new digital lab. We got a tremendous response. 

Idea #3 - Matt Church, Creative Color, Salt Lake City, UT - www.creativecolor.com

   We give out to prospects and customers a free silk screened CD-R advertising our products and what to do with it. We give it out (or give out a certificate for it which causes them to have to visit our place) at local restaurants, local professional athletic events or in finished orders as appreciation to current customers. We also provide loaner or rental digital cameras at no cost to educate the public and clients about digital photography and what we can do to help them. 

Idea #4 - Greg Martin, Graphic Production/Alliance, St Louis, MO - www.graphicpros.com

   I sell large format inkjet to businesses. We've been discussing methods of giving back to our buyers even though they are not the actual bill payers. I'm going to offer to these buyers, who are many times designers or artists, to do a 20" portfolio piece for them at a special price of $25 if it's done while we are also printing that image. I hope this will create or deepen customer loyalty.

   I'll let you know how this works.