HS senior mailing list company?

[Outlaw]

Don, many thanks for that, it's great to actually have some numbers to aim at. So you do not do CD or online viewing of photos?

As well, what were some of the catalysts that grew your business from start-up to $100,000+ small business?

I know that my best business moves have always come as epiphanies. I try to allow the excitement to fade and see where the idea rests in my head before I make any bold changes.

Thank you again for sharing your knowledge, it's absolutely invaluable.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by CobyPhoto

Don,

Thanks for the candor! You are one of the first ones I have ever had to give actual "realistic" numbers and averages. I would image that your advertising expense was in the 4-5K range at least, right?

Coby

More like 7K 4-5% of gross sales spent on advertising is a minimum to maintain a business. You need to spend 7-10% to grow a business. We are still in the growing phase.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by Outlaw

Don, many thanks for that, it's great to actually have some numbers to aim at. So you do not do CD or online viewing of photos?

As well, what were some of the catalysts that grew your business from start-up to $100,000+ small business?

I know that my best business moves have always come as epiphanies. I try to allow the excitement to fade and see where the idea rests in my head before I make any bold changes.

Thank you again for sharing your knowledge, it's absolutely invaluable.

We post wedding images online with LabPrints. All other images are projected in individual sales sessions at the studio and occasionally in the clients home.

The first catalyst was deciding to do this full time and not having a backup plan. Failure was not an option.

The second thing that really got us going was working with a color lab that also does business consulting. We had group meetings a couple of times a year and the lab would have products for us to test while sharing the risk with us. They also shared what other studios were doing sucessfully. That is when I began to share actual numbers with other studios and reported on our successes and our failures. If there were three or four non competing studios that would like to set up such a group I would be available to help. There would be a fee involved and a certain level of commitment.

[Outlaw]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

That is when I began to share actual numbers with other studios and reported on our successes and our failures. If there were three or four non competing studios that would like to set up such a group I would be available to help. There would be a fee involved and a certain level of commitment.

Very interested! I've never lost a dollar sharing with my TPF mates.

[speedshot]

Hey Don do you do school teams too ???

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by speedshot

Hey Don do you do school teams too ???

I did sports teams for one private school for several years. We had a few problems when we converted to digital and I no, longer have that school. I need to get a few schools or sports leagues to fill in slack times.

[bondarnes]

I am resurrecting this thread because on another thread we started discussing a TPF marketing group and some of the posters on this thread might have an interest in it: http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...d=1#post526455

[KdLaneJr]

Don,

That link is coming up broken for me.

Any idea where it moved to?

Ken

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by KdLaneJr

Don,

That link is coming up broken for me.

Any idea where it moved to?

Ken

Here ya go

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=55070

[KdLaneJr]

Thank you kindly.